Bayern extend their lead at the top as Dortmund got thrashed by Leverksuen

(Football news) Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the table after they narrowly beat RB Leipzig 3-2. The German champions gave up their lead but regained it with Josko Gvardiol's own goal in the second half which proved to be decisive in the end. This victory meant that it took Bayern nine points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who lost to Leverkusen

Thomas Muller put Bayern into the lead in the 12th minute as he tapped the ball from close range after Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi could only parry a shot from Robert Lewandowski. However, Lezipzig were quick to respond when Portugal forward Andre Silva bundled home an equaliser for them in the 27th minute, as he chased a loose ball after Konrad Laimer's chip had bounced past the post and the ball was scrambled over the line. Bayern then quickly restored their lead, with Kingsley Coman hitting the post and Muller then heading into the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Lewandowski on Gvardiol.

Lewandowski soon made amends by putting Bayern back in front, heading home a cross from Coman to already score his 24th Bundesliga goal of the season. The France winger continued his fine season as Christopher Nkunku pulled Leipzig level early in the second half only for Bayern to take the lead for the third time when Gvardiol unwittingly turned in a cross from Serge Gnabry.

Dortmund suffered an embarrassing 5-2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at home. The defeat leaves Dortmund on 43 points, nine behind Bayern after the champions beat RB Leipzig. Leverkusen stayed third but reduced the gap with Dortmund to only five points. Dortmund got off to the worst start when they fell behind to a Manuel Akanji own goal in the 10th minute, but they soon levelled when Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong put the ball in his own net. But Leverkusen had other ideas as they restored their lead in the 20th minute through young rising prospect Florian Wirtz following a flowing counterattack and which further increased their advantage with a sizzling free kick from Robert Andrich in the 28 minute. The visitors quickly killed off the game when Jonathan Tah slammed in a volley eight minutes after the halftime break.

Moussa Diaby added to Dortmund's misery by scoring their fifth goal in the 87th minute although Dormtund did manage to respond with a strike from Steffen Tigges in the 89th minute which was eventually awarded after a lengthy VAR review. Dortmund were missing their talisman Erling Haaland who was injured, and slumped to only their second home defeat in the league this season after losing to Bayern in December, other than that they have won all of their other home games in the campaign.

"It felt as though we were never in the game. In the spells that we did have, the rug was quickly pulled from underneath us again, the defeat was bitter. The boys invested a lot, but they had to make sure they didn't get hit on the counter again. We didn't show enough composure and clarity on the ball in the first half. In addition, we hardly had any shots on goal. With that in mind, it was a deserved victory for Leverkusen. We will analyse things and push on with our development. Setbacks are part of development, and we're working on this. We have to take the next steps together as a team. Consistency is the key word." said Rose after the game on Sunday.

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