Comfy at the top
Midfielder Vidal’s only goal fires Bayern eight points clear
BERLIN: Arturo Vidal’s fourth goal in as many league games shot Bayern Munich to a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt and an eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Bayern’s win means that they cannot be caught before the winter break, which starts on Dec 17 and makes them “Herbstmeister” (Autumn champions) for the seventh season in a row.
Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes rang the changes from Tuesday’s 3-1 win at home to Paris St Germain in the Champions League, starting midweek goalscorers Robert Lewandowski and Corentin Tolisso on the bench.
The biggest shock however was that thirdchoice goalkeeper Tom Starke, who had been working in Bayern’s academy after retiring last season.
The 36-year-old was thrown into the fray after Sven Ulreich, who has played in place of Manuel Neuer since the Germany captain fractured his foot in September, injured his groin in the warm-up.
“I have been doing this for a few years and the juices are still flowing,” said Starke, who came out of retirement in September and was named in the club’s Champions League squad.
Frankfurt made a bright start but Bayern grabbed what proved to be the winner on 20 minutes.
Joshua Kimmich swung in a cross which found Vidal unmarked at the back post to score to decisive goal.
Having already picked up a first-half yellow card, Vidal narrowly escaped a red card after fouling Marius Wolf with just under 40 minutes left and Heynkes hauled him off soon after.
Bayern extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga after RB Leipzig conceded a late equaliser in their 2-2 draw at home to Mainz, whose replacement striker Emil Berggreen equalised three minutes from time.
The hosts took the lead at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena when midfielder Kevin Kampl fired home on 29 minutes, but Mainz equalised 10 minutes later when Robin Quaison slotted home a rebound from a parried free-kick.
Germany striker Timo Werner restored Leipzig’s lead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time with a controversial penalty.
The decision was backed up by the Video Assisted Referee (VAR) after Diego Demme went down in the area, but replays showed there was only the faintest of touches from Mainz defender Leon Balogun.
The incident lingered and Mainz’s disgruntled coach Sandro Schwarz was sent to the stands for the final 15 minutes before Berggreen’s late header.
Third-placed Schalke later missed the chance to go second when they drew 1-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach, who are fourth, as Thorgan Hazard cancelled out Christoph Kramer’s firsthalf strike for the hosts at Borussia Park.