Bayern go 11 points clear
BERLIN: Thomas Mueller came off the bench to score the winner and Sven Ulreich saved a 95thminute 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.”
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.
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 11-match 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.”
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 2-1 home victory against Hoffenheim.
“We were lucky to get the second goal, the boys tried everything and threw the kitchen sink at them,” said Dortmund head coach Peter Stoeger.
The win was Dortmund’s second in a row under new boss Stoeger, who replaced Peter Bosz last Sunday, while Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim dropped to seventh.
“We were too passive in the second half, but we didn’t deserve to lose that and had the clear goal chances,” said Nagelsmann.
Augsburg striker Alfred Finnbogason scored twice in injury-time to claim a hat-trick and grab a 3-3 draw against Freiburg.
Not to be outdone, strugglers Mainz also came from two down at Werder Bremen to poach a point in a 2-2 draw. AFP