Bayern Munich move one step closer to third title in row

Bastian Schweinsteiger's late winner moved Bayern 1-0 past courageous Berlin while Leverkusen were held to 1-1 draw at the Rhenish derby at the 30th round of Bundesliga on Saturday.

Front-runners Bayern Munich reaped a hard earned 1-0 victory over Berlin to theoretically seal their Bundesliga title 2014-2015. If runner-up Wolfsburg drop points tomorrow, Bayern wrap up their 25th Bundesliga title four rounds ahead of the seasons final.

However, it was all but an easy win for the German record champions who were unable to overcome Berlin's well-positioned defence at the most. Berlin defended deep meanwhile Pep Guardiola' s men lacked in penetration and ideas to break the deadlock.

After the restart Berlin nearly caught the hosts flatfooted when Nico Schulz utilized a through ball to run up to Manuel Neuer, who denied the opener on a one-on-one with a reflex of his right arm at the 54th minute.

The promising chance for Berlin was a wakening call for the " Bavarians" who piled on the pressure to work out opportunities through Robert Lewandowski and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Yet, It was either Berlin's goalkeeper Sascha Buchert, the bar or the post that denied the opener for Bayern.

However, it was Schweinsteiger who scored the decider from inside the box into the top right corner following an assist by youngster Mitchell Weiser, who shrugged-off four Berlin defender at the 80th minute.

Bayern lead the Bundesliga standings with 15 points and four games left, while Berlin stay on the 13th place with 34 points.

"We are almost Bundesliga champions. I am incredibly proud of the team because it was a difficult game. Nevertheless, we now have to focus on the other competitions," Pep Guardiola said.

Leverkusen's winning streak of seven games came to an end as the "Werkself" were held to a 1-1 draw by resilient Cologne at the Rhenish derby. The draw is a setback for third-placed Leverkusen in the race for a UEFA Champions League berth.

Newly promoted Cologne kept Leverkusen on the distance at the first half. Nevertheless, Leverkusen had the golden chance to break the deadlock when Hakan Calhanoglu stepped up for a foul play penalty. The Turkish international failed to convert the penalty as Cologne's goalkeeper Timo Horn parried with three minutes remaining in the first half.

Leverkusen cut a better figure in front of Cologne's goal after the restart when youngster Julian Brandt, who was fielded six minutes earlier, unleashed a long-range effort to open the scoring into the top right corner at the 60th minute.

Cologne reacted and started to increase their offensive actions. The hosts were rewarded for their efforts in the closing period when joker Bard Finne utilized a header by Anthony Ujah to volley the 1-1 equalizer at the 83rd minute, extending Cologne's unbeaten run on home soil to eight games.

With the draw, both teams remain on their positions for the moment. Leverkusen stay on the 3rd position with 55 points and Cologne on the 12th place with 35 points.

Ninth-placed Dortmund cruised to a 2-0 victory over uninspired Frankfurt increasing their hopes for a ticket for the UEFA Europa League. It's Dortmund's second win in row whereas Frankfurt wait for their first win since five games.

Juergen Klopp's men reaped two second-half goals to put the result beyond doubt against harmless visitors from Frankfurt.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring following a handball penalty as he chipped the ball into the centre of the goal at the 24th minute. Aubameyang was again in the thick of things eight minutes later when the Gabon international square passed into the box to assist Shinji Kagawa, who tapped in from close range to make it 2-0 on the scoreboards.

After the break Frankfurt tried to take over but Dortmund remained a threat on counter attacks. The 11th victory of the season move the "BVB" on the eighth place with 39 points, just three points adrift from the 7th place and Europa League berth. Meanwhile, Frankfurt slipped from the 10th to the 11th place with 36 points.

Elsewhere, at the debut of caretaker Bruno Labbadia bottom side Hamburg edged sixth-placed Augsburg 3-2, snatching crucial points to climb on the relegation play-off spot. Hamburg's Pierre Michel Lasogga donated a brace to ensure the first win since February.

Ten-men Stuttgart suffered a setback in their relegation battle as they wasted a 2-0 lead to share the spoils thanks to the brace by Freiburg's Nils Petersen at the Southern derby.

Hoffenheim return to winning ways after four winless matches as they defeated Hannover, who haven't won in 2015 so far, 2-1 by courtesy of Sven Schipplock's decider.

The following fixtures are scheduled for Sunday: newly promoted and relegation threatened Paderborn host Bremen whilst fourth- placed Monchengladbach encounter runner-up Wolfsburg. Endite