Bundesliga: Bayern Munich wins, Borussia Dortmund keeps pace
BERLIN (AP) — Franck Ribery's spectacular volley sparked Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich over Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0, and three substitutes helped Borussia Dortmund keep pace by beating Werder Bremen 3-2 on Saturday.
Bayern, which had 21 efforts on goal compared with the visitor's four, next hosts Benfica for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
"The three points are the most important thing," said Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski, who had a quiet game. "On Tuesday we'll have to play much, much better."
Shinji Kagawa, Adrian Ramos, and 17-year-old Christian Pulisic all played a role as Dortmund rallied with late goals to stay five points behind Bayern with six games left to play.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, chipping the Bremen goalkeeper in style for his 23rd goal of the season after Henrikh Mkhitaryan played him through.
Bremen equalized after a corner when Alejandro Galvez's shot - which was heading wide - was deflected inside the left post by Dortmund midfielder Gonzalo Castro.
Zlatko Junuzovic then stunned home fans when he scooped the ball home despite the presence of five Dortmund defenders after a great run from Levin Oztunali.
But Marcel Schmelzer crossed for Kagawa to equalize three minutes later — as many minutes as the Japan star had been on the pitch.
Ramos scored the winner in the 82nd with a header from a corner earned by Pulisic. Both players had just come on two minutes before.
"Even after going behind, we never had the feeling we would lose," Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl said.
Dortmund turns its attention to the reunion with former coach Juergen Klopp, arriving with Liverpool for the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday.
Earlier, Ribery scored for Bayern with an acrobatic scissors kick, sending back the rebound after Lukas Hradecky saved Mario Goetze's initial effort with his foot. Goetze, like Ribery making an uncommon start due to injury problems, ran at the Frankfurt defense to create the chance. It was Ribery's second goal in eight league appearances this season, five as a substitute.
"When you only score one goal, it's even more important not to concede," Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.
Also, Mainz boosted its hopes of European football next season with a 4-2 win over Augsburg, Ingolstadt defeated Schalke 3-0 with striker Dario Lezcano scoring his first Bundesliga goal to dent the visitor's hopes of Champions League qualification, and Darmstadt drew with Stuttgart 2-2 in their relegation battle.
Second-half goals from defender Cleber, Ivo Ilicevic, and Nicolai Mueller sent Hamburger past Hannover 3-0 and eased relegation fears. Bottom-side Hannover looks doomed after its 12th defeat in 14 home games this season.
"You almost feel sorry for Hannover. They're not playing like a relegated team," Hamburg 'keeper Rene Adler said.
His counterpart, Ron-Robert Zieler, was dropped from the Germany team for the recent internationals.
"It's simply not good enough what we're delivering week in, week out," Zieler said.
Augsburg defender Caiuby opened the scoring early in Mainz, only for Christian Clemens to equalize four minutes later, and Pablo De Blasis to complete the turnaround in the 24th.
Koo Ja-cheol levelled the score again five minutes before the break but both De Blasis and Clemens scored again in the second half to seal the home win.
