Bayern roll on as strugglers boost prospects

Despite wrapping up the 2012/13 Bundesliga title three weeks ago, there is no let up from the unstoppable FC Bayern München, while TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Augsburg won crucial matches in their quest to avoid relegation.

Themselves on a good recent run in the league, UEFA Champions League-chasing SC Freiburg could have displaced fourth-placed FC Schalke 04, but came unstuck at Bayern. Jupp Heynckes' side made it 14 straight wins and 22 games unbeaten in the league via Xherdan Shaqiri's floated first-half free-kick. Bayern's tally of 84 points is a Bundesliga record.

Twenty points adrift of Bayern in second are Borussia Dortmund, who also followed up their UEFA Champions League triumph with domestic victory – 2-1 against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Nuri Şahin and Jakub Błaszczykowski were on the mark for Jürgen Klopp's side.

One of the teams hoping to exploit Freiburg's defeat was VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, but second-half goals from Ivica Olić and Diego ensured they succumbed 3-1 to VfL Wolfsburg. Still only two points separate fourth and eighth in a tight tussle for Europe.

Elsewhere, 17th-placed Hoffenheim (27 points) held on after two first-half strikes to win 2-1 against 1. FC Nürnberg, matching the three points secured by fellow strugglers Augsburg (30) at home against VfB Stuttgart.

SV Werder Bremen, 14th with 32 points, remain in trouble after a narrow loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.