BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich crushed Freiburg 4-0 on Saturday, recording their 13th successive Bundesliga victory and extending their league unbeaten streak to 46.
It was perfect preparation for Wednesday’s Champions League knockout round clash at Arsenal.
Bayern midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice off deflected shots in the first half after defender Dante put Munich ahead in the 19th minute with a glancing header.
Shaqiri, however, will miss the Arsenal clash after picking up a thigh injury during the match, the club said on their website on Sunday.
The injury is a blow for Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, who is already without France winger Franck Ribery, whose role Shaqiri occupied against Freiburg, due to a buttock injury.
Claudio Pizarro scored after a fine solo run from the left in the 88th minute to put Bayern 16 points clear of Bayer Leverkusen at the top with 59 points from 21 matches.
Bayer Leverkusen were taken down 2-1 at home to Schalke in Saturday’s late match.
Schalke, in fourth place with 40 points, had deservedly taken a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute when Leon Goretzka took advantage of a Leverkusen blunder.
Leverkusen later equalised with a Felipe Santana own goal, but Jan Klaas Huntelaar headed home in the 74th minute for the victory.
Third-placed Borussia Dortmund downed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0.
Hamburg SV’s woes continued with an eighth successive defeat, 4-2 to Braunschweig.
In the other match of the day, Werder Bremen were held to a 1-1 draw at home by fifth-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach.
On Friday, hosts FSV Mainz were 2-0 winners over Hannover 96. (AP)