Bayern Munich toils to win, Dortmund flying in Bundesliga
Bayern Munich conceded for the first time and labored to maintain its winning start to the Bundesliga while Borussia Dortmund underlined its title credentials with another rout yesterday.
Rafinha sealed Bayern’s 3-1 home win over Ingolstadt after the visitors missed a host of chances to equalize, while Dortmund thrashed Darmstadt 6-0 to follow Wednesday’s 6-0 win over Legia Warsaw in the Champions League.
Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to rotate in Munich with David Alaba, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels all out.
Dario Lezcano stunned the home fans by scoring in the eighth minute. It was the first goal Bayern had conceded in six games across all competitions. Mathew Leckie raced down the left and crossed for Lezcano to shoot past the despairing Manuel Neuer into the top right corner.
Lezcano went close again minutes later before Robert Lewandowski equalized with a brilliant chip from a closing angle over Ingolstadt ‘keeper Orjan Nyland. But Bayern seemed to be lacking its usual intensity and sharpness, and Leckie fired over and then forced Neuer into action again before the break.
Xabi Alonso put Bayern ahead early in the second half with a hammer-strike inside the left post from outside the penalty area after Franck Ribery laid the ball back. Ribery also set up Lewandowski’s opener.
Neuer pulled off a good save to deny Leckie before Ingolstadt substitute Lukas Hinterseer fired wide with only the ‘keeper to beat, and Thiago Alcantara was fortunate not be penalized for bringing down Ingolstadt’s Pascal Gross in the penalty area.
Rafinha settled the home side’s nerves in the 84th, again set up by Ribery. It was the defender’s first goal since April 2013.
“Sometimes we need to suffer,” Ancelotti said.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 6, DARMSTADT 0
Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel managed the side’s second consecutive 6-0 win with Mario Goetze, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Marc Bartra on the bench.
Dortmund led only 1-0 at the break despite dominating.
Then Adrian Ramos doubled the lead, and Christian Pulisic swept the ball home for his first Bundesliga goal of the season, a day before he turns 18. Dortmund’s task was made easier when Peter Niemeyer was sent off in the 57th for a second yellow card after a bad challenge on Adrian Ramos.
Gonzalo Castro scored his second with his heel, Sebastian Rode made it 5-0 with his, and Emre Mor earned his first Bundesliga goal with two minutes remaining.
“We controlled the game in every respect and gave our fans a great afternoon,”Tuchel said.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 2, BAYER LEVERKUSEN 1
Leverkusen slumped to its second defeat from three games after Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez struck a penalty against the post with two minutes remaining.
Eintracht Frankfurt captain Alexander Meier scored early in the second half, and Chicharito equalized on the hour-mark to ensure Leverkusen scored for the 15th consecutive Bundesliga game, a league record.
However, Marco Fabian claimed what proved to be the winner for Frankfurt in the 79th, and Leverkusen rued the cost of Chicharito’s late penalty miss.
Elsewhere, promoted Leipzig impressed with four goals in the second half to defeat Hamburger SV 4-0 away, and Hoffenheim held visiting Wolfsburg to a scoreless draw. Borussia Moenchengladbach was hosting Werder Bremen in the late game. — AP