Sane sends Bayern 9 pts clear at Frankfurt

Substitute Leroy Sane has fired Bayern Munich to a hard-fought 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, sending the champions nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Sane scored with aplomb on 71 minutes on Saturday, just four minutes after coming on, following Joshua Kimmich's perfect pass.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund visit Augsburg on Sunday as they seek to narrow the gap.

"It was really important. The way we played today was spot on," Kimmich told Sky. "The mentality was really good."

Bayern were playing away but still lit up their Allianz Arena back in Munich in the colours of Ukraine, while Frankfurt displayed a "Stop it, Putin!" message on their giant video screen.

Minute's silences and pro-Ukraine banners were seen at games throughout the country as German football showed its solidarity with the country following Russia's invasion.

Strugglers Borussia Monchengladbach had a winner chalked off in injury-time after battling back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to 10-man Wolfsburg.

Third-placed Bayer Leverkusen beat Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 at home, Freiburg went fourth with a 3-0 win over coronavirus-affected Hertha Berlin, seventh-placed Union Berlin overcame Mainz 3-1 and bottom side Greuther Furth drew 1-1 at home to Cologne.

In Frankfurt, Filip Kostic almost put the mid-table hosts ahead early but injury-hit Bayern, with Jamal Musiala replacing COVID-positive Thomas Muller, grew into the game and had several chances.

Bayern, who host Leverkusen next weekend, deservedly broke the deadlock with Kimmich producing one of the passes of the season as he continues to improve following a long coronavirus absence.

Robert Lewandowski, who earlier backed his Poland side's decision not to face Russia in a World Cup