Bayern toil to win as Dortmund run riot

BERLIN: Bayern Munich conceded for the first time and laboured to maintain their winning start to the Bundesliga while Borussia Dortmund underlined their title credentials with another rout.

Rafinha sealed Bayern’s 3-1 home win over Ingolstadt after the visitors missed a host of chances to equalise, 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 equalised with a brilliant chip from a closing angle over Ingolstadt goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

But Bayern seemed to be lacking their 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 goalkeeper to beat, and Thiago Alcantara was fortunate not be penalised 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.

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. — AP