Pro Sports

Schalke relegated, Bayern opens 10-point lead in Bundesliga

Posted April 20, 2021 7:00 am

By CIARÃN FAHEY

Frankfurt's Martin Hinteregger, left, stops Augsburg's Marco Richter in action during their German Bundesliga soccer match at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday April 20, 2021. P(rne Dedert/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) - Schalke was finally relegated from the Bundesliga after a dismal season with a 1-0 loss at Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday, when Bayern Munich closed in on another title.

Bayern is just one win away from a record-extending ninth consecutive championship after it capitalized on second-place Leipzig's shock 2-1 loss at Cologne and moved 10 points clear at the top with a 2-0 win at home over Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bavarian powerhouse can seal the title with a win at Mainz on Saturday.

'œNow we're very close. Even if the season didn't go quite to plan, we can grab the championship. That's the main target,'ť Joshua Kimmich said.

SCHALKE DEMOTED

Fabian Klos' 50th-minute goal was enough for Bielefeld to deal Schalke its 21st defeat in 30 games.

Schalke had been playing in the Bundesliga continuously since earning promotion in 1991. It's the quickest of the Gelsenkirchen-based club's four demotions with four games still to play.

'œWe knew it was coming, but when you realize it's over - it's really brutal,'ť said former Schalke great Gerald Asamoah, who acts as a link between the club and the players. 'œI'm bound to the club, it's been 20 years and I never dreamed it could be so long. I've no words.'ť

Bielefeld, which was promoted last season, moved four points above Hertha Berlin in the relegation zone, though Hertha has two games in hand. The Hertha squad is on quarantine for two weeks following a COVID-19 outbreak at the club.

Goalkeeper Ralf FÃ¤hrmann saved a penalty from Klos, who was offside when he swept in the rebound. Schalke also finished with 10 men after Malick Thiaw was sent off with his second yellow card in the 71st.

But Schalke is last with 13 points from 30 games and cannot gain enough points to survive even if it were to somehow win its last four games. Schalke has just two wins all season.

'œIt's a very bitter hour for all Schalke people,'ť said Dimitrios Grammozis, the team's fifth coach of the season. 'œWe're brutally disappointed.'ť

BAYERN ON BRINK

Bayern wasted no time against Leverkusen. Alphonso Davies was involved before David Alaba crossed for Thomas MÃ¼ller to draw a good save from Lukas Hradecky. But the rebound fell to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who hammered home a volley in the eighth minute.

Leverkusen defender Daley Sinkgraven then laid the ball off for Joshua Kimmich to fire inside the left post five minutes later.

It another boost for the club, Leon Goretzka returned from injury when he came on for MÃ¼ller in the 63rd.

COLOGNE'S COUP

Cologne captain Jonas Hector scored twice for Cologne to upset Leipzig 2-1 and boost its chances of survival.

Leipzig dominated the first half in terms of chances and possession but was caught out after the break when Hector '“ a defender '“ headed in the opener after Dayot Upamecano left him in too much space at the far post for Jannes Horn's cross.

Amadou Haidara equalized in the 59th, but Hector scored again a minute later, firing inside the right post after playing a one-two with Ondrej Duda, who set him up with his heel. It was the first time the Germany defender scored twice in a Bundesliga game.

Cologne remained second from bottom in an automatic relegation place, behind Hertha on goal difference.

Also, Eintracht Frankfurt consolidated fourth place and the last spot for Champions League qualification with a 2-0 win over Augsburg.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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CiarÃ¡n Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP

Bielefeld striker Ritsu Doan takes a shot against Schalke 04 during their German Budesliga soccer match at SchÃ¼co Arena in Bielefeld, Germany, Tuesday April 20, 2021. (Friso Gentsch/pool via AP) The Associated Press

Bielefeld striker Andreas Voglsammer tries to break through against the Schalke defence with Schalke's Mehmet Aydin, left, Benjamin Stambouli and goalkeeper Ralf F'hrmann during their German Bundesliga soccer match at Schuco Arena in Bielefeld, Germany, Tuesday April 20, 2021. (Friso Gentsch/dpa Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Bayern's Leon Goretzka, right, challenges for the ball with Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (Christof Stache, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Bayern's Leroy Sane, center walks off the pitch after the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool) The Associated Press

Bayern's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting reacts after his goal was disallowed for offside during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool) The Associated Press

Bayern's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates a goal that was disallowed for offside during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool) The Associated Press

Bayern's Benjamin Pavard tries to control the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool) The Associated Press

Frankfurt's Martin Hinteregger, 2nd from right, scores the first goal of the game against Augsburg's Reece Oxford, right, during their German Bundesliga soccer match at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday April 20, 2021. P(rne Dedert/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn, right, fends off Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele, bottom, during their German Bundesliga Soccer match in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday April 20, 2021. (Rolf Vennenbernd/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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