Bayern’s five-star Sunday keeps the Bundesliga crown in sight

The Bundesliga’s contrasts were hard to miss this weekend: FC Bayern München could turn a home game into a procession, while clubs at the other end of the table had little room for error. The leaders won 5-1 on Sunday and now have 66 points from 27 games. Their advantage over second-placed RB Leipzig is 16 points, though Leipzig have played one fewer match. Behind them, Fortuna Düsseldorf’s rise to third gave the round a different sort of momentum. At the bottom, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DSC Arminia Bielefeld remain in the relegation zone; SpVgg Greuther Fürth are 16th, where the prospect of a play-off cannot be dismissed.

Bayern turn pressure into a statement

There was no long wait for Bayern’s crowd of 85,262 to see the home side take charge. Niccolò De Giglio put them ahead in the fourth minute with a low shot from close range, and Emeka Omotayo drove a low effort along the ground from outside the box to make it 2-0 in the 20th. Six minutes later Patrick Wolfgang Brunnhübner struck from outside the box, his shot high, and Bayern had made a commanding afternoon of it before the half-hour.

DSC Arminia Bielefeld offered a reminder that the score was not yet complete when Dario Boris volleyed in low from close range in the 71st minute. Cornel Iosif answered with a header from close range 13 minutes later, and José Luís Hernández added Bayern’s fifth in added time with a low shot near a post. Sil Vlietstra was the standout performer, while De Giglio’s early contribution was part of a convincing response from a side whose league lead has grown to 16 points over RB Leipzig. Bayern arrived on an eight-match winning run in the Bundesliga; Saturday’s five goals extended that authority.

Hamburg leave Frankfurt with a point

Junior Mountaro gave Frankfurt the lead in the 11th minute with a low shot from close range, near a post. Da Silva levelled for Hamburg just before half-time, heading in low from close range. Frankfurt went ahead again through Guy Vahaba, whose low, hard drive from close range found a way near a post in the 63rd minute. In-Sung Han replied five minutes later with a shot at mid height near a post.

Han was Hamburg’s best performer: he scored the equaliser and was central to a contest in which the hosts had to keep answering Frankfurt’s pressure. Hamburg had 11 corners to Frankfurt’s three, but the visitors had more of the ball and twice hit the woodwork. The point leaves Hamburg fifth and Frankfurt 11th. Hamburg’s place in the top five is useful progress, but a draw at home is not quite the kind of return that closes the gap to the clubs above.

Freiburg find a late answer

Pablo Roldán put Freiburg ahead in the 29th minute with a low shot near a post. Leverkusen drew level through Sergio Gurrutxaga’s low, hard drive from outside the box in the 81st minute. Abdul Bangura settled it in added time, with a low effort from outside the box near a post. Freiburg’s match-winner was also the game’s outstanding player.

The result leaves Freiburg 13th and Leverkusen 17th, with the visitors still on 15 points after 27 games. They are two points below Greuther Fürth and four above Bielefeld, but there is little comfort in being between the two sides at the bottom.

Fortuna climb as Nürnberg and St Pauli take their chances

Jorge opened the scoring with a low, hard drive from outside the box in the 12th minute. Viktor Knakal added a second before half-time, sending a high shot from outside the box just under the bar near a post. Knakal was the game’s standout performer. Fortuna now have 48 points, one more than Borussia Dortmund, who have played a game fewer. Fürth stay 16th on 17 points.

1. FC Nürnberg came from behind to beat TSG Hoffenheim 2-1. José Antonio Rosado scored for Hoffenheim in the sixth minute, then put through his own goal in the 61st. Valério completed Nürnberg’s comeback in the 84th minute with a low shot from close range through the middle. Facundo Federici was the best player on the pitch. Nürnberg are 12th; Hoffenheim are 15th.

FC St. Pauli’s 1-0 win at 1. FC Köln was the weekend’s upset. Solomon Mensah’s shot from outside the box, at mid height near a post, settled Saturday’s game in the 16th minute. Salvador León stood out for St. Pauli, who won against the run of play. Köln remain eighth and St. Pauli 14th. At the top, Bayern remain in command; beneath them Fortuna are the round’s climbers. At the bottom, the points are fewer and the margin for error thinner.