BORUSSIA DORTMUND TOOK a major step to retaining their Bundesliga crown with a 1-0 win over chief title rivals Bayern Munich this evening.

Home side Dortmund sealed the narrow victory with 13 minutes to go at the Westfalenstadion, thanks to a goal from Robert Lewandowski.

Bayern passed up a chance to salvage a point when Arjen Robben missed a penalty in the 84th minute.

The crucial result sends Dortmund six points clear at the top of the table, with five rounds of the league season remaining.

Elsewhere, Nuremburg sprung a surprise, beating Champions League-chasing Schalke 4-1 at home.

Hanno Balitsch, Timmy Simons and Daniel Didavi were all on target for the home side in the first half at EasyCredit-Stadion, with Didavi completing his brace four minutes from time.

Bayer Leverkusen took advantage of Schalke’s slip up to move within four points of the third-placed side, as they defeated Kaiserslautern 3-1 at home.

Stefan Kiessling put Leverkusen ahead inside the first minute at the BayArena, with Julian Derstroff levelling for Kaiserslautern four minutes before half-time.

Simon Rolfes restored Leverkusen’s lead on 57 minutes, and Stefan Reinartz secured the points when he netted a third soon afterwards.

Hannover saw off Wolfsburg 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Didier Ya Konan.

And Hoffenheim dispatched visiting Hamburg in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 win.

Janick Vestergaard and Sejad Salihovic both scored to make it 2-0 by half-time, with Fabian Johnson and Sven Schipplock adding the third and fourth early in the second half.

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