Bayern hit back against Freiburg to retain league lead, Dortmund win

Bayern Munich rebounded from a shock mid-week German Cup defeat against Freiburg when they beat them 1-0 on Saturday to retain the Bundesliga lead.

Ritsu Doan hit the post for fourth-placed Freiburg in the first half but defender Matthijs de Ligt then smashed the champions to victory in the 51st.

"Of course it was an important win," De Ligt told Sky TV. "I just saw the space and then ball went in. It is a great feeling."

Bayern remain two points ahead of Borussia Dortmund who overcame the disappointment of losing the Bundesliga lead in Munich a week ago and exiting the Cup on Wednesday in the Cup at RB Leipzig by beating third-ranked Union Berlin 2-1.

Union are now five points behind Dortmund and Freiburg another four back, their top four place under threat from Leipzig who visit lowly Hertha Berlin in the late game.

Also in the frame, four points behind Freiburg, are Bayer Leverkusen who moved past Eintracht Frankfurt into sixth by beating them 3-1 from Amine Adli's solo, Moussa Diaby and Sardar Azmoun for a fifth straight league victory.

Mainz drew 2-2 with Werder Bremen in a game where the first goal came in the 85th minute, and Cologne prevailed 3-1 in Augsburg.

Freiburg had ended Bayern's treble dreams with a last-gasp 2-1 Cup win on Tuesday in Munich but were not able to beat them again in the league in their home stadium.

Bayern started brightly and had several chances but the best belonged to Freiburg from Ritsu Doan's shot against the right post off Michael Gregoritsch's cross on the stroke of half-time after Bayern defender Alphonso Davies had inexplicitly switched off.

However, De Ligt then found the net with a long-range drive which swerved into the top right corner shortly after the restart.

Freiburg had a lucky escape shortly afterwards when Lucas Höler's handball while lying on the ground was deemed accidental upon review, and Bayern forward Serge Gnabry hit the left post in stoppage time.

Bayern keeper Yann Sommer had a big moment against Roland Sallai to preserve the lead with 20 minutes left.

In Dortmund, Donyell Malen opened the scoring in the 28th when he tapped in Raphael Guerreiro's low cross from the left on their first notable chance.

Kevin Behrens' equalizer tested Dortmun's nerves but Youssoufa Moukoko restored Dortmund's lead five minutes after coming on, rounding goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow after a scramble and slotting home in the 79th for Dortmund's eighth straight home win.

"It was a very important game for us. It was a close win but a deserved one. It is always tough against Union and we are very relieved to get the win," Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said.