Dortmund stun Bayern to leave RB Leipzig top

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund stunned champions and arch-rivals Bayern Munich 1-0 on Saturday in a bad-tempered “Der Klassiker” clash to leave RB Leipzig the Bundesliga leaders.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang prodded in on 11 minutes at a frenzied Signal Iduna Park to propel Dortmund up to third on 21 points, three points behind Bayern, for whom this was a first defeat of the league season.

RB Leipzig are top, unbeaten and three points clear of the mighty Bayern, after a thrilling 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday signalled another milestone in their fast, but controversial rise to the top of German football.

Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game — he should have gone on to grab at least two more — poking in the ball from close range after ex-Bayern man Mario Goetze´s cross.

The striker celebrated with three push-ups and the home side were on the attack again moments later, the Bayern rearguard creaking as the fans at the intimidating 81,000 arena ratcheted up the volume once more.

Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said it had been a bruising encounter. “We have suffered a lot,” he said. “But when you get into the ring with Bayern, you should not expect to step out again without black eyes.”

Philipp Lahm, the Bayern captain, admitted that neutrals would be delighted to see someone other than the Bavarians at the top. “It´s good for the Bundesliga, it´s what the whole world wanted,” he added bitterly.

The game simmered from the start and threatened to boil over as the first half wore on, with Dortmund conceding a series of free-kicks and referee Tobias Stieler struggling to keep a lid on it.