Harry Kane scored his fourth Bundesliga treble in an all-round masterclass to help Bayern Munich crush second-bottom Mainz 8-1 at home on Saturday and trim Bayer Leverkusen's lead to seven points.
Leon Goretzka was on target inbetween the England striker's first-half double, thanks to Kane's clever leave, and after a thumping free-kick from Nadiem Amiri failed to derail the improving champions, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry netted.
Kane then headed in his 30th goal of his maiden Bundesliga season as he eyes Robert Lewandowski's league record of 41 goals in a campaign before Goretzka made it eight in stoppage time.
Unbeaten Leverkusen, seeking a first ever Bundesliga title, host Wolfsburg on Sunday when Xabi Alonso's side can re-establish their 10-point lead with just nine games left this season.
In other Saturday matches, third-bottom Cologne draw 3-3 at mid-table Borussia Mönchengladbach in a wild Rhine derby after 200 fans were detained following violence on Friday.
Cologne are still adrift in the relegation play-off spot but put themselves two points ahead of Mainz in the automatic drop zone.
Darmstadt, also in the relegation zone in bottom spot, are now 12 points from absolute safety after Thomas Isherwood's early own goal and Christoph Baumgartner's strike in a 2-0 defeat at RB Leipzig.
The win for Leipzig put them into the fourth Champions League spot pending Borussia Dortmund's game at Werder Bremen later on Saturday.
Augsburg powered up to eighth, with a late European push not out of the question having looked in a relegation battle just a few weeks ago. Jess Thorup's side beat mid-table Heidenheim 1-0 at home courtesy of defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw's fine finish from a corner.
