Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring the first goal against Ingolstadt. (Reuters)
DPA/Berlin
Leaders Bayern Munich returned to winning ways in the Bundesliga with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Ingolstadt while surprise packages Hertha Berlin thumped Darmstadt 4-0 away to go third yesterday.
Vedad Ibisevic scored twice for Champions League-chasing Hertha but Wolfsburg lost more ground on the top three after a 1-1 draw at home to SV Hamburg. Werder Bremen also drew 1-1 with Cologne and fellow strugglers Hoffenheim prevailed 1-0 against Hanover.
Bayern surprisingly lost 3-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach last weekend in their first defeat domestically this season but finally got the better of a dogged Ingolstadt despite a raft of injuries.
Pep Guardiola’s side have 43 points from 16 games and are assured of the unofficial “winter champions” title as table-toppers before the winter break, with one league game now remaining this year.
But Borussia Dortmund can reduce their lead back to five points if they win today’s clash at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Robert Lewandowski netted midway through the second half when Augsburg goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan inadvisedly came racing off his line and the Poland striker rounded him before scoring from a narrow angle.
Captain Philipp Lahm made it 2-0 15 minutes from time with a rare goal after good work from Thomas Mueller.
Bayern, who beat Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League in midweek having already qualified for the last 16, were without wingers Douglas Costa, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery as well as a host of others.
Promoted Ingolstadt have impressed away from home this term and they did well to limit Bayern in the first half with Lewandowski having the only real chance when his chip was cleared just before the line.
Ingolstadt had a superb opportunity to take a shock lead on 57 minutes but Stefan Lex shot straight at Manuel Neuer and Bayern took over.
Hertha, who now sit 14 points behind Bayern, went ahead in the 12th minute in Darmstadt after Bosnia striker Ibisevic showed great strength to outmuscle his marker and prod home a cross after a well-worked move.
Marvin Plattenhardt then curled in an unstoppable left-foot free kick to double Hertha’s advantage and underscore what fine form Pal Dardai’s side are enjoying having been relegation candidates last term.
Ibisevic grabbed his second after the break from close range following a corner and strike partner Salomon Kalou added a fourth late on as Hertha moved up to the heady heights of third pending Gladbach’s trip to Bayer Leverkusen later.
Wolfsburg and Hamburg both had decent early chances to score and it was the visitors who made the breakthrough in the 21st minute after yet another defensive error from Dante.
The Brazilian was easily robbed by Pierre-Michel Lasogga and although Diego Benaglio saved the striker’s shot, Nicolai Mueller’s follow-up went underneath the keeper and into the net.
Wolfsburg, who made the Champions League last 16 in midweek by eliminating Manchester United, salvaged a draw through Maximilian Arnold 12 minutes from the end but have now not won in three Bundesliga games.
They lie fifth, three behind Hertha in the last automatic Champions League berth.
Jannick Vestergaard gave Bremen an early lead at home to Cologne but Anthony Ujah spurned the chance to increase their lead when his penalty was well saved by Timo Horn.
He was made to pay when Dusan Svento netted in scrappy fashion in the 79th minute, scoring midtable Cologne’s first goal in four matches.
Bremen nudged up to 13th while Hanover dropped down to 15th after Jonathan Schmid’s diving header gave Hoffenheim a 1-0 win after Hanover had earlier been denied by the woodwork.
Hoffenheim’s victory means VfB Stuttgart are back at the bottom after Friday’s 0-0 draw at Mainz.
Augsburg, level on points with second-bottom Hoffenheim, can climb away from the relegation playoff spot if they win at home to seventh-placed Schalke today.
Results
Bayern Munich 2 (Lewandowski 65, Lahm 75) bt Ingolstadt 0
VfL Wolfsburg 1 (Arnold 78) drew with Hamburg 1 (Mueller 21)
Werder Bremen 1 (Vestergaard 4) drew with Cologne 1 (Svento 79)
Hoffenheim 1 (Schmid 30) bt Hanover-96 0
Darmstadt 0 lost to Hertha Berlin 4 (Ibisevic 12, 50, Plattenhardt 26, Kalou 77)
