Football

Bayern Munich extended their lead atop the Bundesliga standings to five points with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St. Pauli on Saturday. Jamal Musiala's stunning long-range goal proved to be the difference, as Bayern's title rivals stumbled.Musiala, who scored the winner in Bayern's midweek Champions League victory over Benfica, showcased his brilliance once again. Receiving the ball in midfield, he surged forward and unleashed a powerful shot from nearly 30 meters out. The ball bounced off the crossbar and into the net, leaving St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj helpless.While Bayern secured a narrow win, their major title rivals faced setbacks. Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a goalless draw at home by Borussia Monchengladbach, their third 0-0 result in the league this season. RB Leipzig also failed to find the back of the net, drawing 0-0 with Borussia Dortmund.Dortmund's woes continued as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Mainz. Emre Can's red card in the first half proved costly, as Mainz capitalized on Dortmund's defensive frailties. Jonathan Burkardt and Paul Nebel scored for the hosts, while Serhou Guirassy's penalty proved to be a mere consolation for Dortmund.Leverkusen's title defense also hit a roadblock with a 1-1 draw at last-placed Bochum. Patrik Schick gave Leverkusen the lead, but Koji Miyoshi's late equalizer denied them a crucial victory.Elsewhere, Werder Bremen secured a 2-1 home win against Holstein Kiel thanks to Oliver Burke's 89th-minute goal.

Bayern Munich, the reigning Bundesliga champions, are poised to extend their lead at the top of the table when they visit promoted St. Pauli on Saturday. A victory would put them six points clear of RB Leipzig, who face Borussia Moenchengladbach later that day.Bayern's dominance this season has been evident in their unbeaten record and their impressive goal-scoring form. In their last four Bundesliga matches, they have netted 16 goals without conceding. This resurgence has been attributed to the arrival of Vincent Kompany as manager, who has instilled a renewed sense of confidence and tactical discipline in the team.Leipzig's recent 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund has given Bayern the opportunity to widen the gap at the summit. The Bavarians are also buoyed by the return of Jamal Musiala, who has added a new dimension to their attack with his aerial prowess.St. Pauli, on the other hand, will be determined to make a statement against the league leaders. Despite losing their coach, Fabian Huerzeler, they have remained solid defensively, conceding only 11 goals this season. They will look to emulate their performance against Leipzig in September, where they held the Saxons to a goalless draw.Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen will face last-placed Bochum, while Mainz host Dortmund. On Sunday, third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt will travel to Stuttgart, who finished as runners-up last season.