Robben gives Bayern comeback win over Dortmund

Monday, 3 November 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters - A late Arjen Robben penalty gave Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 comeback win on Saturday that sent Borussia Dortmund sliding into the drop zone after their fifth straight defeat and worst-ever start to a Bundesliga season. The Dutchman sent keeper Roman Weidenfeller the wrong way in the 85th minute, after Franck Ribery was brought down, to lift leaders Bayern to 24 points, four ahead of second-placed VfL Wolfsburg.

Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben celebrates after scoring a penalty goal against Borussia Dortmund during their German first division Bundesliga soccer match in Munich “We are very satisfied,” coach Pep Guardiola told reporters at the Allianz Arena after his team avenged their season-opening German Super Cup defeat by Dortmund. “In the second half we played as we should.” The defeat, which featured two decisive blunders from defender Neven Subotic after he came on for the injured Mats Hummels in the second half, drops the Ruhr Valley club to third from bottom with seven points from 10 games. “After a good first half we had a visibly less good second where we could not deal with the pressure anymore,” said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp after the ‘Klassiker’ fixture between two of Germany’s biggest clubs. “We invested a lot in this game so it is even more bitter.” Elsewhere, Ivan Perisic scored twice as Wolfsburg crushed VfB Stuttgart 4-0 to extend their winning run to five straight league games. Hamburg SV claimed their first home win of the season, against Bayer Leverkusen, after Rafael van der Vaart converted a first-half penalty in a 1-0 win. Argentine Franco Di Santo struck twice in Werder Bremen’s 2-1 comeback win at Mainz 05. It was their first victory of the season on new coach Viktor Skripnik’s league debut and moved them off the bottom of the table.

Real Madrid top after Barca lose at home

Reuters: Barcelona followed up last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid with another reverse on Saturday, squandering a host of chances to lose 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo and handing the lead in La Liga to their arch rivals. Barca forward Neymar hit the crossbar twice and team mate Lionel Messi did likewise once before hesitation in the defence let in Celta forward Joaquin Larrivey to score 10 minutes after halftime at the Nou Camp. As the home side strove in vain for an equaliser, Messi, who remains one goal short of La Liga’s scoring record of 251, sent a free kick against the corner of the goal frame in the 80th minute. Luis Suarez, making his home debut, was then denied by a brilliant save from Sergio, one of a string of superb stops by the inspired Celta goalkeeper. Barca’s second straight defeat is another blow for new coach Luis Enrique, who was in charge at Celta last season, and means Real take over at the top on 24 points from 10 matches thanks to a 4-0 win at Granada earlier on Saturday. James Rodriguez struck twice for the European champions, including a superb volley, and the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 17th goal in nine La Liga appearances this season. Champions Atletico Madrid, 4-2 winners at home to Cordoba, are second on 23 points. Ronaldo set Real on their way in the second minute at Granada’s Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium when he clipped home a Karim Benzema centre.