Ribery wonder goal keeps Bayern on track

Dortmund fight back in dramatic win

BERLIN, April 2, (AFP): Franck Ribery’s spectacular bicycle kick sealed Bayern Munich’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday as the Bundesliga leaders warmed-up for their Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Benfica.

The 32-year-old Ribery produced a magic moment on 20 minutes by drilling his overhead kick into the top corner of the Frankfurt net at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

It was the French winger’s 70th Bundsliga goal and came after Bayern’s Germany midfielder Mario Goetze had his shot blocked.

But Pep Guardiola wants an improved performance against Benfica from his side after Bayern’s below-par performance.

“It’s always a bit complicated coming back after the international break. We started well. The first 25 minutes were the best, especially Franck’s crazy goal,” said Bayern coach Guardiola.

“After that, our last pass was not precise and in the closing stages, the players lost their concentration.

“Now we are focusing on Benfica and I am hoping for a better team performance,” he added ahead of Tuesday’s European clash.

Bayern claimed a league record with their eighth straight clean sheet against Eintracht Frankfurt -- no other club has managed the feat as many times in a row against the same opposition.

Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski, the league’s top scorer, had a quiet afternoon, failing to add to his tally of 25 Bundesliga goals, and came off with 19 minutes to go.

Frankfurt, who are second from bottom, gave Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer an easy afternoon with just four shots on goal.

With six games left, the Bavarians remain on track to become the first German club to win four straight Bundesliga titles.

They remain five points clear after second-placed Borussia Dortmund later fought back in a dramatic 3-2 win over Werder Bremen.

Bremen were missing injured top scorer Claudio Pizarro, but gave Dortmund a scare at Signal Iduna Park before Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final, first leg against Liverpool.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Dortmund the lead by claiming his 23rd league goal of the season with a superb chip on 53 minutes.

But Bremen roared back with two goals in quick succession from Alejandro Galvez and Zlatko Junuzovic to go 2-1 up with 15 minutes left.

Dortmund dug deep though and goals from Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who converted Marcel Schmelzer’s cross, and Adrian Ramos, who headed in from a corner, saw them home.

“We showed a good mentality,” said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.

“I’m happy about our reaction and the performance.”

South Korea international Koo Ja-Cheol netted for relegation-threatened Augsburg as his club lost 4-2 at Mainz.

Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan (right), and Bremen’s Jannik Vestergaard challenge for the ball during the German Budesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in

Dortmund, Germany, April 2. (AP)