TWO GOALS IN one first-half minute from striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting carried Bayern Munich to a “wild” 3-2 victory away at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Bayern, who led 3-0 at one point in the first half, endured a nervy final few minutes in the German capital, with French defender Dayot Upamecano appearing to handball in injury time as Hertha pushed for a late equaliser.
Referee Bastian Dankert decided against going to the video, helping Bayern to their eighth straight win in all competitions.
Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann said the final score was an accurate reflection of the match.
“It was a wild game. We led 3-0 but didn’t have many clear chances – (our) lead was a bit too high in general,” Nagelsmann told Germany’s SID network.
“In the end we threw everything in. It was a game you have to win.”
Nagelsmann told the post-match press conference that Canadian defender Alphonso Davies, who needed to be subbed off during the game, had picked up “at least a torn muscle” and needed further scans, throwing doubt on the 22-year-old’s World Cup chances with Canada.
Hertha manager Sandro Schwarz praised his side for “chipping away at a result”, but said “it is annoying we couldn’t take at least a point.”
Teenage forward Jamal Musiala had put Bayern in front after just 12 minutes, before the quick-fire double from Choupo-Moting looked to have the visitors in pole position.
A 40th-minute volley from Dodi Lukebakio, who has now scored more goals against Bayern than any other Bundesliga player other than Borussia Dortmund veteran Marco Reus, saw Hertha pull one back, before Davie Selke scored a 45th-minute penalty.
Bayern will sit in the familiar top spot on the Bundesliga table for at least 24 hours. Union Berlin can go back into the lead when they take on Leverkusen on Sunday.
- Man-of-the-match -
Borussia Dortmund’s teenage striker Youssouffa Moukoko may have won himself a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad with two goals as his side romped to a 3-0 home win over Bochum.
Moukoko, 17, opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a stunning solo goal, winning the ball from Bochum’s Ukrainian defender Ivan Ordets before curling in a shot from the penalty arc.
Another teenager, American Gio Reyna scored Dortmund’s second, converting his first ever Bundesliga penalty in the 12th minute after Dutch forward Donyell Malen was brought down in the box.
Napoli came from behind to win 2-1 at Atalanta and take their domestic winning streak to nine matches.
Victor Osimhen and Eljif Elmas both struck in the first half to cancel out Ademola Lookman’s 19th-minute penalty for the hosts.
Napoli, who lost their first match of the season at Liverpool midweek, are still guaranteed to be at least six points clear come the end of the weekend after a hard-fought win obtained in Bergamo without injured wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“These are three important points and we’re on the right path, but it’s a long season and we’ve still got a lot to do,” said Elmas to DAZN.
Olivier Giroud spared AC Milan the embarrassment of having their Serie A title defence damaged by Paolo Maldini’s son with a late volley which earned his team a 2-1 win over Spezia.
Milan moved up to second, six points behind league leaders Napoli, after Giroud crashed in a superb finish in the 89th minute just as it looked like Daniel Maldini had left them trailing even further behind.
On loan at Spezia from Milan, Daniel Maldini curled in a superb leveller just before the hour mark to stun the 70,000 fans present to watch what was expected to be a simple win for the champions.
The strike from 21-year-old midfielder, whose only other senior career goal came against Spezia for Milan last season, would have leave Stefano Pioli’s side eight points off the pace had Giroud not stepped in with another huge goal.
France forward Giroud had scored twice and set up two more on Wednesday as Milan moved into the Champions League last 16 for the first time in nine years with a thumping win over Salzburg.
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Choupo-Moting double sends Bayern top after 'wild' win at Hertha
TWO GOALS IN one first-half minute from striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting carried Bayern Munich to a “wild” 3-2 victory away at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Bayern, who led 3-0 at one point in the first half, endured a nervy final few minutes in the German capital, with French defender Dayot Upamecano appearing to handball in injury time as Hertha pushed for a late equaliser.
Referee Bastian Dankert decided against going to the video, helping Bayern to their eighth straight win in all competitions.
Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann said the final score was an accurate reflection of the match.
“It was a wild game. We led 3-0 but didn’t have many clear chances – (our) lead was a bit too high in general,” Nagelsmann told Germany’s SID network.
“In the end we threw everything in. It was a game you have to win.”
Nagelsmann told the post-match press conference that Canadian defender Alphonso Davies, who needed to be subbed off during the game, had picked up “at least a torn muscle” and needed further scans, throwing doubt on the 22-year-old’s World Cup chances with Canada.
Hertha manager Sandro Schwarz praised his side for “chipping away at a result”, but said “it is annoying we couldn’t take at least a point.”
Teenage forward Jamal Musiala had put Bayern in front after just 12 minutes, before the quick-fire double from Choupo-Moting looked to have the visitors in pole position.
A 40th-minute volley from Dodi Lukebakio, who has now scored more goals against Bayern than any other Bundesliga player other than Borussia Dortmund veteran Marco Reus, saw Hertha pull one back, before Davie Selke scored a 45th-minute penalty.
Bayern will sit in the familiar top spot on the Bundesliga table for at least 24 hours. Union Berlin can go back into the lead when they take on Leverkusen on Sunday.
- Man-of-the-match -
Borussia Dortmund’s teenage striker Youssouffa Moukoko may have won himself a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad with two goals as his side romped to a 3-0 home win over Bochum.
Moukoko, 17, opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a stunning solo goal, winning the ball from Bochum’s Ukrainian defender Ivan Ordets before curling in a shot from the penalty arc.
Another teenager, American Gio Reyna scored Dortmund’s second, converting his first ever Bundesliga penalty in the 12th minute after Dutch forward Donyell Malen was brought down in the box.
Napoli came from behind to win 2-1 at Atalanta and take their domestic winning streak to nine matches.
Victor Osimhen and Eljif Elmas both struck in the first half to cancel out Ademola Lookman’s 19th-minute penalty for the hosts.
Napoli, who lost their first match of the season at Liverpool midweek, are still guaranteed to be at least six points clear come the end of the weekend after a hard-fought win obtained in Bergamo without injured wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“These are three important points and we’re on the right path, but it’s a long season and we’ve still got a lot to do,” said Elmas to DAZN.
Olivier Giroud spared AC Milan the embarrassment of having their Serie A title defence damaged by Paolo Maldini’s son with a late volley which earned his team a 2-1 win over Spezia.
Milan moved up to second, six points behind league leaders Napoli, after Giroud crashed in a superb finish in the 89th minute just as it looked like Daniel Maldini had left them trailing even further behind.
On loan at Spezia from Milan, Daniel Maldini curled in a superb leveller just before the hour mark to stun the 70,000 fans present to watch what was expected to be a simple win for the champions.
The strike from 21-year-old midfielder, whose only other senior career goal came against Spezia for Milan last season, would have leave Stefano Pioli’s side eight points off the pace had Giroud not stepped in with another huge goal.
France forward Giroud had scored twice and set up two more on Wednesday as Milan moved into the Champions League last 16 for the first time in nine years with a thumping win over Salzburg.
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