Bayern fails to clinch Bundesliga, Dortmund keeps race alive

Bayern forward Thomas Mueller, left, vie for the ball with Leipzig's Konrad Laimer during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Leipzig and Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena stadium in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich missed the chance to win the Bundesliga in a 0-0 draw at Leipzig while Borussia Dortmund kept the title race alive by beating Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-2 on Saturday.

Bayern, which would have secured a seventh straight title with a win, allowed Dortmund to close the gap to two points before the final round next weekend.

Bayern boasts a considerably better goal difference by 17 goals, meaning a draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in Munich next Saturday will be enough to seal the title. Dortmund must win at Borussia Mönchengladbach and hope for a Frankfurt victory to take the title.

Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski, left, defender Mats Hummels, center and defender Niklas Suele greet supporters at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Leipzig and Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena stadium in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

"It was never so close," Bayern forward Thomas Müller said of the title race. "We really want to get the thing with our fans behind us."

DECISION DEFERRED

The league race is going to the final day for the first time since Wolfsburg pipped Bayern to the title in 2009.

With Germany coach Joachim Löw watching from the stands, Bayern missed a host of chances to score the goal it needed.

Leon Goretzka had the visiting fans celebrating in the 50th minute when he volleyed in an attempted clearance, but the goal was ruled out through VAR as Robert Lewandowski was marginally offside in the buildup.

Dortmund almost blew another two-goal lead after letting 10-man Düsseldorf come perilously close to an equalizer in injury time.

Christian Pulisic, playing his last home game for Dortmund, opened the scoring four minutes before the break with his first headed goal in the Bundesliga. It could be his last. The American midfielder is leaving for Chelsea in a 64 million euro (now $71 million) deal agreed in January.

Dortmund 'keeper Marwin Hitz - who was filling in for the injured Roman Bürki - let Düsseldorf captain Oliver Fink's harmless-looking header slip through his fingers in the 47th.

Then came the news that Goretzka had scored for Bayern, but it was ruled out and Thomas Delaney restored Dortmund's lead over Düsseldorf in the 53rd.

Dortmund's Mario Goetze, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Dodi Lukebakio missed a penalty for Düsseldorf, before Mario Götze thought he'd sealed it in injury time. Dawid Kownacki pulled one back, however, to set up another nervy finale.

TEAMS RELEGATED

Stuttgart defeated Wolfsburg 3-0 to clinch the relegation playoff place and condemn the bottom two teams, Hannover and Nuremberg, to the second division.

Hannover was relegated on the day it produced its best performance of the season - beating Freiburg 3-0.

Gladbach defeated Nuremberg 4-0 away to move to fourth, ahead of Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference, for the last Champions League qualification place. Leverkusen was held at home by Schalke to 1-1.

Also, Werder Bremen won at Hoffenheim 1-0, and Hertha Berlin won at Augsburg 4-3 thanks to Salomon Kalou's goal in injury time.

Frankfurt can reclaim fourth place on Sunday with a win at home against Mainz.