Bayer Leverkusen went back to the top of the Bundesliga following a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen on Saturday, a record-equalling eighth league victory in a row for Xabi Alonso's side.
The Spanish coach celebrated his 42nd birthday by leapfrogging Bayern Munich, who had temporarily reached the summit on Friday with a 1-0 success at bottom side Cologne, Harry Kane netting his 18th goal in 12 league games.
"I think we played well today. Our plan worked well against a good team. We had control in our first-half performance," Alonso told a news conference.
"It's a pleasure for me that we have built such a special connection with the fans. I am very grateful for that."
Third-placed VfB Stuttgart won 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt thanks to a double from Deniz Undav, taking his season tally to seven.
The striker started in place of top scorer Serhou Guirassy, who was initially on the bench due to fitness concerns, but made sure the seventh-placed Eagles suffered a first home league defeat in over a year.
Referee Felix Brych took charge of a record-equalling 344th Bundesliga game in Frankfurt but did not appear for the second half due to injury.
Borussia Dortmund hit back from 2-0 down to prevail 4-2 at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach — with all the goals coming in a frantic first half except for Donyell Malen's late clincher — to end a run of three games without a victory and move fourth.
Keeper Gregor Kobel said: "Today was a big step forward for us."
RB Leipzig dropped back to fifth after 2-1 loss at Wolfsburg. A huge error by visiting goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, recently called up to the Germany squad for the first time, was reprieved by Yussuf Poulsen's leveller only for Rogério to crash home a winner.
Union Berlin began life without sacked coach Urs Fischer with a late 1-1 home draw with Augsburg, which kept the club now led by interim coach Marco Grote and assistant Marie-Louise Eta off the bottom.
Kevin Volland's 88th-minute equalizer snapped a run of nine straight league defeats.
Freiburg drew 1-1 with Darmstadt in the other game. On Sunday, promoted Heidenheim host Bochum and Hoffenheim, in sixth, face Mainz.
Leverkusen's Victor Boniface thought he had scored early with a fine finish but was flagged offside. However, the Welkself did not have to wait long to go in front.
An unfortunate own goal from Belgian Olivier Deman gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead and Dutch wing back Jeremie Frimpong, enjoying a superb season, rifled home just before half-time.
Bremen had a goal ruled out for offside in the second half but Spain's Alejandro Grimaldo continued his impressive campaign with a sixth strike of the league season.
Leverkusen, who host Dortmund next weekend, are still undefeated and lead champions Bayern by two points in what is former Bayern midfielder Alonso's first full season in charge of a top-flight club.
Amassing 34 points from 12 games also equals a Bundesliga record.
- Alejandro Grimaldo
- German Bundesliga
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
