Bayern Munich close gap on Borussia Dortmund ahead of winter break

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:26 am

Franck Ribery scored twice for champions Bayern Munich to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 on Saturday and climb to second place, six points behind Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund at the start of the winter break.

The 35-year-old tapped in his first goal in the 35th minute and added another in the 79th to take his tally to four goals in four league matches, with club bosses recently saying this was his last season at Bayern.

The Bavarians, who had half a dozen injured absentees, including Arjen Robben, James Rodriguez, Serge Gnabry and Mats Hummels, added a third goal with Rafinha in the 89th and are now on 36 points following their fifth straight league win.

Leaders Dortmund are top on 42 after beating Borussia Monchengladbach, in third on 33, 2-1 on Friday.

After Sunday's matches the season will resume on Jan. 18.

EPA/Clemens Bilan

Frankfurt enjoyed a strong start with Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer coming to the rescue on several occasions before his Frankfurt counterpart Kevin Trapp made three superb saves to deny David Alaba, Javi Martinez and Thomas Muller.

But Trapp was beaten when Muller and Robert Lewandowski combined superbly outside the box to set up Ribery for the lead.

Muller came close to a second goal a minute before the break but his header bounced off the crossbar.

Bayern tried to slow down the game but Frankfurt kept at it and Danny Da Costa should have levelled for the hosts from two metres out but instead fluffed his back-heel effort.

Ribery, however, played a fine one-two with Lewandowski a little later and despite mis-hitting his shot the ball went in off the post.

Another miskick from Rafinha sent the ball high over Trapp and into the net as Bayern sealed their win in Frankfurt with a lucky third goal and ended the Bundesliga year on a high.