“When you’re only 1-0 up, it’s always unsafe”.
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“The most important thing is we’ve got the three points”.
With the lead in the bag, Bayern comfortably dominated the rest of the half without too much exertion.
Nevertheless, Cologne’s Leonardo Bittencourt had the leveller on his foot but Neuer parried the shot from very close range to avoid the share of spoils in the dying minutes of the game.
However, the hosts increased their efforts after the halftime but they had to wait until the 73rd minute, when David Alaba had to block Anthony Modeste’s shot onto the empty goal. Alaba extended his Bayern contract to 2021 on Friday.
Cologne defended well while also creating chances to level, but they had to accept defeat to Bayern for the second time this season.
Bayern now hold an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, who take on Augsburg on Sunday, and Lewandowski felt they did well to hold on for the triumph.
Hertha Berlin defended their third place and the direct berth for the Champions League thanks to a 2-1 victory over the newly-promoted Ingolstadt.
Berlin had to be patient and to wait after the break, as Genki Haraguchi tapped home Marvin Plattenhardt’s pinpoint cross into the box with 54 minutes played.
Atletico Madrid stumbled in its pursuit of Barcelona for the Spanish league title after conceding two late goals to lose 2-1 at relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon Saturday. We have to change that, said Hertha coach Pal Dardai, whose side is enjoying its best season for seven years.
Claudio Pizarro’s club-record 101st goal for Bremen – a penalty before the interval – canceled out Julian Baumgartlinger’s opener for Mainz. Baumgartlinger then gave away the penalty.
Looking for a first win in seven games, Darmstadt went ahead through Sandro Wagner’s 11th of the season seven minutes from time but Schuerrle denied the visitors as Wolfsburg remain eighth.
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The French global joined the Bavarians on a two-year loan deal from Juventus in the summer of 2015 and haunted his parent club in the last-16 of the Champions League on Wednesday by popping up with the assist for Thomas Muller’s last-gasp equaliser before his extra-time strike sealed progress to the quarter-finals for Pep Guardiola’s men.
