Bayern move step closer to 20th title with draw

BERLIN, Apr 23 (Reuters) Bayern Munich moved a step closer to their 20th Bundesliga championship despite escaping with a 2-2 draw at lowly Mainz today.

With second-placed Hamburg SV beaten 2-0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen yesterday, Bayern moved up to 70 points with three games remaining. Hamburg are on 65, four points ahead of Werder Bremen.

Mainz are in 15th place.

Mohamed Zidan beat Germany defender Philip Lahm with a fine move on the right to put Mainz ahead in the ninth minute and they increased the lead four minutes later when Manuel Friedrich outleapt Michael Ballack to head a corner kick past Oliver Kahn.

Roy Makaay rescued Bayern, who had taken only 12 points from their previous eight league matches, by scoring twice before the interval.

The Dutchman latched on to a pass from Willy Sagnol to beat keeper Christian Wetklo in the 29th minute and converted a penalty eight minutes later.

Reuters SHB DB2342