BERLIN: Bayern Munich overcame a compelling test from RB Leipzig to win 3-2 at home on Saturday and stay well in control of the Bundesliga title race.
The German champions twice surrendered the lead but regained it a third time, with Josko Gvardiol’s own goal in the second half proving decisive in the end.
The victory took Bayern provisionally nine points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
Thomas Mueller tapped Bayern into the lead in the 12th minute from close range after Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi could parry a shot from Robert Lewandowski.
Portuguese forward Andre Silva bundled in an equaliser for the visitors in the 27th minute, chasing a loose ball after Konrad Laimer’s chip had bounced past the post and scrambling it over the line.
Bayern quickly set about restoring their lead, with Kingsley Coman hitting the post and Muller then heading into the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Lewandowski on Gvardiol.
Lewandowski soon made amends by putting Bayern back in front, heading home a cross from Coman to score his 24th Bundesliga goal of the season.
French winger Christopher Nkunku pulled Leipzig level early in the second half only for Bayern to take the lead for the third time when Gvardiol unwittingly turned in a cross from Serge Gnabry.
Sweden forward Emil Forsberg had a chance to equalise with eight minutes remaining but was denied by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Elsewhere, high-flying Union Berlin suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat at struggling Augsburg but remained fourth after Freiburg lost 1-0 at Cologne.
Austrian striker Michael Gregoritsch fired Augsburg in front in the 16th minute and Andre Hahn sealed the win with a goal just before the hour-mark.
Augsburg climbed out of the relegation zone and moved up to 15th in the standings.
Freiburg had the chance to leapfrog Union into fourth spot, the final Champions League qualification berth, but they lost at Cologne thanks to Anthony Modeste’s first-half effort, the French forward grabbing his 14th league goal of the season.
The win took Cologne up to sixth in the standings on 32 points, one below fifth-placed Freiburg.
Ajdin Hrustic came off the bench to score two goals from outside the area as Eintracht Frankfurt won 3-2 in a thrilling game at VfB Stuttgart.
Frankfurt moved up to ninth in the standings while Stuttgart remained second-bottom.
Mainz won 2-0 at home to Hoffenheim thanks to late goals by Lee Jae-sung and Moussa Niakhate while Arminia drew 1-1 at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Gladbach at least ended their three-game losing run across all competitions, but remain under pressure with the team just two points above the relegation zone.
Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022
