Bayern go nine points clear

Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski grabbed his 15th goal of the season to help nervous Bayern Munich beat bottom club Cologne 1-0 Wednesday and go nine points clear at the top of the table. On the day when winger Franck Ribery became Bayern's leading foreign player with his 366th appearance in all competitions, the German champion struggled to hit top form but still did enough to climb to 38 points. They are nine ahead of Schalke 04, who beat Augsburg 3-2 and stretched their unbeaten run to 10 league games.

#LewanGOALski in #Bundesliga home games this season ?‍♂️

#1 ⚽️ #2 ⚽️⚽️ #3 ⚽️ #4 ⚽️ #5 ⚽️ #6 ⚽️⚽️ #7 ⚽️ #8 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/8v2EdavglL— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) December 13, 2017

In a completely one-sided first half the Bavarians had several good chances for Thomas Mueller and Lewandowski, but struggled with their finishing. Pole Lewandowski forward finally broke the deadlock on the hour when Mueller headed on a Jerome Boateng chip and he volleyed in from close range. Defender Boateng delivered another perfect cross for Kingsley Coman but the Frenchman's header bounced off the crossbar as the Bavarians remained nervous, allowing Cologne late chances.

Shame we can't always have midweek fixtures... ?

Which of these games did you enjoy most? pic.twitter.com/stfZ8jwpaa— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 13, 2017

Schalke squandered a two-goal lead but managed to beat Augsburg courtesy of Daniel Caligiuri's penalty to go second on 29, a point ahead of RB Leipzig, who dropped to third following Tuesday's 1-1 draw at VfL Wolfsburg. Bayer Leverkusen made it 11 matches without defeat and climbed to fourth after Lucas Alario scored the winner against lowly Werder Bremen. Borussia Dortmund notched their first league win since September Tuesday in new coach Peter Stoeger's first game to climb up to sixth.

Longest winning streak in Germany: 19 (Bayern Munich, managed by Pep Guardiola)

Longest winning streak in Spain: 16* (Barcelona, managed by Pep Guardiola) Longest winning streak in England: 15** (Man City, managed by Pep Guardiola *joint record **and counting pic.twitter.com/c8FKQBxDux— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) December 13, 2017

RESULTSBayern 1 (Lewandowski 60-P) Cologne 0Hertha 3 (Kalou 18, 45, Torunarigha 83) Hanover 1 (Bebou 65)Schalke 3 (Di Santo 44, Burgstaller 47, Caligiuri 83-P) Augsburg 2 (Caiuby 64, Gregoritsch 79-P)Bayer 1 (Alario 11) Bremen 0