Werner does the trick as Leipzig crush Mainz

Timo Werner scored a hattrick as rampant RB Leipzig reignited their Champions League push with a 5-0 rout of Mainz yesterday.

The win was Leipzig’s first in four Bundesliga outings and moved them back up to third place.

Werner put Leipzig ahead in the 22nd minute, turning in Konrad Laimer’s cross, before Yussuf Poulsen added a second.

A swift counter-attack had Leipzig forwards queuing up to apply the finish in the 36th minute, Marcel Sabitzer the man who found the top corner.

Werner, below, added two more after the break, with Kevin Kampl seeing a goal ruled out for offside.

Mainz remain three points clear of the relegation play-off place, that cushion coming courtesy of a remarkable Cologne

fightback in a 2-2 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf

which prevented the visitors cutting the gap to a single point.

Dusseldorf looked to be cruising at 2-0 until Anthony Modeste struck in the 88th minute and Jhon Cordoba levelled in stoppage time.

Kenan Karaman had put Dusseldorf ahead four minutes before the break with a deflected shot.

There was a let-off for Dusseldorf just before the hour as Mark Uth hit a post twice and was then fouled as he tried for a second rebound, only to see the following penalty saved.

And Dusseldorf took full advantage as Erik Thommy put away their second two minutes later, only to be pegged back at the end.

The pressure continued to build on Schalke manager David Wagner as they suffered a 3-0 home defeat by Augsburg.

Eduard Lowen opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Noah Sarenren Bazee doubled the lead with 14 minutes remaining and Sergio Cordova added a third in stoppage time.