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Five Bundesliga things you may have missed
Bayern Munich were two-goals down at home in the Bundesliga for the first time in 41 years, yet still ran out 5-2 winners over Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Robert Lewandowski scored his 24th goal of the season as Bayern hit five goals without reply after Hoffenheim had been 2-0 after just 12 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Arsenal-target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was booed by Borussia Dortmund fans on his return after being dropped for their last two games.
Here are five things you may have missed from the 20th round of Bundesliga matches:
“Hate me or love me”
Dortmund’s striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured in 2017, was booed during his return after being dropped for the past two games
Aubameyang, whistled each of the 20 times he touched the ball in Dortmund’s 2-2 draw at home to Freiburg, responded on Instagram.
“Hate me or love me,” he wrote after a game in which he managed just one effort on goal over 90 minutes.
Dortmund have rejected Arsenal’s second bid, reportedly 58 million euros ($72m), and Borussia are thought to want 70 million euros.
The transfer window closes at midnight on Wednesday and Aubameyang is running out of time to get his move to the Premier League.
Bombastic Bailey
Leon Bailey, 20, showed why Premier League clubs are tracking him with another superb goal in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 win over Mainz.
The Jamaican winger unleashed an unstoppable shot with his left boot from outside the area three minutes after the break on Sunday.
It was his eighth goal this season and followed last weekend’s audacious backheeled goal in the thrashing of Hoffenheim.
Bailey is under contract until June 2022, but Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all reportedly interested.
Bayern’s 41-year first
Bayern had to come from 2-0 down for the first time since January 1977, but head coach Jupp Heynckes praised their ‘spoilt’ fans.
After the visitors went 2-0 up in 12 minutes, Bayern roared back with unanswered goals from Lewandowski, Jerome Boateng, Kingsley Coman, Arturo Vidal and Sandro Wagner to remain 16 points clear.
“It was good to see our fans believe in the team at 2-0 down – that’s not a given, especially as you are a bit spoilt at the Allianz Arena,” said Heynckes, 72.
No remorse for Wagner
“I celebrate against every team, when I score,” said forward Sandro Wagner after scoring his first goal for Bayern Munich, “doesn’t matter if I was there only a year or my mum or dad are the coach”
Wagner was still a Hoffenheim player last month, but showed no remorse after celebrating his first goal for Bayern in Saturday’s rout.
In the 90th minute, the burly Germany striker nudged the ball over the line to make it 5-2 and compound Hoffenheim’s misery having officially become a Bayern player on January 1.
“I celebrate against every team, when I score,” he said after coming off the bench.
“Doesn’t matter if I was there only a year or my mum or dad are the coach – I couldn’t care less.”
Wagner says his chances of a place in Germany’s World Cup squad improved when he joined Bayern, even though he is Lewandowski’s back-up.
Frankfurt’s one-night stand
Eintracht Frankfurt stayed second in the table for less than 24 hours, leaving director of football Fredi Bobic reflecting on Friday night’s brief fling.
“The boys can set the bar as high as they want to, but we have to prove ourselves every week,” said Bobic after Friday’s 2-0 home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach.
“For now, it’s just a nice one-night stand,” he quipped on going second.
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Luka Jovic scored Frankfurt’s goals, but Schalke and Leverkusen then picked up wins to knock Eintracht down to fourth.
Frankfurt are unbeaten in their last six games and Boateng warns there is more to come.
“We fight, we never give up, we are nasty to play against – we don’t make life easy,” said the midfielder.
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