Bayern return to form, Dortmund win again

FC Bayern München ended a three-game winless run in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 victory at bottom-placed TSV Eintracht Braunschweig, on a day when Borussia Dortmund strengthened their grip on second spot.

After successive league losses it was a case of normal service resumed for Josep Guardiola's side in Lower Saxony, although they were pushed hard by their opponents. 

Jan Hochscheidt headed wide for the hosts before shooting straight into the hands of Lukas Raeder while clean through. Braunschweig were made to pay in the 75th minute when Mario Götze's neat pass allowed Claudio Pizarro to score. Mario Mandžukić rounded things off late on.

Borussia Dortmund stretched their advantage over third-placed FC Schalke 04 to six points by defeating 1. FSV Mainz 05 4-2. Shinji Okazaki twice brought the visitors level after Miloš Jojić and Robert Lewandowski had struck for the Schwarzgelben, but a Łukasz Piszczek header and Marco Reus's penalty put the result beyond doubt.

VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, meanwhile, had Granit Xhaka sent off in a 4-2 loss at SC Freiburg, SV Werder Bremen beat TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3-1 and FC Augsburg drew 0-0 at home with Hertha BSC Berlin. Hamburger SV failed to ease their relegation worries in the late fixture, going down 3-1 at home to VfL Wolfsburg, who move fourth.