Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig to close in on ninth-straight Bundesliga title

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Bayern goes 7 points clear with narrow win over Leipzig

Bayern Munich takes control of the Bundesliga after beating second-place RB Leipzig 1-0.

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:08 am

Leon Goretzka's first-half goal was enough to give Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich a crucial 1-0 victory at second-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday, as they opened up a seven-point lead at the top and edged closer to a ninth-straight league crown.

Leipzig were the better team but were wasteful. In contrast the Bavarians, without injured top scorer Robert Lewandowski, were brutally efficient to earn the three points after Goretzka fired in from Thomas Muller's 15th assist of the season.

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No team has lost the title after leading by seven points after the 27th matchday and with seven games remaining.

"Bayern deserved the lead at half-time because of their brutal efficiency," said Leipzig's Head of Football Oliver Mintzlaff.

"Our aim remains to qualify for the Champions League. We will now focus on the last seven league games. We can still play the best season of our club history."

Filip Singer/EPA

Bayern coach Hansi Flick tried to keep his players grounded, despite them inching ever closer to another title.

"We will not say today that the season is over," Flick said. "It was a good and important step. But we want to get maximum points from the last seven remaining matches.

"It was a top game and Leipzig proved why they are up there. It was clear that in the second half they will try everything. They caused us problems but the attitude of my team was outstanding."

The visitors had few chances throughout and survived a second-half siege as Leipzig squandered a quartet of golden opportunities in a powerful start after the break.

Neither Christopher Nkunku nor Dani Olmo and Marcel Sabitzer managed to hit the target.

The latter did better on the hour with a long-range effort that forced Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer to make a fine save as he tipped the ball over the bar, but the hosts could not find an equaliser.

Bayern, facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, are on 64 points, with Leipzig second on 57. VfL Wolfsburg, 1-0 winners against Cologne, are third on 54.