Lewandowski nets twice as Bayern down Hoffenheim
BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski netted both goals as leaders Bayern Munich earned a 2-0 win over Hoffenheim yesterday to stay eight points clear in the Bundesliga.
After the league’s top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had scored twice for Borussia Dortmund to reach 20 league goals on Saturday, Lewandowski is now just behind with 19.
The Poland striker gave Bayern the lead at Munich’s Allianz Arena after blasting home Douglas Costa’s low cross on 32 minutes.
He doubled his tally with some clinical finishing after a superb through ball from Bayern captain Philipp Lahm on 64 minutes. It could have been three as Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal hit the post. Hoffenheim remain second from bottom as they failed to secure their maiden win over Bayern at the 16th attempt.
There was bad news for Bayern coach Pep Guardiola before kick-off as Javi Martinez dropped out with a knee injury. It forced Guardiola into playing a threeman defence leaving Holger Badstuber as their only fit centre-back with Jerome Boateng and Medhi Benatia currently sidelined.
Their Champions League last 16, first-leg clash at Juventus is just three weeks away with the return leg in Munich on March 16.
Meanwhile, Wolfsburg remain winless in their four games since beating Manchester United in the Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Cologne.
Wolfsburg face Belgian side Gent in the away leg of their last-16 tie in Europe on February 17. But Dieter Hecking’s side have now lost two and drawn two in their last four games since knocking United out of the Champions League with a 3-2 win last December.
The hosts went ahead when right-winger Vieirinha fired in a cross, which found Julian Draxler unmarked for the Germany international to fire home on 67 minutes. Cologne equalised eight minutes later when Anthony Modeste curled his shot around Wolves ‘keeper Diego Benaglio. The result left Wolfsburg seventh-outside the European places for next season-and Cologne ninth.
On Saturday, Dortmund enjoyed a 2-0 win over Ingolstadt to go ten points clear of third-placed Hertha Berlin. Dortmund could consider themselves fortunate though as captain Mats Hummels escaped a red card for a foul in the area.
He then scored a second-half own-goal, which the referee refused to award to Ingolstadt after a foul in the build-up, before Aubameyang struck twice.
Hertha threw away a 2-0 lead as hosts Werder Bremen roared back with three goals in ten second-half minutes to claim a point in a 3-3 draw.
Ivory Coast veteran Salomon Kalou struck Berlin’s third goal to leave Hertha 31 up in Bremen with 20 minutes left. Then Bremen veteran Claudio Pizarro netted a penalty before defender Santiago Garcia fired in a shot which was later credited to Pizarro, who nudged the ball over the line to level the scores.
Bayer Leverkusen climbed to fourth with a 3-0 win at Hanover 96, who dropped to the bottom, with Javier Hernandez scoring twice in the romp. — AFP