Bundesliga Matchday 27: Bayern captures title with seven matchdays remaining

Toni Kroos deflected a botched clearance into the net to give Bayern an early lead in the 6th minute.  Mario Goetze's 16th minute header on Bastian Schweinsteiger's pass, gave the record champion a 2-0 half time lead.  Berlin's Ramos pulled one back on a penalty kick in the 66th minute, before  Frank Ribery ensured the 3-1 win. With a 25 point lead on top of the table, FC Bayern won their 24th Bundesliga title in record time, with seven matchdays remaining.

The local derby of second placed Dortmund and third placed Schalke 04 resulted in a scoreless draw, leaving the two sides one point apart at 52 and 51 points respectively and seven points ahead of Leverkusen.  League taillight Eintracht Braunschweig defeated Mainz 05, which is in a position to capture a Euro League spot, 3-1.

Werder Bremen dropped three points at home to VFL Wolfsburg, moving the wolves into fifth spot, equal in points with Leverkusen at 44.  Tuesday's results left the relegation race tight, with Freiburg, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Nuernberg and Braunschweig in a fight to avoid relegation as the season draws to a conclusion.  Freiburg,  Stuttgart, Hamburg and Nuernberg play on Wednesday.

While the 2013/2014 championship has been decided, the fight for relegation, Champions League and Euro League continue.  Bayern, Dortmund and Schalke with a seven point lead over the remainder of the field should be qualified, but the fourth spot is yet to be decided.  Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Moenchengladbach and Mainz are in contention, while Augsburg, Berlin and Hoffenheim still  have a shot at Euro League qualification.

Wednesday's result, which saw five relegation endangered sides in action,  tightened the battle, with only five points separating Braunschweig (18th) and Nuernberg (14th).  While Frankfurt with it's win over Gladbach, the Eagles (11th) gained some space, but are not out of the water yet.  Leverkusen walked away with three points in Augsburg and retain fourth spot with four points ahead of Wolfsburg.   Gladbach's loss in Frankfurt leaves the side just one point ahead of Mainz, which lost its match yesterday in Braunschweig. 

Bundesliga action continues on Friday evening.
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Tuesday 25 March

Hertha BSC vs Bayern München       1-3
Eintr. Braunschweig vs FSV Mainz 05  3-1    
Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04       0-0
Werder Bremen vs VfL Wolfsburg   1-3

Wednesday 26 March
   
Hamburger SV vs SC Freiburg    1-1   
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bor. Mönchengladbach    1-0   
FC Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen       1-3
1. FC Nürnberg vs VfB Stuttgart       2-0
1899 Hoffenheim vs Hannover 96   3-1

Posn  Team             GP   W   D   L    GF/GA   Points

1      FC Bayern         27    25   2    0      79:12       77
2      Dortmund         27    16   4    7       59:29       52
3      Schalke             27    15   6    6       51:37       51
4      Leverkusen       27    15   2  10       46:33       47
5      Wolfsburg         27    13   5    9       46:41       44
6      M'gladbach       27    12   6    9       51:32       42 
7      Mainz               27    12   5   10       38:43       41 
8      Augsburg          27    11   6   10       40:40      39
9      Hertha BSC      27    10   6    11      36:37      36
10    Hoffenheim       27     9   8    10      60:59      35
11    Frankfurt           27     8   8    11      34:36       32
12    Hannover           27     8   5  14       35:49       29
13    Bremen              27     7   8  12       31:53       29
14    Nürnberg           27      5 11  11       32:49       26
15    Freiburg            27      6   8  13       30:48       26
16    Hamburg           27      6   6  15       42:56       24
17    Stuttgart            27      6   6  15       39:54       24
18    B'schweig         27      5    6  16      24:49       21