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Matthijs de Ligt (C) celebrates scoring the opening aim along with his teammates. Photograph: AFP
Defender Matthijs de Ligt produced an important goal-line clearance earlier than scoring himself as Bayern Munich reclaimed the Bundesliga lead from Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 win at Stuttgart on Saturday.
De Ligt’s aim got here late within the first half simply after he prevented Stuttgart from going forward, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting grabbing a second for Bayern halfway by means of the second half.
Stuttgart pulled one again late on by means of Juan Jose Perea, however Bayern held on to return above Dortmund on aim distinction forward of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg towards Paris Saint-Germain in Munich.
Bayern picked up the place they left off in final week’s 3-0 win over Union Berlin, with Leon Goretzka forcing goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow into two beautiful reflex saves in fast succession.
Not content material to permit Bayern to show the screws, Stuttgart saved wanting harmful on the counter by means of the pace of striker Silas.
Silas’ near-post shot compelled a save from Yann Sommer after 36 minutes and the house facet nearly took the lead from the following nook, with De Ligt desperately clearing a deflected ball off the road.
The Dutch centre-back put Bayern in entrance only a minute later, blasting a low shot underneath Bredlow from exterior the field.
Contemporary from inking a one-year extension in Munich on Friday, former PSG striker Choupo-Moting doubled Bayern’s lead by hammering a shot previous Bredlow when put by means of on aim by Thomas Mueller.
With simply two minutes remaining, the house facet gave their followers hope, Tiago Tomas curling in an excellent cross to search out Perea, who headed previous Sommer.
French winger Tanguy Coulibaly had an opportunity to equalise within the second minute of damage time when he jumped excessive to go a cross from Hiroki Ito, however his effort went simply vast.
Stuttgart, who’ve misplaced 5 of their previous six video games, are certainly one of 4 groups holding up the underside of the desk equal on 19 factors.
– Union held at house –
Earlier on Saturday, Union Berlin missed an opportunity to communicate with Bayern and Dortmund, taking part in out a scoreless draw at house towards Cologne.
Probabilities had been few all through and regardless of some late attacking adjustments from Union supervisor Urs Fischer, the guests held agency.
Fischer singled out goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow for specific reward, telling Sky: “Cologne had been a bit extra harmful… we are able to thank our goalkeeper for retaining us within the recreation.”
The end result, Union’s third 0-0 draw of their previous 5 matches, sees the Berliners fall 5 factors behind Bayern, sitting in third place.
Elsewhere, Freiburg missed an opportunity to overhaul RB Leipzig into the Champions League locations, drawing 0-0 away to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
France striker Marcus Thuram gained Gladbach a second-half penalty however the spot kick was overturned by VAR, which discovered inadequate contact with the ahead’s foot.
Gladbach had been lowered to 10 males with three minutes remaining when Algerian wing-back Ramy Bensebaini picked up a second yellow for kicking the ball away in frustration.
On the different finish of the desk, Schalke boosted their hopes of avoiding a direct return to the second division, profitable 2-0 away at fellow strugglers Bochum.
The win, arrange by a first-half goalkeeping howler from Bochum’s Manuel Riemann and a intelligent second-half strike from Marius Buelter, was Schalke’s first away victory within the high flight since November 2019.
Schalke, who had anchored the Bundesliga desk since October, at the moment are unbeaten of their final six video games forward of subsequent week’s conflict with derby rivals Dortmund.
Mainz lifted themselves to seventh with a hard-fought 1-0 house win over Hoffenheim, because of a first-half strike from Leandro Barreiro.
The end result was the guests’ seventh loss in eight matches in 2023, leaving Hoffenheim in grave relegation hazard.
Augsburg lifted themselves eight factors away from the relegation spots with a 2-1 house win over Werder Bremen.
AFP
