Bayern notch 2nd straight win

Dortmund go top of Bundesliga

BERLIN, Aug 26, (AFP): Late goals in quick succession by Robert Lewandowski gave defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich their second straight win with a 2-0 victory at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Bremen’s last win over Bayern was in 2006, but the hosts held their star-studded opponents until the 72nd minute when Lewandowski first struck.

The Poland hot-shot audaciously flicked Kingsley Coman’s low cross into the net with his heel before doubling the damage by firing through the legs of defender Robert Bauer and Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka on 75 minutes.

Thomas Mueller’s decoy run opened up the Bremen defence for Lewandowski, who seized the chance for a third goal in two league games. There was more good news for Bayern as Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made his first appearance this season after a fractured foot.

Later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win at home to Hertha Berlin to resume his battle with Lewandowski to be Germany’s top scorer.

Aubameyang netted after just 15 minutes from a Nuri Sahin cross before the Turkey midfielder grabbed Dortmund’s second when he blasted home from the edge of the area.

Gabon’s hot-shot striker Aubameyang has now scored in each of his last eight games in all competitions dating back to last season. The home victory puts Dortmund top of the fledgling table on goal difference ahead of Bayern.

Like Dortmund and Bayern, Hamburg have also won their opening two games after a 3-1 victory at Cologne on Friday.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg enjoyed a 1-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt with Daniel Didavi scoring their first-half winner.

Frankfurt’s Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng was denied a penalty after being fouled in the area, with the video assistant referee ruling he was offside.

After losing their Champions League play-off at Liverpool on Wednesday, Hoffenheim fought back twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.

A 4-2 defeat at Anfield means Hoffenheim will play in the Europa League group stage this season. They fell be-

Dortmund’s French defender Dan-Axel Zagadou (left), and Berlin’s Australian midfielder Matthew Leckie vie for the ball during the German First Division

Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin in Dortmund, western Germany, on Aug 26. (AFP)

Lewandowski