Robben hits winner in nine-goal thriller
BERLIN: Arjen Robben’s superb solo goal five minutes into time added on sealed a dramatic 5-4 comeback win for Bayern Munich at RB Leipzig in an electric topof-the-table clash on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded Bayern, who were already confirmed as Bundesliga champions for the fifth straight year, were 4-3 down on 90 minutes until David Alaba drilled home a free-kick a minute later.
Robben, 33, then proved he had the legs to sprint clear of the tiring home defence as he capped a superb run with the winner. “It was a crazy game,” said Ancelotti. “We had a difficult start, but at the end it was enough for this crazy result.
“Both teams played great football, but could have defended better.”
It was heartbreak for second-placed Leipzig, who were minutes from avenging their 3-0 defeat at Bayern’s Allianz Arena last December.
“Congratulations Bayern for this mad victory and congrats to those who were in the stadium to witness it,” said Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl.
“We didn’t win any points today, but won a few hearts and some sympathy.
“We looked like being the winners for a long time against the best team in Germany.”
Bayern’s last-gasp victory leaves them 13-point clear in the table and captain Philipp Lahm will lift the Bundesliga
trophy after Saturday’s home match against Freiburg.
Leipzig’s Timo Werner netted twice and with 21 league goals is the Bundesliga’s leading German striker, and a shoe-in when Germany’s squad for next month’s Confederations Cup is announced on Wednesday.
In the race to be the league’s top-scorer, Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski also scored twice to leave him on 30 goals, one more
than nearest rival, Dortmund’s PierreEmerick Aubameyang, with a game left.
The first goal came after just 65 seconds when Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer headed home, then Werner hit the post on 12 minutes.
Bayern drew level when a Lahm cross clipped the arm of defender Bernardo and Lewandowski drilled home the penalty on 16 minutes.
Leipzig restored their lead when Xabi Alonso fouled playmaker Emil Forsberg and Werner netted from the spot.
Danish striker Yussuf Poulsen made it 3-1 to Leipzig just after the break when his shot wrong-footed Bayern’s third-choice goalkeeper Tom Starke after clipping Alonso’s boot.
But Bayern stayed in touch as Thiago Alcantara headed home Alonso’s cross on 60 minutes, before Werner grabbed his second five minutes later after turning Germany defender Jerome Boateng.
When Robben hit the crossbar with a free-kick on 84 minutes, Lewandowski reacted fastest to head home the rebound, cutting their deficit to one goal again and setting the scene for the dramatic finale.
LEIPZIG UCL SPOT IN DOUBT
Salzburg won a fourth straight Austrian league title on Saturday meaning European football’s governing body Uefa must now decide if German club RB Leipzig can compete in next season’s Champions League.
Salzburg’s 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna gave them an unassailable 72 points from 33 games.
Both Salzburg and Leipzig are owned by Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull and Uefa rules state that two clubs controlled by the same owners cannot compete in the same competition.