Bailey shines for Leverkusen
BERLIN: Winger Leon Bailey produced a superb back-heeled goal in a dazzling display as Bayer Leverkusen went second in the Bundesliga with a 4-1 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday.
The 20-year-old Jamaican showed why Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly chasing him with an audacious first-half shot which beat several defenders.
He then wrong-footed his marker and swung in a cross from the left wing to Lars Bender who set up Julian Baumgartlinger to double the lead in the 51st minute.
Bailey again caused more misery in Hoffenheim’s ranks by providing the final pass for Argentina striker Lucas Alario, for the first of his two second-half goals, before Adam Szalai grabbed a late consolation for Hoffenheim.
The win allowed Leverkusen to snatch second from RB Leipzig and get back to winning ways after last weekend’s home defeat by leaders Bayern Munich, who played strugglers Werder Bremen late yesterday with a 13point lead.
Just one point separates the six clubs behind Bayern in the league table, with seventh-placed Eintracht Frankfurt one adrift of Leverkusen.
“We are delighted with the three points — which weren’t expected, especially not so emphatically and after such an open first half,” said Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich.
RB Leipzig dropped to third after a shock 2-1 defeat at Freiburg, who are unbeaten in seven games and moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Borussia Moenchengladbach moved up to fourth after a Matthias Ginter header and tremendous Thorgan Hazard strike, following a superb run, sealed a 2-0 home win over Augsburg.
Borussia Dortmund dropped to fifth after Friday’s 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin.
Star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was again left out of the Dortmund squad and Borussia confirmed on Saturday they have had contact with Arsenal about a possible transfer.
z Bordeaux have named former Sunderland and Brighton boss Gus Poyet as their new head coach.
The Uruguayan, whose appointment was announced shortly after Les Girondins beat Nantes 1-0 in Ligue 1 on Saturday, had most recently been in charge of Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
A tweet from Bordeaux said Poyet would be assisted by his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Mauricio Taricco, and Fernando Menegazzo.
He succeeds Jocelyn Gourvennec, who left his post on Thursday, in the wake of a 2-0 defeat by Caen.
Before Saturday’s victory at Nantes, Bordeaux were 13th in the league table having won just once in their previous six games.
One of Poyet’s first challenges on the west coast of France will be trying to convince Brazilian forward Malcom to stay at the club amid reported interest from Tottenham. Agencies