Bayern on track for title after keeping Leverkusen at bay
LEVERKUSEN, Germany: A dogged defensive performance from Bayern Munich kept Bayer Leverkusen at bay in a 0-0 away draw on Saturday to keep their eight-point lead atop the German Bundesliga.. Bayern barely crossed the half-way line and failed to register a shot on target in the first half for the first time since 1992, but Xabi Alonso’s champions were unable to find a way through. The result, just the fifth time Bayern have dropped points in 22 league games this season, puts them on track to win back the title, with 12 games remaining. Knowing only a win would realistically keep the title race alive, Leverkusen dominated the opening half but were unable to convert several chances, with Alonso electing to leave both strikers Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface on the bench. Jeremie Frimpong headed against the bar 21 minutes in after some clever work from Florian Wirtz down the left. Nathan Tella, scorer of the winner between these two sides in the German Cup in December, blasted against the bar from close range when one-on-one with Manuel Neuer four minutes later. Neuer was almost caught out on the 33rd-minute mark when he ventured out of the penalty area, but Wirtz’s long-range effort from deep curled just wide. Leverkusen again dominated the ball in the second half but could not find a way through. Wirtz had a chance in the final minute to snatch a win, but his close-range effort went centimeters wide of the post. Earlier on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund’s slide continued with a 2-0 loss at lowly Bochum. The hosts, who started the game in last place, grabbed control in the first half when winter loan signing Georgios Masouras scored two goals in three minutes. Masouras tapped a low Philipp Hofmann shot in from close range