Superb Wirtz Keeps Leverkusen On Pace With Leaders Bayern
Florian Wirtz, the German Bundesliga champions, defeated Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1 on Saturday to keep Bayern Munich’s lead at four points.
Leverkusen were dominant and in control as they won their 11th straight game win over Wolfsburg earlier in the day, going seven clear with a 3-2 victory over Wolfsburg.
Granit Xhaka, a Leverkusen enforcer, won the ball in midfield and fed Wirtz, who beat a defender and slotted consolingly home with ease after 32 minutes.
When Leverkusen won a penalty for handball midway through the second half, the 21-year-old Wirtz stepped up and converted.
Patrik Schick latched onto a Wirtz pass to score Leverkusen’s third, keeping his remarkable recent goalscoring run alive. In his previous eight league games, the Czech striker has now scored 12 goals.
German midfielder Wirtz has nine goals and eight assists in 18 league games this season, including a brace against Gladbach in August.
“I love playing against Gladbach”, Wirtz told Sky with a smile.
“What’s most important is that we win. We want to keep winning”, he added.
Gladbach’s Tim Kliendienst scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.
Having broken Bayern’s 11-year title streak last campaign, Leverkusen eliminated the Bavarians from the German Cup this season. The two sides meet in Leverkusen in mid-February.
Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso team travels to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League midweek, but Martin Terrier’s absence was the only negative. He had what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
Earlier on Saturday, Leon Goretzka scored a brace in Bayern’s home win over Wolfsburg.
20 minutes later, Goretzka scored from a superb low shot across the goal, which has been revived under Bayern coach Vincent Kompany this season.
Shortly after that, Wolfsburg responded to the play with a straightforward Mohammed Amoura goal.
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Before half-time, when Michael Olise, who started in the starting XI ahead of Jamal Musiala, finished off a dominant team move, the Bavarian giants reclaimed control of the game.
Goretzka then added his second on the 62-minute mark, heading in an Olise free-kick.
In their 32 games against Bayern in Munich, 30 of which have been losses, Wolfsburg were unable to break through and score with a goal with two minutes left.
Goretzka, who was reportedly leaving Bayern at the start of the season, was praised by Kompany.
“Leon worked hard and showed us in training that he’s hungry”, Kompany said. The fact that he is performing well is a positive development for both the team and the younger players, who may be going through a challenging phase, according to Leon.
Rose slams ‘ unprofessional ‘ Leipzig ,
RB Leipzig let a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 away at lowly Bochum, with the hosts ‘ Myron Boadu scoring three goals in 13 second-half minutes.
Without the suspended forwards Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko, Leipzig was able to score early, with the visitors scoring 3-0 after just 21 minutes with Willi Orban, Antonio Nusa, and Christoph Baumgartner.
Bochum, a relegation favorite, was in control, but Dutch striker Boadu took control and scored two goals from open play before turning in a penalty in the 61st minute to bring the score.
A frustrated Leipzig coach Marco Rose told Sky Germany, “It’s not a question of structure; it’s a question of professionalism and attitude.”
Stuttgart thumped derby rival Freiburg 4-0 to move into fourth place after Leipzig’s slump.
Within 17 minutes, Ermedin Demirovic and Anthony Rouault both fired in from Angelo Stiller corners to give the hosts two goals.
With 10 minutes left, Stuttgart won their third straight game, and Nick Woltemade scored a penalty in stoppage time. Deniz Undav scored for Germany.
Hoffenheim hit back from Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing at Bayern, winning 3-1 at Holstein Kiel to go three points clear of the relegation spots.
With a 2-0 victory over Heidenheim, St Pauli also moved three points clear of the relegation spots.
Source: Channels TV
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