LEIPZIG KNOCK BAYERN OFF TOP

RB Leipzig again knocked Bayern Munich from top spot in the Bundesliga table yesterday as their 2-1 win at home to Schalke 04 left them three points clear. Bayern and Leipzig are set to meet at Munich’s Allianz Arena on December 21 in a mouthwatering pre-Christmas showdown. A second-half own-goal from Schalke’s Bosnia international Sead Kolasinac sealed Leipzig’s win, their 10th league victory, extending their record unbeaten run to 13 matches in their first Bundesliga season. Leipzig took an early lead in controversial fashion as Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann conceded a penalty with just 19 seconds gone when the referee judged he had made contact with RB’s top scorer Timo Werner. Replays showed the Leipzig forward dived, but Werner, 20, drilled in his eighth league goal of the season. Faehrmann was booked to add insult to injury for Schalke. This was Schalke’s first defeat in 13 games, dating back to the end of September, to leave them eighth. Earlier, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Borussia Dortmund prepared for their Champions League clash at Real Madrid with a 4-1 rout of Borussia Moenchengladbach. Hertha Berlin held onto third with a 3-2 comeback victory at 10-man Wolfsburg as Salomon Kalou converted the winning penalty in the 91st minute. Hoffenheim, who along with RB Leipzig are the only unbeaten teams in the Bundesliga, are fourth after romping to a 4-0 win at home to Cologne. Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 at home to Freiburg. Werder Bremen climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win at home to Ingolstadt.