Bayern survive St. Pauli scare to stay on course for German title

Sane settled Bayern’s nerves after an uneasy first half, as Vincent Kompany’s side struggled once again against a weaker opposition

- BERLIN

Leroy Sane spared Bayern Munich’s blushes with two second-half goals on Saturday, as the Bundesliga leaders beat relegation-threatened St. Pauli 2-1 to stay six points clear at the top of the table.

Sane settled Bayern’s nerves after an uneasy first half, as Vincent Kompany’s side struggled once again against weaker opposition.

“It was a bit of luck at the end, but we are really happy to have got the three points,” said Sane told Sky, having dropped unexpected points against Bochum and Union Berlin in recent weeks.

Bayern were under pressure to avoid a third slip after reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen narrowed the gap to three points with a 3-1 win over Bochum on Friday.

Sane insisted that pressure was a good thing for Bayern. “Because it helps us to keep with him when we know how to win every game.”

Yet they looked sluggish against a fearless St. Pauli side who almost took the lead early on when a Jackson Irvine header hit the bar.

The visitors handed Bayern the opener on a silver platter just two minutes later, when Siebe Van der Heyden was caught napping at left-back.