Bayer Leverkusen returned to the Top Four with a victory over Monchengladbach, while Bayern Munich retained their four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table.
Leverkusen faced a stern test away against Marco Rose’s Borussia Monchengladbach, as the pair fought for a place in the UEFA Champions League next season. However, the visitors were ahead after just seven minutes when Kai Havertz beat the offside flag and managed to slip the ball calmly past the goalkeeper.
Monchengladbach leveled the scoring with a first-time half-volley from Marcus Thuram, but Leverkusen found themselves ahead again as Havertz converted what looked like a slightly dubious penalty. The visitors then wrapped up the result with a goal from Sven Bender just nine minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Dortmund were eventually able to break past a resolute and defensive Wolfsburg side to pick up full points on the road. Their goals from wing-backs Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi went unresponded, as they hoped to close the gap with Bayern Munich before ‘Der Klassiker’ next weekend.
However, the league leaders had other ideas, putting five goals past Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday’s late game. Bayern raced into the lead with goals from Leon Goretzka, Thomas Muller, and Robert Lewandowski, only to be given a scare as defender Martin Hinteregger hit a quick brace in the 52nd and 55th minutes, both coming from corner kicks.
However, the leaders rallied once again, with promising left-back Alphonso Davies restoring the side’s cushion before Hinteregger was involved at the wrong end to give Bayern a fifth.
As a result, Monchengladbach slip out of the top four to be replaced by Leipzig and Leverkusen, while Dortmund remain four points behind leaders Bayern before their major meeting this weekend.