Bundesliga results: Timo Werner hits hat-trick for Leipzig while Schalke slump again
Round-up: There were big wins for RB Leipzig and Augsburg before Cologne battled back to draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Timo Werner demonstrated why he is one of the most coveted young players in the world on Sunday afternoon by scoring a sublime hat-trick as RB Leipzig hammered Mainz 5-0 away from home.
Werner has been persistently linked with a move to European champions Liverpool and it took the 24-year-old Germany international just eleven minutes to get on the scoresheet.
Yussuf Poulsen nodded in the second goal of the game on his 250th appearance for the club, with Marcel Sabitzer killing off the contest shortly before the break.
Leipzig beat Mainz 8-0 earlier this season and although they did not score quite as many at the Opel Arena in west Germany, they did manage to add another two.
Werner was quick to pounce after the restart and he completed his hat-trick with a deft flick over Florian Mueller in the 75th minute, to become Leipzig’s all-time top goal scorer.
The win moves Leipzig back into third on 54 points, one place above Bayer Leverkusen and two above Borussia Moenchengladbach. The Bundesliga’s top two, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, clash on Tuesday evening.
Earlier on Sunday, Schalke were thumped 3-0 by relegation-threatened Augsburg in a shock result that piled even more pressure on coach David Wagner.
Schalke dominated possession but could manage only two shots on target in the match and fell behind when Eduard Loewen curled home a sublime free kick midway through the first half.
Nigerian winger Noah Sarenren Bazee doubled the away team’s lead in the second half before Sergio Cordova wrapped up the victory in stoppage time.
Schalke, who have only scored two goals in their last nine games, are now without a win in nine and have slipped down to eighth place in the Bundesliga table. Augsburg meanwhile move up to twelfth, seven points above a relegation playoff spot.
And in the late match, Cologne battled back to snatch a remarkable point against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Rhine derby.
Turkey international Kenan Karaman gave the away side the lead shortly before half-time, while Erik Thommy doubled Dusseldorf’s advantage in the second half.
But Anthony Modeste struck in the 88th minute before Jhon Cordoba’s dramatic stoppage time equaliser, to leave Dusseldorf in serious trouble towards the bottom of the table.
The Bundesliga became the first major sports league to resume last week, with no fans in attendance, after being suspended for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments