Bayern on verge of Bundesliga title
Bayern Munich can be crowned Bundesliga champions this weekend after taking a 10-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 win at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Bayern seized control at the Allianz Arena with early goals by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Joshua Kimmich after secondplaced RB Leipzig had earlier suffered a shock defeat at relegationthreatened Cologne.
With just four games to go, club world champions Bayern will be guaranteed a ninth German league title in a row with a win at Mainz on Saturday.
"I told the team before the game we could take a huge step towards the title, which we have done. We want to also win in Mainz," said Bayern coach Hansi Flick.
Off the field, Bayern are in disarray since Flick dropped a bombshell on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) by saying he wants to be released from his contract at the end of the season.
Bayern's senior bosses responded by saying it "disapproves of the one-sided communication by Hansi Flick" and wants to focus on this week's games.
The Bavarian giants were also adamant on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) they will not join the breakaway Super League.
On the pitch, it was business as usual as Bayern quickly dominated Leverkusen and scored from their first attack.
When Thomas Mueller's shot was saved, Choupo-Moting was on hand to tap home the rebound on seven minutes.
Kimmich added Bayern's second goal on 14 minutes when David Alaba's cross only went as far as the Germany midfielder who fired home from the edge of the area.
Leverkusen raised their game after the break with Leon Bailey firing past Manuel Neuer but his goal was ruled offside.
Choupo-Moting had the ball in the Leverkusen net for the second time with 25 minutes left but his effort was ruled offside.
Bailey's cross across the sixyard box was then fired off the crossbar by Karim Bellarabi on 69 minutes.
Eintracht Frankfurt moved up to third with a 2-0 home win over Augsburg thanks to goals by midfielder Martin Hinteregger and striker Andre Silva, who claimed his 24th league goal this season.