Record champions FC Bayern München sent out a message to their Bundsliga rivals after they breezed past second-placed RB Leipzig 3-0 on matchday 16. The league leaders put on a deadly first-half display to open up a gap of three points at the top. Behind the newly-promoted side are Hertha BSC who beat SV Darmstadt 2-0 at home. TSG 1899 go into the winter break in fourth and still unbeaten this season, despite conceding late on in their 1-1 draw at SV Werder Bremen. 1. FC Köln and Bayer Leverkusen also shared the spoils in their derby encounter (1-1), while FC Ingolstadt were beaten 2-1 at home to SC Freiburg.
The hosts had to be on high alert from the off at the Allianz Arena in Munich, as Leipzig threw men forward in the opening minutes – Germany U21s international Timo Werner delivering a dangerous cross in the fourth minute, before the reigning champions seized control of the game. Their dominance was rewarded in the 17th minute when Thiago Alcantara pounced on Robert Lewandowksi’s rebounded effort to tap home the opening goal.
It didn’t take long before Bayern doubled their lead. A misplaced pass by Naby Keita in his own half gifted Lewandowski the ball. Two passes later, and after a fine finish inside the box from Xabi Alonso, Bayern were cruising. Things went from bad to worse for the season's surprise packages when Emil Forsberg was dismissed for a desperate foul on Philipp Lahm. Lewandowski completed the 3-0 win on the stroke of half time from the penalty spot.
Gnabry rescues point for Werder
Hoffenheim once again called upon the in-form Sandro Wagner, who bagged his ninth of the season to give his side the lead against Bremen. But it wasn’t enough to grab all three points for the league’s only remaining unbeaten side, as Germany international Serge Gnabry scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Werder.
Darmstadt started the better team in Berlin, but it was the hosts who took the lead early in the second half. Marvin Plattenhardt and Salomon Kalou provided the clinical touches for Hertha in the evening to halt a run of two consecutive defeats. For the Lilies it was a seventh consecutive defeat, leaving them 8 points from safety.
No winner in the Rhine derby
Anthony Modeste ended a 412 minute goal drought in the 21st minute with his 13th goal of the season, but Leverkusen bounced back before the break through Wendell. Köln remain in seventh place on 25 points, while Bayer sit four points behind them in ninth.
Freiburg took all three points home from Ingolstadt thanks to a Florian Niederlechner brace. The attacker opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before adding a second before the break. Markus Suttner pulled one back for the hosts from a free kick early in the second period.
Record champions FC Bayern München sent out a message to their Bundsliga rivals after they breezed past second-placed RB Leipzig 3-0 on matchday 16. The league leaders put on a deadly first-half display to open up a gap of three points at the top. Behind the newly-promoted side are Hertha BSC who beat SV Darmstadt 2-0 at home. TSG 1899 go into the winter break in fourth and still unbeaten this season, despite conceding late on in their 1-1 draw at SV Werder Bremen. 1. FC Köln and Bayer Leverkusen also shared the spoils in their derby encounter (1-1), while FC Ingolstadt were beaten 2-1 at home to SC Freiburg.
The hosts had to be on high alert from the off at the Allianz Arena in Munich, as Leipzig threw men forward in the opening minutes – Germany U21s international Timo Werner delivering a dangerous cross in the fourth minute, before the reigning champions seized control of the game. Their dominance was rewarded in the 17th minute when Thiago Alcantara pounced on Robert Lewandowksi’s rebounded effort to tap home the opening goal.
It didn’t take long before Bayern doubled their lead. A misplaced pass by Naby Keita in his own half gifted Lewandowski the ball. Two passes later, and after a fine finish inside the box from Xabi Alonso, Bayern were cruising. Things went from bad to worse for the season's surprise packages when Emil Forsberg was dismissed for a desperate foul on Philipp Lahm. Lewandowski completed the 3-0 win on the stroke of half time from the penalty spot.
Gnabry rescues point for Werder
Hoffenheim once again called upon the in-form Sandro Wagner, who bagged his ninth of the season to give his side the lead against Bremen. But it wasn’t enough to grab all three points for the league’s only remaining unbeaten side, as Germany international Serge Gnabry scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Werder.
Darmstadt started the better team in Berlin, but it was the hosts who took the lead early in the second half. Marvin Plattenhardt and Salomon Kalou provided the clinical touches for Hertha in the evening to halt a run of two consecutive defeats. For the Lilies it was a seventh consecutive defeat, leaving them 8 points from safety.
No winner in the Rhine derby
Anthony Modeste ended a 412 minute goal drought in the 21st minute with his 13th goal of the season, but Leverkusen bounced back before the break through Wendell. Köln remain in seventh place on 25 points, while Bayer sit four points behind them in ninth.
Freiburg took all three points home from Ingolstadt thanks to a Florian Niederlechner brace. The attacker opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before adding a second before the break. Markus Suttner pulled one back for the hosts from a free kick early in the second period.
