Drama in Stuttgart as Bayern go 11 points clear
BERLIN: Thomas Mueller came off the bench to score the winner and Sven Ulreich saved a 95th-minute penalty as Bayern Munich won 1- 0 at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday to go 11 points clear in the Bundesliga.
Mueller put the visitors ahead with 11 minutes remaining and keeper Ulreich saved Chadrac Akolo’s spot-kick leaving Bayern in pole position to win a sixth straight league title heading into the winter break.
“Sven Ulriech is worth his weight in gold to us,” said relieved Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, whose side host Borussia Dortmund in the third round of the German Cup on Wednesday.
“If the players rest and free their heads, I am confident we can beat Dortmund again.” Bayern were frustrated by Stuttgart until Heynckes threw Mueller on for the final 25 minutes.
The Germany international delivered when Stuttgart made a rare mistake, allowing him to smash home unmarked from the edge of the area.
And Ulreich, back in goal after a groin strain, was the hero as he dived to save Akolo’s penalty after the video assistant referee confirmed Niklas Suele made contact with Santiago Ascacibar’s knee in the area. Brazilian defender Naldo scored in the 95th minute to snatch a 2-2 draw for second-placed Schalke at Eintracht Frankfurt, as they fought back from two goals down late on to extend their 11match unbeaten run.
“In terms of our mentality, we were very good,” said Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco.
“We always believe in ourselves and push each other - the way this team has developed is super.”
Having also scored a last-gasp equaliser when Schalke came from four goals down to sneak a 4-4 draw at arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund last month, Naldo again rescued the Royal Blues’ undefeated run in Frankfurt. Eintracht went ahead when Luka Jovic scored with just two minutes gone and then went 2- 0 up 24 minutes from time when Sebastien Haller came on to drive in their second.
Breel Embolo pulled a goal back for Schalke before Naldo hammered home from a speculative long ball to delight travelling fans and keep his team second. Teenager Christian Pulisic, voted US Soccer’s Male Player of the Year for 2017 on Thursday, capped a great week by firing Borussia Dortmund up to third with the winning goal in a 21 home victory against Hoffenheim. — AFP