Bayern regain the lead after beating Union Berlin 3-0

BERLIN (AP) — Jamal Musiala celebrated his birthday with another goal as Bayern Munich reclaimed the Premier League lead by beating surprise contender Union Berlin 3-0 on Sunday.

After goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Kingsley Coman, Musiala scored his 11th league goal this season just before half-time. The German striker was able to celebrate his 20th birthday in style.

The Union suffered their first defeat in all competitions since November.

Champions of the German championship for 10 seasons, Bayern regained first place thanks to a better goal difference against Borussia Dortmund who had improved by three points after beating Hoffenheim on Saturday.

“We had to react,” said Thomas Müller, who provided assists on two of the goals in his 430th appearance for Bayern. Escort legendary goalkeeper Sepp Maier, with 473, to the club’s history table.

“It was a good first step,” Müller said. “We have to respond week after week.”

Union trailed the top two by three points and are third, a huge feat for a club which entered the season expecting to stay in their fourth Bundesliga season.

The visitors’ match load, competing on three fronts, ultimately took its toll on them. Union had just beaten Ajax Amsterdam 3-1 in the Europa League qualifiers.

By contrast, Bayern had eight days off after losing 3-2 at Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend. Those at home looked fresher from the start against a Union who started the day with the same number of points as Bayern, 43.

Sadio Mané came off the bench to play for Bayern. It was the Senegalese star’s first match since November 8, when he suffered an injury against Werder Bremen. Mané underwent surgery to repair a tendon in his fibula head and missed the World Cup.

Müller missed the first great chance of the match and two shots from Musiala were parried.

Choupo-Moting finally opened the scoring in the 31st minute as he rose between two defenders to head Kingsley Coman’s cross towards the far post.

Coman made the second in the 40th when goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow’s clearance was immediately returned. Matthijs de Ligt collected the ball in midfield and Müller slid towards Coman, who dribbled past the keeper to score.

Musiala scored after Müller kept a ball on the back line in play.

Earlier in the day, Sardar Azmoun scored the goal with which Bayer Leverkusen salvaged a 1-1 draw on their visit to Freiburg, a result that jeopardized their aspirations to qualify for the European Cups. Leverkusen have won three of their seven Bundesliga games this year and sit in 11th place.

Freiburg have dropped to fifth place, one point behind Leipzig, in the race for the last ticket to the next Champions League.