Bayern Munich closer to record 7th straight Bundesliga title

BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich took another step toward a record-extending seventh straight Bundesliga title on Saturday, and the bottom three teams all lost to extend the relegation fight into another week.

Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka and Franck Ribery scored for Bayern to beat last-place Hannover 3-1 at home and move five points clear of Borussia Dortmund, which visits Werder Bremen later Saturday. Two rounds remain after this weekend’s games.

Like Hannover, last-but-one Nuremberg is likely to be demoted after losing 2-0 at Wolfsburg. But the two teams’ slim hopes were kept alive thanks to Stuttgart’s 3-1 loss at Hertha Berlin.

Stuttgart, which holds the relegation playoff place, remained six points above Hannover and five above Nuremberg.

Also Saturday, Hoffenheim wasted a host of chances as Borussia Moenchengladbach grabbed a 2-2 draw at home.