Robert Lewandowski scored a brace to propel champions Bayern Munich to a 2-1 over previously undefeated Bayer Leverkusen and to the top of the Bundesliga Standings.
Bayer Leverkusen made a dream start to the contest, taking the lead in the 14th minute with a goal of extremely high quality.
Nadiem Amiri’s precise cross was met by Patrik Schick whose exquisitely and fiercely struck volley hit the back of the net with the Bayern goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer barely moving a muscle.
Bayer had several other opportunities to extend their advantage but with the chances not taken, the champions knew they were always in with a chance to hurl themselves right back into the contest and so it proved.
Bayern were level two minutes before the break with a goal that underlined defensive frailties on the part of the hosts. Thomas Muller crossed into the box and astonishingly, no one was picking out marksman extraordinaire, Lewandowski who headed home in glee from close range.
The hosts were seemingly not satisfied with a point pushed for late winner but that was to represent a mistake of monumental proportions. In the third minute of second half stoppage and with Bayer pushing for a late winner, Jonathan Tah lost the ball inside his own half and the returning Joshua Kimmich slipped a pass to The Best Men’s player of the year 2020, Lewandowski who could not believe his luck as he came face to face with the hosts’ goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky.
Lewandowski was never going to miss and he duly fired high into the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the visiting party.
The hosts were understandably crestfallen but they knew they brought it upon themselves by trying to be too adventurous against streetwise and dangerous opposition.
RB Leipzing missed the chance to go top earlier in the day as they were forced to a 0-0 draw by Köln at the Red Bull Arena. Borussia Moenchengladbach’s quest to launch move to the European places suffered a huge blow as they lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim at Borussia Park. It was an extremely painful defeat as the hosts looked on course for the win for long stages.
Lars Stindl put them in front in the 34th minute but Hoffeinheim leveled matters with a quarter of an hour left to play through Andrej Kramaric. The visitors then snatch an unlikely winner through Ryan Sessegnon with barely three minutes left on the clock.
Eintracht Frankfurt won 2-0 at Augsburg while Eren Dinkci scored in the 90th minute to hand Werder Bremen a 1-0 win at Mainz.
Schalke are settling in to life with a third coach this season but changes in the dugout are not influencing results. The Gelsenkirchen club slumped to yet another defeat, this time to Arminia Bielefeld at the Veltins Arena. Schalke are still winless after 13 games in the Bundesliga as the winter sets in and are firmly rooted to the bottom of the standings.
Results
Mainz 0-1 Werder BremenBorussia Moenchengladbach 1-2 HoffenheimAugsburg 0-2 FrankfurtSchalke 0-1 Arminia BielefeldRB Leipzig 0-0 KölnBayer Leverkusen 1-2 Bayern Munich
