Leverkusen held at Pauli to put Bayern on cusp of Bundesliga title

Leverkusen took the lead when Alex Grimaldo floated in a free kick and Patrik Schick jumped high to score after 32 minutes. The visitors shut up shop in the second half and Pauli laid siege to Leverkusen's goal.

Morgan Guilavogui's 74th-minute strike seemed to have levelled things up, but it was chalked off for handball. The hosts kept pushing and scored just three minutes later, Carlo Boukhalfa tapping in after Lukas Hradecky spilled a corner.

The result leaves Bayern eight clear of Leverkusen. Bayern can wrap things up as early as next week, if they win and Leverkusen lose.

Leverkusen also have other concerns, with reports that manager Xabi Alonso, who took the club to their first-ever German title last season, could be on his way to Real Madrid in the summer.

"Mathematically it's not over," Alonso told reporters, "but we know we hardly have a chance," adding his team were "simply not good enough" in decisive moments.

Promoted St Pauli pulled eight points clear of the relegation places. Their survival this season has been built on a sturdy defence, with only Bayern and Leverkusen conceding fewer goals.

"We have to be honest, the chance is gone," Leverkusen's Schick told DAZN. "We're lacking energy. We've already dropped two points again. Last season was incredible, but this season is unfortunately different."