Bayern win to stay at the summit

Werder Bremen 1-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Gnabry 62', 0-2 Sane 72' (assist: Mazraoui), 1-2 Schmidt 86' (assist: Veljkovic)

With Borussia Dortmund not hosting Wolfsburg until Sunday evening, reigning champions Bayern had the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and Die Schwarzgelben, and they were eager to exert pressure on their opponents early on at the wohninvest WESERSTADION. However, despite dominating possession in the opening stages, Jiri Pavlenka's stunning reflex save from Benjamin Pavard's header was the only time the Bremen shot-stopper was tested. The hosts, meanwhile, grew into the game as it progressed, looking to wreak havoc on the counterattack. Yann Sommer was never going to be beaten by Leonardo Bittencourt's speculative, albeit well-hit, volley from 30 yards, but there would have likely been little he could do to stop Christian Groß's effort from inside the area had it hit the target rather than flown over the bar. While the scoreline remained goalless at the interval, both sides had reason to believe they could pick up all three points in the second period.

Shortly after the interval, Marvin Ducksch forced Sommer into a save before Sadio Mane twice went close without recording an effort on target. By the hour mark, Bremen were still in the game and looked capable of picking up a result, but Bayern eventually displayed the clinical finishing that has secured them so much silverware in recent years. For the opener, a ball fell rather fortuitously to Gnabry in the penalty area, and the winger buried with aplomb, before substitute Sane got on the end of a delicious Noussair Mazraoui through ball and placed a first-time shot into the far corner. Despite falling two goals behind, Bremen continued to push forward, and Niklas Schmidt netted a stunner with less than five minutes left on the clock to halve the deficit. In the end, though, it proved to be too little, too late as Bayern held on to the three points. As such, Die Roten are just three games away from an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title. Meanwhile, Die Werderaner missed the opportunity to guarantee their top-flight status for another campaign, but they are seven points clear of the bottom three and are in little danger of being relegated.

• This was the 112th Bundesliga meeting between the two sides - the most-played match-up in the division's history.
• Bayern have won all nine league games in which Gnabry has found the back of the net this term.
• The Bavarians are now unbeaten in their last 31 games in all competitions against Bremen.
• Schmidt's strike was the 19th time Bremen have scored in the final 15 minutes of a Bundesliga match this season, a league-lead.
• Bremen have won just one of their previous nine Bundesliga outings.
• Ole Werner's side also have the worst home record in the Bundesliga this term, picking up just 16 points.

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Watch: Matthijs de Ligt on the pressure of the title race

Bremen: Pavlenka – Pieper (Veljkovic 55'), Stark, Friedl (c) - Weiser, Bittencourt (Schmidt 82'), Groß (Gruev 77'), Stage, Jung (Buchanan 77') – Ducksch (Philipp 77'), Schmid
Unused subs: Zetterer, Chiarodia, Mbom, Dinkci
Out: Agu (patella tendon), Füllkrug (calf), Salifou (unknown)
Coach: Ole Werner

Bayern: Sommer - Mazraoui, Pavard, de Ligt, Cancelo - Kimmich (c), Gravenberch (Müller 64') - Gnabry, Musiala, Coman (Sane 64') – Mane (Sarr 88')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Blind, Morrison, Pavlovic, Ibrahimovic, Tel
Out: Choupo-Moting (knee), Davies (thigh), Goretzka (suspended), Hernandez (knee), Neuer (broken leg), Stanisic (muscular), Upamecano (muscle tear)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Watch: Noussair Mazraoui talks Bayern's upcoming 'finals'