Lewandowski scores in 19th consecutive game
Robert Lewandowski scored yet again in Bayern’s 7-0 rout of promoted Bochum.
Lewandowski stretched his scoring run to 19 consecutive games across all competitions for Bayern. The Poland star’s second half goal also ensured he became the first Bundesliga player to score in 13 consecutive home games.
Bayern was already confident after starting the Champions League on Tuesday beating Barcelona 3-0, while Bochum arrived in Munich after two league defeats.
The visitors made a solid start until Leroy Sane opened the scoring with a brilliant free kick in the 17th minute. It was Bayern’s first shot on target.
Sane set up Joshua Kimmich in the 27th and Serge Gnabry picked the far corner. An own goal from Vasilios Lampropoulos completed a first half to forget for Bochum — though history showed an improbable comeback was possible.
The clubs also met in the Bundesliga 45 years ago to the day, when Bochum — then playing at home — was four goals up against Bayern at halftime. Bayern fought back in the second half to win 6-5 with future club president Uli Hoeneß scoring the winner in the 89th.
A Elsewhere: The French league match between Lens and defending champion Lille was interrupted for about 30 minutes when fans from the northern rivals clashed at halftime on Saturday. After the first half ended, a large group of Lens supporters invaded the field and ran to the away section where they fought with Lille fans. Riot police and stewards intervened and escorted them off the field. An emergency meeting took place to decide whether the match at Stade Bollaert should continue. But after the second half got underway there was no further disorder and the match ended 1-0 to Lens, which is unbeaten under coach Franck Haise and moved up to second place. ... Even without Romelu Lukaku and Antonio Conte, Inter Milan seems intent on successfully defending its Serie A title. The Nerazzurri completely overwhelmed visiting Bologna 6-1 to extend their unbeaten start to the Italian league. Substitute Edin Dzeko scored two late goals after Lautaro Martinez, Milan Skriniar, Nicolo Barella and Matias Vecino gave the hosts a four-goal cushion. ... Ten-man Atletico Madrid was held to a second straight scoreless draw at home after its talented attack was again stymied by Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league. ... Leon Bailey’s explosive 20-minute cameo propelled Aston
Villa to a 3-0 win over Everton in the English Premier League as Rafa Benitez slumped to his first loss in charge of the visitors. The winger, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the offseason, came on in 61st minute when the score was 0-0 and went off with a muscle injury in the 81st, by which time Villa had scored all of its goals. In the space of nine minutes, right back Matty Cash slammed home a rising shot from the edge of area, Bailey sent in an inswinging corner that was glanced into his own net by Everton left back Lucas Digne, then Bailey surged into the area after a swift counterattack and lashed a powerful shot high past Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in the 75th.
ETC.
A NHL: Zdeno Chara pondered his future, talked to his family and decided a blast from his past was the right choice for where to play a 24th NHL season.
Chara agreed to terms with the New York Islanders on a one-year deal Saturday, returning 25 years later to the organization that drafted him, to chase the Stanley Cup one more time at age 44.
Chara was a third-round pick of the Islanders in 1996 and made his debut with them the next year before being traded to Ottawa in 2001.
“It’s kind of full circle,” Chara said. “Who would know that this would kind of work out the way it did after 20-some years?”