Bayern thankful for Lewandowski’s late double

BERLIN: 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.

“He is certainly the best striker in the Bundesliga and one of the best in the world,” enthused Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

“He is simply our little firecracker.”

Lewandowski added: “Werder played very defensively which didn’t make things easy and there wasn't much room for us. We had to be patient and take our chances.”

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.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg enjoyed a 1-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim fought back twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen while Borussia Moenchengladbach conceded a goal after just 35 seconds in their 2-2 draw at Augsburg.

z Olympique Lyonnais were held to a frustrating goalless Ligue I draw at Nantes as they hit the woodwork twice on Saturday.

Bertrand Traore struck the post and Nabil Fekir hit the crossbar, both in the 64th minute, as the visitors failed to make the most of their domination at La Beaujoire.

The result left Lyon in fourth place with eight points from four games, four behind leaders Paris St Germain who have won their four opening games and beat St Etienne 3-0 on Friday.

Nice, third last season, slumped to a 3-0 defeat at promoted Amiens which left the Azurean side in an uncomfortable 16th place on three points after one win and three losses. Agencies