Frankfurt loses 4-1 to Leverkusen after Kovac announcement

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BERLIN (AP) Bayer Leverkusen underlined its Champions League credentials with a 4-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, while Hamburger SV and Cologne edged closer to Bundesliga relegation on Saturday.

Frankfurt learned the day before that its coach, Niko Kovac, is leaving for Bayern Munich next season. Despite Champions League ambitions of its own, Kovac's side dropped five points below Leverkusen, which consolidated the last qualification place for Europe's top competition with four games remaining.

''It was a strange week. There was a lot going on,'' Frankfurt `keeper Lukas Hradecky acknowledged.

Kevin Volland claimed a hat trick and Kai Havertz also starred for Leverkusen as he became the youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga appearances. Aged 18 years, 307 days, Havertz set up two goals.

BAYERN FLEXES MUSCLES

Bayern, which clinched the title last weekend, celebrated at home by routing Borussia Moenchengladbach 5-1.

Josip Drmic fired the visitors into an early lead, but Sandro Wagner struck twice before the break for a heavily rotated Bayern side.

Thiago Alcantara, David Alaba and substitute Robert Lewandowski kept spirits high for upcoming semifinals in the German Cup and Champions League.

The Bavarian powerhouse next faces Leverkusen away in the cup on Tuesday, while Real Madrid visits on April 25.

RELEGATION LOOMING

Hamburg's hopes of avoiding the drop were damaged by losing at Hoffenheim 2-0, while Cologne looks doomed after losing at Hertha Berlin 2-1.

Leonardo Bittencourt's first-half goal revitalized Cologne's hopes of an unlikely escape, but quick-fire goals from Davie Selke early in the second half all but dashed those dreams.

Cologne remains last, six points behind Mainz in the relegation playoff place, while Hamburg is just one point better off and looks set to be relegated for the first time. Hamburg is the last surviving club to have played every season since the Bundesliga started in 1963.

Also, Hannover drew at Stuttgart 1-1.

Mainz hosts Freiburg on Monday.