Lewandowski leads Bayern over Dortmund

Sports Desk, Mar 6 (efe-epa).- Robert Lewandowski had a hat trick Saturday to help Bayern Munich come from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 and reclaim the top spot in the Bundesliga.

Though soccer is a team sport, this latest edition of Der Klassiker was in some ways a duel between the 32-year-old Polish international and Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, set to turn 21 in July.

Lewandowski, last year’s UEFA Golden Shoe winner, leads the Bundesliga 2020-2021 scoring race with 31 goals in 23 matches, while the Norwegian youngster is second on 19 goals in 19 appearances.

Haaland got Dortmund off to a brilliant start in the contest at Munich’s Allianz Arena, scoring in the 2nd minute and again in the 9th to put the visitors up 0-2.

Conceding a second goal appeared to jolt Bayern into action and the visitors fell back to protect their lead.

Bayern, who would end the match with 66 percent possession and a 9-3 edge in shots on target, began to pose questions for Dortmund.

Leroy Sane headed just over the cross-bar after meeting Joshua Kimmich’s corner at the far post in the 17th minutes, just minutes before Lewandowski fired wide.

The Pole put Bayern on the board in the 26th minute, connecting with a ball sent across the goal mouth by Sane.

Kingsley Coman tested Dortmund goalkeeper in the 29th minute and Lewandowski sent a shot high 10 minutes later.

With a minute left in first-half regulation, Mahmoud Dahoud fouled Coman in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Lewandowski converted to level the match at 2-2.

Dortmund showed renewed ambition to start the second half, but Thorgan Hazard sent his shot into the side netting and Hitz had to react quickly on the following sequence to avoid handing an easy goal to Coman.

And the visitors’ prospects took a drastic turn for the worse in the 52nd minute when Haaland stayed down after an encounter with Jerome Boateng.

Though the striker tried to continue, he finally hobbled off the pitch at the hour mark.

Even so, Dortmund were on course to come away with a point until Leon Goretzka broke through for Bayern in the 88th minute.

Lewandowski completed his triple two minutes later to make it 4-2 as Bayern improved to 55 points, 2 more than RB Leipzig, who spent a few hours in first place after their 0-3 triumph earlier Saturday at SC Freiburg

Dortmund are sixth on 39 points, 4 away from the final Champions League place. EFE

rz/dr