(Football news) Defending champions Bayern Munich won easily against Schalke 2-0 on Saturday to ensure that they will be on top going into the World Cup break as they go for a record-extending 11th straight Bundesliga title. The Bavarians fielded a strong starting line-up consisting of World Cup-bound players with goals in either half from Serge Gnabry and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting while Jamal Musiala delivered both assists. Bayern went on to win their sixth consecutive league win and 10th across all competitions which subsequently lifted them to 34 points, six ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig and 4 ahead of Freiburg.

Bayern in the first half had an upper hand but it was not until Musiala, who became Bayern’s youngest player to reach 100 league matches at age 19, combined really well with Serge Gnabry for the lead in the 38th minute. The teenager, who also has nine league goals this season has also delivered his sixth assist of the season. Choupo-Moting tapped the ball in the net seven minutes after the restart and the 33-year-old forward is in fine form going into the World Cup with 11 goals in all competitions, including six league goals. The Bundesliga goes into a break following due to the start of the World Cup in Qatar next weekend and will resume on Jan. 20.

"Jamal has played an outstanding first half of the season and will hopefully play even better at the World Cup and the second half of the season," coach Julian Naglesmann said of his attacking midfielder. “He listens well and he wants to develop. He just has a lot of talent. He also has improved defensively," 

Borussia Monchengladbach scored four goals past a struggling Borussia Dortmund side in a 4-2 victory on Friday to leave the Black and Yellow in sixth place following their second straight Bundesliga loss. With the Bundesliga going into an extended winter break, Dortmund ended their year nine points off leaders Bayern Munich. Gladbach, who have now gone on to win six of their eight home games so far, are in seventh place on 22 points and now only three behind Dortmund. In a brilliant first half, five-goals were scored as the hosts went into the break with a 3-2 lead. Jonas Hofmann gave them the lead when he slotted in the ball after four minutes 

Julian Brandt drew the visitors' level as he volleyed in a superb equaliser. Gladbach however, scored twice in a four-minute span through Ramy Bensebaini and Marcus Thuram to go 3-1 up. Dortmund did manage to pull a goal back with Nico Schlotterbeck's but the Ruhr valley club were defensively very weak. Only a minute after the restart, Kouadio Kone threaded a low shot past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Thuram should have had a hattrick but he missed a string of golden chances as Dortmund faltered.

Also read: Late Garnacho strike helps Manchester United defeat Fulham