Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to four points with a 1-0 win over 10-man Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.
The in-form visitors had successfully kept Bayern at bay until defender Milos Veljkovic was sent off after picking up a second booking in the 58th minute.
Bayern made the most of their numerical advantage to eventually break through Bremen’s defences, with defender Niklas Sule proving the unlikely scorer of the game’s only goal in the 75th minute.
The result saw Bremen suffer their first defeat of 2019, and it also brought an end to their impressive Bundesliga record of having scored in every game so far this season.
Gnabry had another opportunity at the end of the first half but, after driving into the box, he fired inches wide of the Bremen goal.
The Bremen goalkeeper was called on again soon after, this time from a Robert Lewandowski header which was was straight at him.
The game changed just before the hour when the visitors were reduced to 10 men, Veljkovic receiving his marching orders after receiving a second booking for a foul just outside the box.
Bayern quickly sought to take advantage and Thomas Muller missed a great chance in the 70th minute when he headed wide after finding himself unmarked at the back post.
Sule tried his luck from distance and his shot deflected off a defender and past the diving Pavlenka, giving the Bayern centre-back only his second goal of the season.
