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Bayern roars back to floor Hoffenheim

January 27, 2018
Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal in action against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim during their Bundesliga match at Allianz Arena, Munich, Saturday. — Reuters
Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal in action against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim during their Bundesliga match at Allianz Arena, Munich, Saturday. — Reuters

BERLIN — Robert Lewandowski netted his 18th Bundesliga goal this season as runaway leader Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Hoffenheim 5-2 Saturday.

Bayern has won 18 of its last 19 games and is 16 points clear in the table.

However, a dreadful start left Bayern 2-0 down at home — the first time that has happened since January 1977 — after just 12 minutes.

Bayern's Joshua Kimmich brought down Serge Gnabry, who returns to Bayern next season when his loan spell at Hoffenheim ends, in the area with two minutes gone and the referee pointed to the spot.

Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich saved Gnabry's spot kick from Gnabry only for Mark Uth to tap home the rebound with three minutes gone.

Bayern's fortunes dived further when Jerome Boateng's poor pass was snapped up by Gnabry who drove the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

However, Bayern was level with 25 minutes gone.

Lewandowski began the charge by tapping home Kimmich's shot and Boateng made amends by heading home to make the score 2-2 at the break.

Kingsley Coman gave Bayern the lead for the first time with an hour gone before Arturo Vidal headed the fourth on 66 minutes.

To compound Hoffenheim's misery, their ex-striker Sandro Wagner scored his first Bayern goal on 90 minutes to complete the comeback.

Arsenal target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced a poor display on his Borussia Dortmund return in their 2-2 draw against Freiburg whose captain Nils Petersen netted twice.

Aubameyang was dropped for Dortmund's two previous games as his club reportedly rejected a second bid by Arsenal of 58 million euros ($72m).

The German club is reportedly holding out for 70 million euros for its top scorer.

Dortmund went ahead when Shinji Kagawa volleyed home his second goal in as many games on nine minutes.

Aubameyang, who headed over on 32 minutes, was booed by home fans whenever he went near the ball.

Freiburg drew level on 21 minutes when Petersen fired home at the near post.

Petersen grabbed his second with a spectacular shot after pouncing on a Nuri Sahin mistake and lobbed Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki from 30 meters.

However, Germany Under-21 left-back Jeremy Toljan spared Dortmund's blushes with a 93rd-minute equalizer.

Dortmund is fifth in the table after their third straight draw.

Schalke reclaimed second spot from Eintracht Frankfurt, which beat Borussia Moenchengladbach Friday, with a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart.

Fourth-placed RB Leipzig were held to a 1-1 draw at home to second-from-bottom Hamburg.

Bottom-side Cologne was denied a fourth straight victory in their 1-1 draw against Augsburg.

Milos Jojic curled in a superb free-kick on 40 minutes before Brazilian midfielder Caiuby headed home an equalizer 22 minutes from time. — AFP


January 27, 2018
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