HAMBURG: Bayern Munich earned a nervous 1-0 win at St Pau­li thanks to a sensational 28-metre drive from Jamal Musiala to stay unbeaten and open a five-point lead atop the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Bayern, fresh from their 1-0 Champions League win over Benfica courtesy of another goal from in-form Musiala, will go into the international break leading the standings.

They have 26 points, five ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, who did not get past Borussia Moenc­hengladbach in a goalless draw.

The Bavarians had the upper hand at the start but did not succeed in taming the hosts straight away.

Promoted St Pauli looked confident and gradually became more aggressive, carving out a couple of chances of their own. As the hosts pushed for a goal, however, it was Bayern who struck.

Germany midfielder Musiala won possession 30 metres out, took two steps and unleashed a ferocious shot that went in off the crossbar for his fifth league goal in the 23rd minute.

Musiala told Sky Germany he “didn’t know” he could shoot from such a distance, adding: “I’ve practiced a bit in training to shoot from distance... but not that far! “That it went in today made me happy... It was my first goal from outside the box this season and I’m always trying to work on different things to improve myself.”

Meanwhile, Leipzig recorded third 0-0 in the league this season.

Gladbach, floating in mid-table, were stronger in the opening half but both sides just couldn’t find the finishing touch.

The draw means Leipzig have dropped five points in their past six games and are in danger of losing touch with Bayern.

In Saturday’s other fixture, injury-hit Borrusia Dortmund suffered yet another setback, losing 3-1 at Mainz after Emre Can was sent off in the 27th minute for a studs-up tackle on Lee Jae-sung.

Can, playing in the unfamiliar centre-back position, was repla­ced by Felix Nmecha, another midfielder, who was at fault for Mainz’s opener, allowing an unmarked Lee to head in.

Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy won and converted a penalty to level things up but Jonathan Burkardt put Mainz back in front just before half-time.

Paul Nebel added a third early in the second period to put Mainz on course for their first home win.

At Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bayer Leverkusen’s title defence continued to stutter with a 1-1 draw at last-placed Bochum, who equalised in the final minute.

Leverkusen were ahead from the 18th minute through Patrik Schick but Bochum’s Koji Miyoshi equalised when he popped up to grab a loose ball after a mistake from Jonathan Tah and slide it in at the near post.

Leverkusen are now nine points behind Bayern and have dropped 13 points this campaign.

The draw was just Bochum’s second point this season after 10 games in their first match under veteran coach Dieter Hecking.

Elsewhere, Werder Bremen won 2-1 at home against Holstein Kiel thanks to an 89th-minute goal from Oliver Burke.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024