Berlin, Feb 23 : Bayer Leverkusen maintained its status as Bayern Munich's closest challenger with a 2-0 victory over bottom side Holstein Kiel in the 23rd round of Bundesliga.

Leverkusen took control from the opening whistle, dominating possession and creating threats early on through set pieces. Jonathan Tah volleyed over the bar in the fourth minute, and goalkeeper Tim Weiner was forced into action to tip a deflected header over the crossbar shortly after. Moments later, Shuto Machino cleared a header from Patrick Schick off the line in the sixth minute.

Leverkusen's persistence paid off in the ninth minute when Amine Adli provided a precise pass into the box, allowing Schick to fire past Weiner from close range. Despite their early advantage, the Werkself struggled to create clear-cut chances as the half progressed, reports Xinhua.

Kiel came close to equalizing in the 22nd minute when Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar had to come off his line to deny Finn Knudsen outside the area, but the hosts failed to generate any sustained pressure.

On the stroke of half-time, Florian Wirtz assisted Adli to double Leverkusen's lead. The attacking midfielder released Adli with a through ball, and the striker finished clinically from a tight angle just before the break.

Leverkusen shifted into management mode in the second half but still posed threats, with Edmond Tapsoba testing Weiner with a long-range shot in the 53rd minute. The visitors maintained control, nearly adding a third late on when Wirtz found space in the area, but his shot was palmed away by Weiner in the dying minutes.

The result heightens Kiel's relegation fears at the bottom of the table, while Leverkusen's title ambitions are buoyed by their position just five points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, Mainz climbed into the top five thanks to goals from Lee Jae-Sung and Paul Nebel in their 2-0 victory over St. Pauli. Wolfsburg held relegation-threatened Bochum to a late 1-1 draw, while Augsburg returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over ten-man Borussia Monchengladbach. Borussia Dortmund ended a two-game losing streak in the league, as Serhou Guirassy's four goals led to a 6-0 thrashing of struggling Union Berlin.

Earlier on Friday, Freiburg moved into the top four with a commanding 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen.

/IANS