Bayern seal back-to-back wins over Leipzig

BERLIN: James Rodriguez and Robert Lewandowski scored as Bayern Munich went top of the Bundesliga table on Saturday with a 2-0 home win against RB Leipzig, who played most of the game with 10 men.

This was Bayern’s second win over Leipzig in four days after they won on penalties in the German Cup in midweek.

Leipzig had Naby Keita sent off in the second half of Wednesday’s cup defeat and another red card handicapped them at the Allianz Arena on Saturday when captain Willi Orban was sent off with 13 minutes gone.

Orban was shown a straight red for fouling Arjen Robben, who was through on goal, before Rodriguez and Lewandowski netted for the hosts.

A fine evening for Bayern was slightly marred by a thigh injury to Lewandowski that forced him off before half-time and which could compromise his chances of playing in tomorrow’s Champions League match at Celtic.

“I hope the injury isn’t so grave because he came off early,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

The victory took Bayern top of the Bundesliga for the first time this season, three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund who earlier crashed 4-2 at Hanover 96.

Leipzig remain third, four points behind the leaders.

Dortmund had teenage defender Dan-Axel Zagadou sent off in their shock defeat at Hanover, which leaves them winless in three Bundesliga games.

The defeat is the last thing coach Peter Bosz needed before Wednesday’s Champions League home match against APOEL and next Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with Bayern.

Hertha Berlin enjoyed their first win in eight games with a 21 home victory against Hamburg, who remain in the bottom three.

Cologne remain bottom after losing the Rhine derby 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen.