BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored again as Bayern Munich beat Union Berlin 4-0 on Saturday, moving one step closer to its 13th Bundesliga title for the first time in 14 years.
Kane scored after the break, his 31st league goal. He has seven rounds left to equal Robert Lewandowski’s season record of 41.
Serge Gnabry scored twice for Bayern, with Michael Olisse also scoring.
Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic was suddenly sidelined due to a hip problem, and Bayern’s strong team was without three suspended players – Nicholas Jackson, Luis Diaz and Jonathan Tarr – with injuries to Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and regular goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany had included several young players as substitutes.
In the final stages of the match, Bayern had a 12-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, who hosted Hamburger SV.
Wolfsburg face relegation
Werder Bremen beat Wolfsburg 1-0 away with Justin Zimmer scoring from the far post, increasing their chances of survival at the home team’s expense.
Bremen Ultra supporters reportedly clashed with police outside the stadium, causing them to be late to the match.
The team picked up their third win in four games and moved up to 13th place, four points out of the relegation zone, while Wolfsburg remained second from bottom without a win in their last 10 games despite the return of new coach Dieter Hecking.
Wolfsburg drew against Hoffenheim last weekend on Hecking’s debut, but the team made a comeback hoping for a win against Bremen. The prospects worsened further when defender Moritz Jentz was sent off in stoppage time.
Wolfsburg were in danger of five points until Sunday when relegation rivals St. Pauli faced Freiburg.
No winner in the 100th Rhine Derby
Cologne drew 3-3 with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Rhine derby thanks to a late goal from Eric Martel, but the result had little effect on either team as Cologne was just outside the relegation zone and Gladbach were just one point ahead of Bremen.
Before kick-off, Cologne’s players lined up in front of the fans behind the goal for encouragement, facing a huge banner that read: “We are No. 1 on the Rhine!”
After the players left to prepare for the match, the fans set off smoke bombs, but were shocked when Jens Kastrup took advantage of some naive defence, giving Gladbach the lead within the first minute.
Cologne star Saeed El Mara responded three minutes later, and Ragnar Aceh made it 2-1 three minutes later.
Gladbach responded in the 22nd minute through Philipp Sander and Kastrup put the visitors ahead with a fine goal in the 60th minute, but Cologne moved one point clear of the relegation zone with Martel’s goal. Martel was sent off with a second yellow card shortly after catching an opponent with his arm.
heidenheim hope
Bottom-place Heidenheim came from behind twice to draw with Bayer Leverkusen 3-3, with Marvin Pierringer scoring the second goal late on.
Heidenheim’s outlook remains bleak, with 11 points in jeopardy, but they have halted a three-game losing streak and will next face Gladbach, who are still in a dangerous situation.
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
