Lewandowski the difference as Bayern Munich down Borussia Dortmund

Robert Lewandowksi (right) is congratulated by his Bayern Munich teammates after scoring against Borussia Dortmund.

(CNN)It just had to be Robert Lewandowski.

The former Borussia Dortmund hero scored the only goal of the game on his Bundesliga return to the Westfalonstadion as Bayern Munich came out on top in a closely-fought Der Klassiker fixture.

In truth, this was hardly a surprising outcome given the recent opposing fortunes of these two sides.

While the pair may have dominated German football for the past five seasons, Bayern have excelled yet further this year while Dortmund have stalled.

Jurgen Klopp's men sat way off the pace in tenth position at the start of play. Bayern, by comparison, is cantering to its third straight title.

It was perhaps this disparity in league position and the fact there was less on the line than some of the recent classic encounters between the two that ensured the game started at a slower pace.

A tame opening half hour produced few chances. Predictably, Bayern dominated possession and looked the more likely of the two to score.

But Dortmund, which has been far from convincing in defensive matters this season gave little away -- until Lewandowski pounced after 35 minutes.

The Pole initially showed great strength to hold off Dortmund defender Neven Subotic near the halfway line to play in Thomas Muller. Although Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller closed the angle and saved well from the German international striker, Lewandowski was on hand to nod the rebound into an unguarded net.

As has become the custom for returning players these days, Lewandowski refused to celebrate scoring against his former club.

Robert Lewandowski falls to the ground after giving Bayern Munich the lead against Borussia Dortmund.

The game quickly returned to its pedestrian pace but Dortmund began the second half with a renewed sense of purpose.

Marco Reus wasted a golden opportunity to level after the hour mark, lashing into the side-netting when played through on Manuel Neuer.

Dortmund took heart and increasingly began to take the game to the visitors. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired high and wide from a tight angle shortly after.

But despite pinning the champions back and coming close through a Reus free-kick as the game ebbed away, there was to be no Dortmund equalizer.

The result means Bayern require a maximum of just four more victories to ensure another Bundesliga crown.

For Dortmund, the end of this torrid season can hardly come soon enough.

Bundesliga roundup

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen both registered wins in the race for the third automatic Champions League place.

Patrick Herrmann scored twice for Gladbach in its 4-1 victory away to Hoffenheim while Germany international striker Stefan Kiessling also grabbed a brace in Leverkusen's convincing 4-0 win over relegation threatened Hamburg.

The results mean Gladbach now has 50 points for the season, two more than fourth placed Leverkusen with just seven games to play.

Second placed Wolfsburg remain seven points clear of Gladbach thanks to a 3-1 home triumph over Stuttgart.

At the other end of the table, Freiburg moved three-points clear of the relegation zone after a 1-0 win at home to Cologne.

Meanwhile, Hanover was dragged closer to the relegation battle, and behind Freiburg on goal difference, after it could only draw 2-2 with Eintracht Frankfurt.