Leipzig on the rise Table toppers gear up for Spurs challenge PASALIC NETS WINNER FOR ATALANTA

Nordi Mukiele (centre) of Leipzig scores past Bremen’s goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka (right) during their German first division Bunde-sliga football match in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on Saturday. Leipzig won 3-0. — AFP

Berlin, Feb. 16: RB Leipzig warmed up for their Champions League last 16 tie at Tottenham Hotspur next week with a 3-0 win over strugglers Werder Bremen to regain top spot in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

With Bayern Munich playing Cologne away on Sunday, Leipzig took the chance to usurp the defending champions and establish a two-point lead.

Goals by defender Lukas Klostermann, forward Patrik Schick and midfielder Nordi Mukiele sealed the home win.

Klostermann broke the deadlock when he tapped home on 18 minutes when Schick had nudged the ball back from the far post after a free-kick.

Schick then grabbed his sixth Bundesliga goal of the season just before the break when he headed home a corner by Spain Under-21 playmaker Dani Olmo.

Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi put in a great save to prevent an own goal just before halftime after defender Dayot Upamecano had stretched to block a shot.

France Under-21 midfielder Mukiele put the matter beyond doubt immediately after the break when he darted into the box, held off his marker and beat Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka.

The defeat piles the pressure on Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt after his 10th loss in 12 league games keeps his side second from bottom.

Elsewhere, Hertha Berlin ended a chaotic week, following the shock departure of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, with a 2-1 win at bottom side Paderborn as Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha, signed from Leipzig, scored on his debut.

Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein gave Paderborn brief hope with an owngoal but Cunha grabbed the winner with a cheeky backheel on 67 minutes.

— AFP

Sehrou Guirassy (right) of Amiens tackles Idrissa Gueye of Paris Saint-Germain during their French Ligue 1 football match at the Licorne stadium in Amiens, northern France, on Saturday. The match ended in a 4-4 draw. — AFP

Bergamo (Italy), Feb. 16: Mario Pasalic scored the winner seconds after coming off the bench as Atalanta came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 and consolidate fourth place in Serie ‘A’ at the expense of their Champions League rivals from the capital.

The Croatia midfielder came on just before the hour mark on Saturday to fire in the crucial goal 19 seconds later, to boost confidence ahead of his side’s first ever Champions League last 16 game against Valencia, not at their home 21,300seater Gewiss Stadium, but at the much larger San Siro next week.

“This is an important victory. Against a side like Roma this advantage is not definitive,” said Atalanta coach Gianpiero Gasperini.

Atalanta are eight points behind thirdplaced Lazio, who host leaders Inter Milan on Sunday.

In three-team title race, Inter are ahead of Juventus on goal difference with Lazio just a further point behind.

The champions Brescia on Sunday.

Josip Ilicic had threatened after half an hour for the hosts, firing wide, with a Rafael Toloi overhead kick off target. But it was Roma who broke through first with Edin Dzeko pouncing on a defensive blunder from Jose Luis Palomino.

Dzeko dispossessed the centre-back to rifle in past a helpless Pierluigi Golini in the Atalanta goal.

Palomino made up for his earlier error just after the break volleying in the equaliser in a move started off a Papu Gomez corner. — AFP host