Bayern moves seven points clear

Bastian Schweinsteiger set the Bavarian side on its way at the Allianz Arena in the 24th minute before a second-half brace from Mario Mandzukic made the points safe.

The result saw Bayern open up a seven-point cushion over Borussia Dortmund, the defending champion having to settle for a point after relinquishing 2-0 and 3-1 leads at Eintracht Frankfurt.

First-half goals from Lukasz Piszczek and Marco Reus looked to have put the visitor in control at half-time, but Stefan Aigner and Takashi Inui netted to get the promoted host back on level terms within six minutes of the restart.

And, although substitute Mario Gotze struck to re-establish Dortmund's advantage in the 54th minute, it was pegged back again by an Anderson equaliser 17 minutes from time.

The draw allowed both Schalke and Fortuna Dusseldorf to leapfrog Dortmund in the standings, with respective victories over Mainz and Greuther Furth.

Jefferson Farfan's first-half penalty put Schalke in the ascendancy against Mainz and further strikes after the interval from Lewis Holtby and substitute Teemu Pukki sealed a 3-0 win and lifted the Royal Blues to third.

Oliver Fink and Ken Ilso, meanwhile, were on target as Fortuna Dusseldorf emerged 2-0 a winner - and maintained its record of having not conceded in the league this season - against fellow top-flight newcomer Greuther Furth to climb to fourth.