Title race over? Efficient Bayern have one hand in the league trophy

Bayern Munich might have put an end to the Bundesliga title race with a victory over second-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday with seven games left to the end of the season.

Berlin (dpa) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich and second-placed RB Leipzig had one thing in common ahead of their table-topper clash on Saturday: they both saw the game as a big final.

A win for Leipzig would keep the title race wide open, but the Bavarians were the ones to leave the Red Bull Arena with the three points after a 1-0 triumph.

Thanks to a Leon Goretzka goal Bayern now have a seven-point advantage over Leipzig with seven games left and already have one hand in what should be their ninth consecutive Bundesliga trophy.

“Our big goal was to win the game, to lay down a marker,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick said, adding that “it was an important step today in the title race.”

However, he warned: “There are still seven games to play.”

Without top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who suffered a knee injury during international break, and key players Jerome Boateng and Alphonso Davies, Bayern used efficiency and team mentality to secure the important victory.

“We already talked about that at the beginning of the season, that there would be games where you can’t press for 90 minutes. It’s down to a team’s mentality then,” Goretzka said.

On the Leipzig side, talks were about how the team were dominant on the pitch. Especially in the second half, Julian Nagelsmann’s men were the stronger side.

But, as coach and players recognized, they didn’t take their chances to keep the title race up and running.

“We performed well and were dominant. Especially after half time; we started the second half well,” midfielder Marcel Sabitzer said. “We have to accept the fact that we didn’t take our chances tonight.”

With 21 still up for grabs, Leipzig are still in contention for the title, but the mood after the defeat suggested the club will now fight for second place.

“We are playing a good season, we have to keep it up – even if the first chance of a title is gone,” coach Nagelsmann said.

“Of course you have to let it sink in for a moment, that’s – I think – quite normal when a goal seems to be gone in life,” he added. Leipzig are also out of the Champions League, but can still secure the German Cup.

Bayern meanwhile have two Champions League quarter-finals games against Paris Saint-Germain. The two clubs meet again after last season’s final, won by the German record champions.

“The next few weeks until the end of April will be tough. We’re away every three or four days so it’s important to take a deep breath and clear your head,” Flick said.