Lewandowski scored his 30th league objective of the season as Munich keep seven factors forward of second-placed Dortmund. PHOTO: AFP
Bundesliga gamers wore black armbands and took the knee in shows of assist for the Black Lives Matter protests on Saturday, as Bayern Munich stored title rivals Borussia Dortmund at bay with a ninth successive win.
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski scored his 30th league objective of the season as Bayern got here from behind to assert a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, a win which stored them seven factors forward of second-placed Dortmund, who beat Hertha Berlin 1-0.
After Lucas Alario secured an early lead for the house facet, Bayern struck twice in fast succession simply earlier than half-time to show the sport of their favour after Kingsley Coman’s equaliser.
A mistake from Moussa Diaby allowed Coman to curve within the equaliser, earlier than a fizzing shot from Leon Goretzka and a chic lob from Serge Gnabry noticed Bayern take a two-goal lead into the break.
“We didn’t start well, but I think it’s something which really distinguishes us at the moment, that we are able to fight our way back into games,” Goretzka advised Sky.
Lewandowski sealed the win within the second half, equalling his most prolific Bundesliga season, though Leverkusen teenager Florian Wirtz struck late on to develop into the Bundesliga’s youngest-ever scorer at simply 17 years and 34 days.
“We already knew he was a huge talent,” stated Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz of {the teenager}, who beat the document set by Nuri Sahin for Borussia Dortmund in November 2005 by 48 days.
As 1000’s of protesters assembled in metropolis centres throughout Germany, each of the nation’s high two golf equipment additionally used Saturday’s video games to make statements towards police brutality and racism.
Dortmund gamers warmed up in T-shirts bearing messages of solidarity akin to “no justice, no peace”, earlier than taking the knee within the centre circle with their Hertha colleagues for a second’s silence earlier than kick-off.
Bayern gamers, in the meantime, wore black “Black Lives Matter” armbands throughout their rampant win over Leverkusen.
“As players, we always have the same message — we are tolerant, we are open, we are open to the world,” Bayern captain Manuel Neuer advised Sky.
– Can retains Dortmund hopes alive? –
PHOTO: AFP Dortmund battled to a 1-Zero residence win over Hertha because of a second-half strike from Emre Can.
England winger Jadon Sancho, who was among the many first Bundesliga gamers to lend his voice to the protests final weekend, missed from shut vary simply after the break earlier than establishing Can with a deft chip over the again line on 57 minutes.
A late equaliser from Christian Strohdiek noticed bottom-of-the-table Paderborn snatch a 1-1 draw away to RB Leipzig.
Timo Werner arrange Patrik Schick on 27 minutes to offer Leipzig the lead, however they have been compelled to defend it with 10 males after Dayot Upamecano was booked twice within the first half.
Strohdiek’s last-minute strike gave Paderborn their fourth attract 5 video games, although Steffen Baumgart’s facet stay eight factors off Fortuna Duesseldorf, who occupy the relegation play-off place.
Duesseldorf themselves missed the possibility to maneuver in direction of security, as they battled to a dramatic 2-2 draw towards 10-man Hoffenheim.
A headed opener from Rouwen Hennings and a pink card for Hoffenheim’s Benjamin Huebner put the house facet in pole place.
Nonetheless, the guests struck again with targets from Munas Dabbur and Steven Zuber earlier than Hennings saved a degree with a late penalty.
Uwe Roesler’s facet stay three factors adrift of security within the relegation play-off place, after targets from Moussa Niakhate and Pierre Kunde Malong gave fellow strugglers Mainz a uncommon win over native rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.
Having sealed a vital win together with his 77th-minute strike, Cameroon worldwide Kunde additionally joined the protests, taking a knee rather than a celebration.
“I think it’s good. It isn’t a political statement, it’s just a position, and these are values that we have. For me, there is no other possible position to take,” stated Mainz sporting director Rouven Schroeder.
