Bayern closer to title after big win over Schalke 04, starring role for Malen at Dortmund

Bayern Munich moved another step closer to its 33rd title in Germany with a 6-0 home victory over low-flyer Schalke 04. With two rounds of play to go, ‘der Rekordmeister’ has one point more than Borussia Dortmund, which also recorded an easy win against Borussia Mönchengladbach: 5-2.

Schalke, with defender Sepp van den Berg in the starting lineup, barely got under Bayern’s pressure from the first minute. Thomas Müller put the leaders ahead 1-0 after twenty minutes after a handful of missed chances. Through Joshua Kimmich, who hit a penalty kick, it also became 2-0 shortly thereafter.

After half-time Serge Gnabry acted as the end of a fine attack for the 3-0 and fifteen minutes later he also made it 4-0.

Schalke, with Thomas Ouwejan filling in, only saw Bayern, with Matthijs de Ligt and substitute Ryan Gravenberch, through Mathys Tel and Noussair Mazraoui (with his first goal for Bayern), push further ahead. Daley Blind remained on the bench for the home side throughout the match.

While Bayern moved one step closer to the title, Schalke still has to fear relegation. With two matches left to play, the team is in 16th place, a spot that would condemn Schalke to playing in the second division.

Because Borussia Dortmund also won, the difference between Bayern, which still plays Leipzig and Köln, and Dortmund, which still meets Augsburg and Mainz, remains one point.

As in past duels, Donyell Malen played a leading role for the number two. From a rebound he headed in the 1-0 (eighth goal in the last eight games) and moments later he served Sebastien Haller in the 3-0 (beautiful header) and the 4-0.

In between, Jude Bellingham also scored from the penalty spot against the number eleven. After halftime, Dortmund’s sharpness was off though and Gladbach still managed to come close thanks to goals from Ramy Bensebaini and Lars Stindl. Dortmund did not relinquish the victory, however, and Reyna scored the 5-2 in injury time.

Sheraldo Becker claimed the leading role in several respects in the match between Union Berlin and SC Freiburg. The Dutch striker provided an assist to Kevin Behrens after only five minutes, and after just over half an hour of play he managed to score himself as well.

After his goal, Becker pulled a Spiderman mask over his head which earned him a yellow card.