Ribery solo keeps Bayern on track
AFP
AFP, BERLIN: Franck Riberys spectacular bicycle kick sealed Bayern Munichs 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday as the Bundesliga leaders warmed-up for their Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Benfica.
The 32-year-old Ribery produced a magic moment on 20 minutes by drilling his overhead kick into the top corner of the Frankfurt net at Munichs Allianz Arena.
It was the French wingers 70th Bundsliga goal and came after Bayerns Germany midfielder Mario Goetze had his shot blocked.
But Pep Guardiola wants an improved performance against Benfica from his side after Bayerns below-par performance.
Its always a bit complicated coming back after the international break. We started well. The first 25 minutes were the best, especially Francks crazy goal, said Bayern coach Guardiola.
After that, our last pass was not precise and in the closing stages, the players lost their concentration.
Now we are focusing on Benfica and I am hoping for a better team performance, he added ahead of Tuesdays European clash.
Bayern claimed a league record with their eighth straight clean sheet against Eintracht Frankfurtno other club has managed the feat as many times in a row against the same opposition.
Bayerns Robert Lewandowski, the leagues top scorer, had a quiet afternoon, failing to add to his tally of 25 Bundesliga goals, and came off with 19 minutes to go.
Frankfurt, who are second from bottom, gave Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer an easy afternoon with just four shots on goal.
With six games left, the Bavarians remain on track to become the first German club to win four straight Bundesliga titles.
They remain five points clear after second-placed Borussia Dortmund later fought back in a dramatic 3-2 win over Werder Bremen.
Bremen were missing injured top scorer Claudio Pizarro, but gave Dortmund a scare at Signal Iduna Park before Thursdays Europa League quarter-final, first leg against Liverpool.
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Dortmund the lead by claiming his 23rd league goal of the season with a superb chip on 53 minutes.
But Bremen roared back with two goals in quick succession from Alejandro Galvez and Zlatko Junuzovic to go 2-1 up with 15 minutes left.
Dortmund dug deep though and goals from Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who converted Marcel Schmelzers cross, and Adrian Ramos, who headed in from a corner, saw them home.
We showed a good mentality, said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.
Im happy about our reaction and the performance.
South Korea international Koo Ja-Cheol netted for relegation-threatened Augsburg as his club lost 4-2 at Mainz.
Argentinian forward Pablo De Blasis and Christian Clemens scored twice for Mainz at the Coface Arena as the result bumped the hosts up to fifth.
Augsburg stay clear of the relegation places on goal difference and are level on 27 points with Frankfurt and Hoffenheim, who host Cologne on Sunday.
Bottom side Hanover 96 are ten points from safety with six league games left after losing 3-0 at home to Hamburg.
Schalke dropped to sixth, and risk losing their Europa League place for next season, after their 3-0 drubbing at Ingolstadt.
Darmstadt pulled themselves two points away from the relegation battle with a 2-2 draw at home to Stuttgart.
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