Bayern cruise, Wolfsburg secure Champions League spot
Bayern Munich moved a step closer to a third straight Bundesliga title thanks to a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Robert Lewandowski boosted his own chances of winning the golden boot award at the end of his first season with Bayern, and a second in a row after finishing the league's top-scorer with Borussia Dortmund last term, by netting two goals in a commanding victory for Pep Guardiola's men. Bayern also had a goal disallowed and they struck the woodwork before Thomas Muller added a third, with few doubts from start to finish that they would pick up all three points once again.
Borussia Dortmund's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season suffered a further setback as they were beaten 3-1 at Borussia Monchengladbach. Jurgen Klopp's men were sent reeling to a second straight league defeat with Oscar Wendt, Raffael and Havard Nordtveit giving third-placed Gladbach a three-goal advantage.
Ilkay Gundogan pulled one back for the visitors, but it was merely a consolation which leaves the Westphalians languishing in mid-table with six games of the season remaining. Gladbach, on the other hand, can start looking forward to UEFA Champions League football next season with victory strengthening their grip on a top-four finish with fifth-placed Schalke some distance behind.
Bayer Leverkusen held on for a 3-2 win over Mainz to cement their fourth place thanks to a goal apiece from Son Heung-Min, Stefan Kiessling and Hakan Calhanoglu, but two penalties from Koo Ja-Cheol set up a grandstand ending. Leverkusen held on to increase their advantage over fifth-placed Schalke to ten points and remain just two behind Gladbach.
Schalke were held to a goalless draw at home by struggling Freiburg, who were thankful for the point that keeps them above the relegation zone.
Paderborn picked up a crucial three points in their battle to avoid relegation, denting Augsburg's hopes of playing in Europe next season with a 2-1 win at the Paderborn Arena. Elias Kachunga gave the hosts the lead before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg brought Augsburg level, but Paderborn soon regained the advantage as Srdjan Lakic earned them all three points.
Wolfsburg returned to within ten points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with a 2-0 win in Hamburg which leaves their northern Germany rivals in serious danger of being relegated from the top flight of German football for the first time ever.
Josuha Guilavogui and Daniel Caligiuri netted the goals for Wolfsburg as they ensured that all top four clubs in Germany won this weekend. As a result, their place in the Champions League next season was secured with 19 points separating them from fifth-placed Schalke with only six games of the season remaining.
Hamburg, who ended the game with ten men after Johan Djourou was shown a late red card, will go into the final six games of the season with four points to make up on Hannover above the drop zone, while they could fall to the foot of the table on Sunday should Stuttgart beat Werder Bremen.