Bayern back on top of Bundesliga as Leipzig loses 1st game
Wolfsburg’s Vierinha, bottom, and Bayern’s Xabi Alonso challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (Photo by MATTHIAS SCHRADER/AP)
BERLIN — Bayern Munich routed Wolfsburg 5-0 Saturday to take advantage of Leipzig’s first defeat and replace the promoted side at the top of the Bundesliga.
Leipzig’s record 13-game unbeaten start was finally ended in a 1-0 loss at coach Ralph Hasenhuettl’s former side Ingolstadt, which had been bottom but climbed one place.
Brazilian midfielder Roger’s early header was enough to end Leipzig’s eight-game winning run and give Ingolstadt its second win in four games under new coach Maik Walpurgis.
In Munich, Thomas Mueller scored his first league goal since April as Bayern returned to the top with a comfortable win over crisis-hit Wolfsburg.
Arjen Robben opened the scoring with a curling effort inside the far post from a difficult angle in the 18th minute and Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead from close range three minutes later.
Wolfsburg’s first chance came before the break, when Yannick Gerhardt was blocked by Javi Martinez.
Lewandowski grabbed his second goal early in the second half when he was again in the right place at the right time to deflect Mueller’s shot inside the left post.
Mueller, who scored 32 goals across all competitions for Bayern last season, then ended his goal drought by deflecting Robben’s effort past the helpless Diego Benaglio, and Douglas Costa completed the Wolfsburg goalkeeper’s miserable afternoon with a fine strike in the final minutes.
After 14 games, Bayern leads on goal difference from Leipzig.
Here’s a look at other games Saturday:
Cologne 1, Borussia Dortmund 1
Dortmund was headed for its fourth defeat of the season until Marco Reus struck in the final minute for his first goal since returning from injury last month.
Artjoms Rudnevs was left alone to head Cologne in front before the half-hour mark from Jonas Hector’s free kick.
Dortmund dominated possession but failed going forward until the end. Adrian Ramos crossed for Reus to slot the equalizer inside the right post.
It was Reus’ first league goal since the 2-2 draw with Cologne in the final round last season.
Cologne midfielder Salih Ozcan was sent off with his second yellow card in injury time.
Dortmund dropped eight points behind Bayern and Leipzig, while Cologne stayed seventh after its ninth straight unbeaten game at home.
Hamburger SV 1, Augsburg 0
Hamburg forward Lewis Holtby left his side an uphill task before the break when he was sent off for elbowing Dominik Kohr in the face after he had been fouled by the Augsburg midfielder.
But Kohr received his second yellow card midway through the second half and Filip Kostic scored two minutes later on a rebound after Nicolai Mueller’s effort hit the post.
It was enough for Hamburg to climb into the relegation playoff place, one point above Ingolstadt and two above Darmstadt, which lost 1-0 at Freiburg.
Nils Petersen’s late penalty was enough for Freiburg.
