Spain defender Juan Bernat netted the only goal of the game as champions Bayern Munich beat Darmstadt 1-0 on Saturday, a result that confirmed their opponents' relegation. Bayern, Bundesliga champions for the fifth year in a row, were made to work for victory at the Allianz Arena and Torsten Frings' Darmstadt might have snatched a point, but Hamit Altintop's late penalty was saved.

Darmstadt had put their relegation on hold by recording three straight wins and they refused to lie down in Bavaria. Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern broke the deadlock when Franck Ribery's mazy run on the left flank played Bernat into the area. The left-back beat two defenders, then coolly chipped Darmstadt goalkeeper Michael Esser for the 18th-minute goal that proved to be the winner.

However, the Spaniard conceded a penalty with five minutes left by fouling Darmstadt substitute Sven Schipplock. Altintop, playing against his former club, had his spot-kick saved by Tom Starke in the Bayern goal. Bayern are 13 points ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, who are at Hertha Berlin later. Darmstadt are now an insurmountable nine points from safety with just two games left.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2017