Werner brace sparks Leipzig
Print Edition
Timo Werner struck twice as RB Leipzig came from a goal down to crush visiting SC Freiburg 4-1 yesterday for its first victory of the Bundesliga season.
Last season’s surprise runner-up took instant control of the game, pinning Freiburg back and having more than 60 percent possession, but it was the visitors who scored first with Florian Niederlechner completing a superb passing move in the 23rd minute.
The goal turned the game on its head and it was Leipzig now which was under pressure, desperate to find an equalizer before the break.
Werner, Jean-Kevin Augustin and Marcel Sabitzer all had their share of golden chances but they had to wait until right after the break to level with Germany international Werner’s glancing header from an Emil Forsberg corner.
The hosts never looked back as Willi Orban tapped in seven minutes later to put them ahead and the talented 21-year-old Werner grabbed his second goal of the afternoon.
With Freiburg’s defense having crumbled in the second half Bruma completed Leipzig’s strong comeback with an 80th-minute effort.
Borussia Dortmund tops the table on goal difference after making it two wins out of two matches with a 2-0 victory over Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Champion Bayern Munich is also on a maximum six points following its win against Werder Bremen by the same score, as is Hamburg SV with its best start in eight seasons.
In Spain, Lionel Messi scored twice and saw a penalty saved as Barcelona maintained its perfect start to the season in La Liga with a 2-0 win at Alaves on Saturday.
Without new signing Ousmane Dembele, who completed the second most expensive transfer ever by moving for 105 million euros (US$125 million) from Dortmund on Friday, or the injured Luis Suarez, Messi ensured Barcelona didn’t lose any early ground in the title race despite a tumultuous start to the campaign off the field.
The five-time World Player of the Year missed from the penalty spot for the 20th time in his career as Fernando Pacheco produced a stunning save midway through the first half.
However, Messi wasn’t to be denied as his deflected effort opened the scoring shortly after half-time before a sweetly-struck volley sealed all three points. “We’re happy because we have overcome a difficult test,” said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. “We’ve overcome difficult moments, we have six points and can now move forward.”
Barcelona’s preseason preparations were rocked by the loss of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record 222 million euros.
Dembele has been bought to replace the Brazilian, but Barcelona’s business may not be finished with a final push for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho expected before the Spanish transfer window shuts on Friday. “We hope that by the 31st (of August) we have an even more competitive team, that is clear,” added Valverde.
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