Bayern hoping to seal championship at Mainz

By Reuters - Mar 20,2014 - Last updated at Mar 20,2014

MUNICH — Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich have had a hand on the Bundesliga title for months and could make their status as champions official at Mainz 05 on Saturday. Holding a 23-point lead at the top of the table and with nine games left, another Bayern victory this weekend and no wins from Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 would seal the trophy for the Bavarians. Fifth-placed Mainz will be no pushovers, having lost just once in 11 games. They are also attempting to record their best Bundesliga points haul this season. Third-placed Schalke, on 47 points, will try to keep the title race going a little longer especially as they are at home to bottom club Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday. Dortmund, in second spot on 48 points, are likely to be without defender Marcel Schmelzer at Hanover 96 on Saturday. Schmelzer was injured in the midweek 2-1 defeat by Zenit St. Petersburg that sent Juergen Klopp’s side through to the Champions League quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

Rate

Bayern’s dominance makes for boring Bundesliga

Mar 24,2014

It wasn’t always so easy for Bayern Munich. Bundesliga championships used to be decided on the last day of the season, or even in the last minute. In a famous episode in 2001, Schalke thought they had won their first title and their fans and players were already celebrating — too soon, it turned out.