Bundesliga: Bayern Munich claim 3-1 win over Stuttgart; Ellyes Skhiri stars as Cologne down Borrusia Dortmund

Berlin: Borussia Dortmund lost at home to Cologne 2-1 and Bayern Munich survived a scare at Stuttgart to open a two-point lead in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski scored in Bayern’s 3-1 win, taking his tally to 12 in eight games and lifting the defending champions four points clear of Dortmund.

Bayern were two points ahead of RB Leipzig, who moved to second after beating Arminia Bielefeld 2-1.

Cologne held on in Dortmund to end their 18-game run without a win in the league.

Max Kruse’s brilliant strike from distance rescued a 3-3 draw for Union Berlin against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Borussia Monchengladbach defeated Schalke 4-1 and Augsburg drew with Freiburg 1-1.

Bayern's scare 

Although Lewandowski headed against the post in the third minute, it was the home side that made the better start in Stuttgart. Silas Wamangituka crossed for Tanguy Coulibaly to open the scoring on a counterattack in the 20th.

Philipp Forster missed another good chance before Kingsley Coman equalised in the 38th.

Förster’s response a minute later was ruled out through VAR for a foul by Coulibaly on Bayern’s keeper Manuel Neuer.

Coman set up Lewandowski to fire Bayern’s second right before the break, and Douglas Costa finally decided it in the 87th.

“We're simply making too many mistakes with the ball,” Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka said.

Dortmund's setback 

Ellyes Skhiri scored two almost identical goals to put a dent in Dortmund's title ambitions and give Cologne their first win since March.

Former Dortmund midfielder Marius Wolf headed on Duda’s corner for Skhiri's ninth-minute opener, then repeated the trick in the 60th.

Jadon Sancho had already struck the crossbar for Dortmund, who went on to dominate the game without creating clear cut chances against the visitors’ stubborn defense until the final stages.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre sent on youngsters Gio Reyna and Youssoufa Moukoko with just over 20 minutes remaining. The 16-year-old Moukoko fired just over, then the 18-year-old Reyna set up Thorgan Hazard’s goal in the 74th.

“I'm deeply disappointed, of course,” Favre said.

Maradona tributes 

As at other grounds around the league, players and the few workers at Union Berlin’s Stadion An der Alten Forsterei held a moment’s silence for Argentina great Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday.

“Hasta siempre compañero,” Union stadium announcer Christian Arbeit said.

There are no fans in Bundesliga stadiums for the rest of the year due to measures against the coronavirus.

Fans outside the ground shouted their encouragement as Marvin Andrich scored and Max Kruse followed up with a penalty to put Union two goals up after just six minutes.

But Frankfurt leveled through Andre Silva. Bad Dost fired the visitors ahead in the 79th, and Kruse let fly from around 20 meters for Union’s equaliser in the 82nd.

Union reported after the game that four members of its coaching and support staff tested positive for the coronavirus.

Schalke’s crisis continues 

Schalke’s turbulent week in which they suspended three players and the technical director departed ended in a rout at Gladbach.

It stretched Schalke’s club-record winning drought in the league to 25 games – just six off the all-time record held by Tasmania Berlin, who now play at the fifth level.

Schalke’s injuries, suspensions and one positive coronavirus case prompted coach Manuel Baum to start the 19-year-old American forward Matthew Hoppe for his Bundesliga debut.

Florian Neuhaus, who recently played his first games for Germany, broke the deadlock for Gladbach in the 15th.

Benito Raman equalised with a brilliant volley to Mark Uth’s lob over the Gladbach defense in the 20th, and Schalke remained the better side until Neuhaus set up Oscar Wendt in the 36th.

Marcus Thuram fired Gladbach’s third under the crossbar, and Hannes Wolf completed the visitors’ misery late.

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