Bayern wins in Wolfsburg, Stuttgart loses to Hannover
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski scored in the second half to give Bundesliga front-runner Bayern Munich a 2-0 win in Wolfsburg on Saturday.
The defending champion stayed on course for an unprecedented fourth straight title and provisionally increased its lead over Borussia Dortmund to 11 points. Dortmund hosts Hoffenheim on Sunday.
In other matches, Claudio Pizarro scored a late goal to salvage a 2-2 draw for Werder Bremen against Darmstadt, bottom-place Hannover ended a five-match losing streak under new coach Thomas Schaaf with a 2-1 win in Stuttgart and Hamburger SV settled for a 1-1 draw at home against Ingolstadt.
Lewandowski raised his league-high tally to 23 goals to secure Bayern's win in Wolfsburg. Pep Guardiola's team did just enough to win against last season's runner-up.
There were no other matches Saturday, with four matches scheduled unusually for Sunday due to Europa League matches two days ago.
In Wolfsburg, the host team wasted the better chances in the first half despite Bayern's dominance.
Franck Ribery came on 11 minutes into the second half for Arjen Robben and the French winger played a role in both Bayern goals.
He dribbled past three Wolfsburg players before getting the ball to Lewandowski, whose shot was deflected. The ball fell kindly to Coman, who slotted it home from close range in the 66th.
The same three players also created Bayern's second in the 74th. Coman broke through on the right and crossed into the area. Ribery chested the ball down and Lewandowski drove it inside the post with the outside of his right foot.
Lewandowski scored a Bundesliga-record five goals inside nine minutes when Bayern won 5-1 at home in the fall.
"These are a very important three points for us," Lewandowski said. "We were patient. Wolfsburg was defending and waiting for the counter."
Guardiola said it was difficult to play four days after the intense 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League.
"We started very well but we are not resolute enough in our attacks," the outgoing Bayern coach said. "Once we scored, it became easier for us. Ribery was important with his one-on-one skill."
In Stuttgart, Hannover earned its first win after eight straight losses with Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake setting up both goals with free kicks for captain Christian Schulz.
Timo Werner scored the opening goal for Stuttgart, which had several chances foiled by Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and lost for the first time after an undefeated run of eight matches. The win restored some hope for Hannover in the battle against relegation.
Werder didn't help its cause by failing to win at home against promoted Darmstadt, which led 2-1 on goals from Sandro Wagner's penalty and Aytac Sulu before Pizarro struck in the 89th. Werder, which led on a goal by Anthony Ujah, has only one win in 11 home matches.
Newly signed Josip Drmic gave Hamburg an early lead before Lukas Hinterseer struck in the 61st for Ingolstadt's first goal away from home in five matches.