Coach Julian Nagelsmann again sent instructions remotely after testing positive for COVID-19 as Bayern Munich beat Hoffenheim 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while Borussia Dortmund made do without injured striker Erling Haaland to overcome Arminia Bielefeld 3-1.
Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski were among the scorers as Bayern stayed a point clear of Dortmund at the top of the table in what would have been a routine win if not for Nagelsmann's absence.
The coach has been directing Bayern remotely since he tested positive ahead of a Champions League game at Benfica on Wednesday which Bayern won 4-0. Assistant Dino Toppmöller deputizes on the touchline and said Nagelsmann is closely involved with the tactics.
READ: Bayern crushes Leverkusen to return to top of Bundesliga
Bayern started with intent against Hoffenheim, Lewandowski scuffing a shot wide in the second minute when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, before Gnabry had a goal disallowed over a prior foul by Jamal Musiala.
Gnabry was first to score for Bayern, taking advantage of Hoffenheim's narrow defensive formation to overlap on the right side of the penalty area in the 16th. Lewandowski added the second on the half-hour on a counterattack. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Kingsley Coman scored late on.
No Haaland, no problem
A hip muscle injury for Haaland could rule out the Norwegian for weeks and make Dortmund's bid to dethrone Bayern even harder. Haaland's teammates appeared not to be affected as it showed off its skills in a 3-1 win over Bielefeld.
Emre Can put Dortmund ahead from the penalty spot after a clumsy tackle, before center back Mats Hummels made a statement with a volley from the edge of the area to make it 2-0. England midfielder Jude Bellingham had his moment in the spotlight in the 72nd, beating three Bielefeld players on his way to scoring a fine solo goal.
Leipzig hits four
Leipzig took some of the pressure off its American coach, Jesse Marsch, with a 4-1 win over promoted Greuther Fürth. But it wasn't as simple as the score might indicate.
Fürth had the lead at halftime thanks to Branimir Hrgota scoring from a penalty given for Leipzig's Nordi Mukiele jumping onto an opponent in an aerial duel. Yussuf Poulsen scored for Leipzig immediately after the break, before goals from Emil Forsberg, Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Novoa.
It was a welcome win for Leipzig, whose Champions League campaign is already all but over after a 3-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain meant Marsch's team started the group stage with three defeats.
Freiburg still unbeaten
Freiburg stays in a surprise third place after keeping its record as the league's only unbeaten team in a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg, which started the season brightly under new coach Mark van Bommel, is now on an eight-game winless run in all competitions.
Hertha Berlin won 1-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach thanks to an acrobatic volley from Marco Richter just before the break.
Cologne holds Leverkusen to 2-2 draw
Anthony Modeste scored twice to salvage a 2-2 draw for Cologne against Bayer Leverkusen and further dent the title hopes of a Leverkusen team already reeling from a heavy defeat to defending champion Bayern.
Two goals in as many minutes from Patrik Schick and Karim Bellarabi gave Leverkusen the lead before Modeste's goals for Cologne.
Leverkusen stays fourth in the Bundesliga after Freiburg's win over Wolfsburg.
Ten-man Stuttgart rescues a point against Union Berlin
Ten-man Stuttgart scored a last-minute equalizer to rescue a 1-1 draw with Union Berlin. Taiwo Awoniyi's sixth goal of the season put Union ahead before Stuttgart had Atakan Karazor sent off for two separate fouls and bookings in the space of 35 seconds.
Pressure increases on Frankurt manager Glasner
After the sacking of Wolfsburg coach Mark van Bommel, the pressure on Eintracht Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner increased with a 2-0 loss at promoted Bochum.
Danny Blum's third-minute goal put Bochum on course for its third win since returning to the top division, and goalkeeper Manuel Riemann saved Stuttgart forward Goncalo Paciencia's penalty, awarded for a handball. Bochum missed a series of chances to score and Frankfurt's Daichi Kamada hit the woodwork late on before Sebastian Polter got Bochum's second goal on a rebound in added time.
Frankfurt is 15th, one place below Bochum, and has won just one of nine Bundesliga games since hiring Glasner from Wolfsburg in the off-season.
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