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Berlin, April 12 (IANS) Front-runners Bayern Munich cruised to a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt while runners-up VfL Wolfsburg increased Hamburg's relegation worries following a 2-0 victory in the 28th round of Bundesliga.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern reaped their 22nd win at the 28th game as Robert Lewandowski donated a brace against uninspired Frankfurt on Saturday. Despite being injury hit, the German giants opened the scoring with just 15 minutes into the game. Lewandowski controlled an assist by Thomas Mueller inside the box with his chest to volley home into the top left corner.
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Lewandowski worked out two promising opportunities, but Frankfurt's goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was on guard twice. However, Thomas Mueller scored just before the break but referee Markus Schmidt ruled the German international's effort offside.
After the restart, Lewandowski doubled the lead to wrap up his brace, extending his tally to 16 goals in the 66th minute. The Polish international capitalised on a rebound by Mario Goetze to head home into the open goal from very close range.
Nevertheless, the "Bavarians" were not done with the scoring as Mueller added his name to the score sheets with eight minutes remaining. With the result, Bayern recorded their 22nd win of the season, staying atop the standings with a 10-point advantage to runners-up Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, Frankfurt remain on the 8th place suffering their 11th loss.
Second placed Wolfsburg downed struggling Hamburg 2-0 to inflict their 15th loss of the season. The Wolves reaped the 18th victory of the season whereas Hamburg wait for their first win since eight consecutive games. It is the second loss at the second game for Hamburg caretaker Peter Knaebel.
Wolfsburg dominated the game in all departments against harmless hosts. The Wolves secured an early lead on the road as unmarked Joshua Guilavogui utilised a through ball by Bas Dost to nutmeg Hamburg's goalkeeper Rene Adler at the 10th minute.
Despite Wolfsburg's dominance, the visitors had to wait until the 73rd minute to make the game safe. Daniel Caligiuri exchanged a one-two with Bas Dost inside the box to double the lead. However, things went from bad to worse for Hamburg as defender Johan Djorou was sent off after booking his second yellow card for complaining in the dying minutes of the game.
With the win Wolfsburg stay on the second place of the standings, with a seven-point advantage to Monchengladbach.
Hamburg, who have never relegated in the Bundesliga history, slipped from a relegation play-off spot to the second from bottom at the table while third placed Borussia Monchengladbach remain on course for an UEFA Champions League berth as they upset Borussia Dortmund 3-1.
The Foals caught a bright start on home soil as Oscar Wendt broke the deadlock with juts 29 second into the match. The Swedish international made use of a parry by Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to slot home from eleven meters.
Juergen Klopp's men were unable to respond against fast paced Foals who doubled the lead at the 32nd minute when Patrick Herrmann's solo run allowed Raffael to tap into the empty goal for the 2-0 lead.
Even after the restart Dortmund lacked in penetration whereas Monchengladbach showed a clinical chance conversion in front of the visitor's goal. Havard Nordveit tripled the lead following a corner kick at the far post to put the game beyond doubt.
Dortmund were only able to score their consolation in the 77th minute through Ilkay Guendogan, suffering their 13th loss of the season to stay on the 10th place whilst Monchengladbach defended their third place with a two-point advantage to Bayer Leverkusen.
Elsewhere, fourth placed Leverkusen defeated Mainz 3-2. The Werkself dominated the game until the 78th minute before Mainz Ja Cheol Koo scored twice to keep the spectators in suspense until the final whistle
FC Schalke 04 were held to a goalless draw by SC Freiburg, who squandered a foul play penalty to remain in touching distance of the drop zone.
Newly promoted and relegation threatened SC Paderborn 07 returned to winning ways after six winless games in a row as Srdjan Lakic scored the 2-1 winner against sixth-placed FC Augsburg.
The following fixtures are scheduled for Sunday: newly promoted Cologne encounter TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and last placed VfB Stuttgart face SV Werder Bremen.
