Bayern ride on Mandzukic
In-form striker Mario Mandzukic grabbed two goals to steer rampant Bayern Munich to a 3-0 victory at Mainz 05 on Saturday that increased their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to a whopping 14 points.
The league's top scorer, who also scored one goal and set up another last week, struck twice in seven minutes early in the second half to take his tally to 14 as the Bavarians won for the 16th time in 20 games.
Thomas Mueller had given the visitors a 40th-minute lead against the run of play with his 11th league goal of the season.
Bayern, who have won nine of their 10 away games this season without conceding a goal, have 51 points while second-placed Bayer Leverkusen (37) host champions Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
"We knew it would be a hard game and we prepared very well for it," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told reporters.
"We showed that we have fun playing football. This was a big win towards the title," said the German who will make way for former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola next season.
Sixth-placed Schalke 04's new signing Michel Bastos scored on his debut but it was not enough as the Champions League last-16 qualifiers slumped to a 2-1 home defeat by bottom club Greuther Fuerth thanks to Nikola Djurdjic's last-gasp goal.
It was Fuerth's second league win of the season, and their first since August.
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