Bayer Leverkusen clutched win 3-2 at Freiburg to resume their important lead over Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Florian Wirtz put the visitors, who are unbeaten across all competitions this season, in front after two minutes with a scintillating solo run yet Ritsu Doan’s sharp shot in the 10th minute drew Freiburg level.
Leverkusen, who face West Ham in the Europa League quarter-finals one month from now, deservedly regained their lead five minutes before half time. Adam Hlozek tapped in from close range after Freiburg guardian Noah Atubolu had spilled the ball into his path following superb work from Wirtz.
Patrik Schick gave Xabi Alonso’s side a two-goal cushion with a stunning flick that went in off the post in the 53rd minute. Leverkusen eased off, however, allowing Yannik Keitel to pull one back with 10 minutes to go. Wirtz then, at that point, struck the post before Kiliann Sildillia missed a brilliant change to equalize with a stoppage-time header.
Wolfsburg have terminated head coach Niko Kovac after Saturday’s 3-1 home loss to Augsburg, the team’s 11th straight league game without a win. “We lament this development yet regard it as necessary to give the team another impulse, to stabilize the situation,” said the club’s managing director, Marcel Schäfer.
In Serie A, Milan won 3-1 at struggling Verona with Theo Hernández, Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze all on target for the visitors. Left-back Hernández opened the scoring just before half-time when he bored the ball home from a tight angle.
Pulisic multiplied Milan’s lead at the start of the second time frame as the US forward jumped on a bounce back to net from close range. Tijjani Noslin gave Verona a help with a thunderous strike yet any hopes of a comeback were ended when Milan substitute Samuel Chukwueze volleyed home in the 79th minute.
Milan are 13 points behind runaway leaders Entomb, who host Napoli later. Stefano Pioli’s side are also three points clear of Juventus in second place, after the Bianconeri lost ground in a goalless home draw with mid-table Genoa.
It was a day to forget for Dusan Vlahovic, who missed the hosts’ best chance and was sent off late in the game. The Serbia striker was reserved in stoppage time and then immediately gotten a second yellow card for dissent. Vlahovic had just barely gotten back from suspension and will miss Juve’s next league game against Lazio.
“Unfortunately he made a mistake, the club will fine him. I haven’t spoken to him,” Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri said. “Today in the first half, we made technical mistakes. We had a decent second half for certain chances that we didn’t take advantage of.”
The visitors came closest to scoring in the first half when defender Mattia Bani’s header drew a brilliant save from Wojciech Szczesny. Juve improved after the break and Samuel Iling-Junior hit the woodwork from the edge of the case, however Vlahovic then, at that point, put his header over the bar to leave his side with one win in eight games.
In Ligue 1, Monaco’s Champions League hopes were hit by their former player as Tiémoué Bakayoko earned a late point for humble Lorient. The different sides exchanged own goals in the first half, with Lorient scoring in the first minute as Mohamed Bamba’s shot hit the post and bounced back in off Wilfried Singo.
The hosts evened out when Lorient’s Formose Mendy misjudged guardian Yvon Mvogo’s position and chested the ball into the net. Monaco made it 2-1 on the hour when Aleksandr Golovin’s cross was headed home by Youssouf Fofana, before the two teams saw a player dismissed as Denis Zakaria and Aiyegun Tosin were sent off.
Bakayoko denied Monaco all three points with a header in the 94th minute, although he picked not to celebrate. Adi Hütter’s side also missed the chance to climb above Brest into second, after the Bretons were held to a 1-1 draw by Lille earlier on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Clermont boosted their slim survival hopes with a 2-1 win over Le Havre, while Junya Ito’s fine twisting finish earned Reims a home victory over Metz.
