Bundesliga: Dortmund edge Frankfurt to move top as Leipzig hit four

Borussia Dortmund moved to the top of the Bundesliga with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, while RB Leipzig responded to a recent run of poor form with a convincing win over SV Elversberg on Saturday.

Dortmund deserved their victory at Signal Iduna Park but had to wait until the 80th minute for the decisive goal. Substitute Maximilian Beier exchanged passes with fellow replacement Jobe Bellingham before curling a superb right-footed finish into the far corner from the edge of the area.

The hosts had controlled much of the match without making their dominance count. Serhou Guirassy tested Noah Atubolu with a low drive in the 15th minute, then saw the goalkeeper use his right arm to keep out a delicate attempt after the striker had gone through one-on-one.

Daniel Svensson later struck the top of the crossbar with a deflected effort, while Frankfurt created little. They almost took the lead in the 34th minute, however, when Felix Nmecha’s miscontrol presented Younes Ebnoutalib with a clear opportunity. Gregor Kobel made an important save to preserve the scoreline.

Kobel was required again early in the second half, tipping a Fares Chaibi effort over the bar. Dortmund then came close when Guirassy headed a Joey Veerman corner against the crossbar in the 53rd minute.

Niko Kovac made three substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on Beier, Ethan Nwaneri and Carney Chukwuemeka. Nwaneri almost scored immediately, but Atubolu saved his effort from a tight angle.

Frankfurt pushed for an equaliser after Beier’s goal but created little as Dortmund defended compactly and saw out the match comfortably.

Leipzig respond in style

RB Leipzig ended a sequence of heavy defeats by beating SV Elversberg 4-0 at Red Bull Arena. Tidiam Gomis opened the scoring early in the second half, before Romulo scored twice, either side of Christoph Baumgartner’s 84th-minute goal.

At MEWA Arena, Werder Bremen held on for a 3-2 victory over Mainz in an eventful contest. Niclas Fullkrug scored two early penalties, in the seventh and 25th minutes, but Anthony Caci reduced the deficit in the 33rd minute. Ludovit Reis restored Bremen’s advantage around the hour mark, and Lee Jae-sung pulled one back for Mainz in the 63rd minute.

SC Paderborn beat Hamburger SV 1-0 at Home Deluxe Arena thanks to Rayan Philippe’s late strike. The substitute, on loan at Paderborn from Hamburg, scored against his parent club two minutes before full-time but did not celebrate.

FC Augsburg and Union Berlin drew 1-1 at WWK ARENA after both sides were reduced to 10 players. Felix Uduokhai was sent off for a professional foul and Abdulai Juma Bah for a rough challenge. Han-Noah Massengo put Augsburg ahead in the 71st minute, before Janik Haberer equalised three minutes later.

1. FC Koln and Schalke played out a goalless draw at RheinEnergieStadion. Koln extended their unbeaten Bundesliga home run, while Schalke took a useful point away from home.