Bayern set scoring record and close in on title as Dortmund lose
· Yahoo Sports
Bayern Munich triumphed 5-0 at St Pauli as they bettered the 54-year-old Bundesliga scoring record with now 105 goals and moved close to a 35th national title because their only rivals Borussia Dortmund lost earlier on Saturday.
League leaders Bayern equalled their 101 goals from the 1971-72 season through Jamal Musiala's header in the ninth minute and bettered the mark to 102 when Leon Goretzka, who will leave in summer, fired home for 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
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Michael Olise got the third a minute later before Nicolas Jackson in 65th and Raphael Guerreiro in the 88th wrapped up matters and boosted morale for their big Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on Wednesday, having won the first leg in Spain 2-1.
Bayern have scored 45 goals more than the second best team, Dortmund, who have 60. The final tally is expected to be even higher as there are five more matchdays.
Bayern moved 12 points clear of Dortmund who lost 1-0 at home against top four candidates Bayer Leverkusen from Robert Andrich's 42nd-minute winner.
They have a first chance to clinch the title next weekend if they win against VfB Stuttgart and Dortmund don't get full points in Hoffenheim, or if Bayern draw and Dortmund lose.
Bayern record
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany made seven changes from the team that beat Real, with Harry Kane and Luis Diaz among those benched while Musiala started for the first time since a recent ankle problem.
And Germany star Musiala opened the scoring in the ninth with a diving header at the far post off Konrad Laimer's cross.
Musiala missed the goal record when he hit the right post in the 28th and St Pauli finally threatened as well two minutes later when defender Kim Minjae blocked a shot from Mathias Pereira Lage.
The record came eight minutes after the restart when Joshua Kimmich's free-kick was deflected towards the far post where Goretzka volleyed home.
Goal 103 followed a minute later when Goretzka blocked a St Pauli pass into the path of Olise who fired home for 3-0. Bayern weren't finished yet as Musiala set up Jackson in the 65th for 4-0 and Guerreiro completed the big win late on.
Crucial win for Leverkusen
Leverkusen could not afford defeat in Dortmund in their top four push but the hosts had the first chance, only for Daniel Svensson's effort headed away on the goal-line by Loïc Badé.
But Leverkusen got the goal when Andrich intercepted a pass from Ramy Bensebaini and drilled home for 1-0 into the bottom left corner from 28 metres.
Patrik Schick was denied a second by Kobel on the hour while Dortmund fought hard to avoid a third season defeat and third straight home loss against Leverkusen but Serhou Guirassy hit the crossbar in the 83rd.
Leverkusen rose to fifth, one point behind Stuttgart who host SV Hamburg on Sunday. RB Leipzig in third are four points ahead of Leverkusen after labouring to a 1-0 over Borussia Mönchengladbach from Yan Diomande's 81st-minute winner.
The top four qualify for the Champions League, and Leipzig and Stuttgart are among Leverkusen's opponents in the final five matchdays.
"You can only reach the top four with victories. We have it in our own hands but we will need points. The main aim is that Bayer Leverkusen reach the Champions League," Andrich said.
Other games
Heidenheim kept up their dim survival hopes when they beat Union Berlin 3-1 from Mathias Honsak's first-half brace and Budu Zivzivadze. They ended a run of 15 games without victory and moved within six points of St Pauli in the relegation play-off spot.
Second last Wolfsburg are just two points above Heidenheim after losing 2-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt for a 12th game without victory. Oscar Højlund and Arnaud Kalimuendo scored for Frankfurt, Dženan Pejčinović got a consolation goal in stoppage time.
The other Sunday games are Cologne v Werder Bremen and Mainz v Freiburg. Augsburg and Hoffenheim drew 2-2 on Friday.
FC St. Pauli's Lars Ritzka and Bayern Munich's Nicolas Jackson (R) battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and Bayern Munich at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpaBayern Munich's Leon Goretzka and FC St. Pauli's Danel Sinani (L) battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and Bayern Munich at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpaBayern Munich's Nicolas Jackson celebrates his side's fourth goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC St. Pauli and Bayern Munich at Millerntor Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa