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Football PIX: Coman rallies Bayern to victory; Juventus cruise

February 16, 2019 14:25 IST

IMAGE: Bayern Munich players celebrate after winning their match against Augsburg. Photograph: Andreas Gebert/Reuters

Champions Bayern Munich twice needed to come from a goal down to beat hosts Augsburg 3-2 on Friday courtesy of Kingsley Coman's two goals, and cut the gap with leaders Borussia Dortmund to two points.

The Frenchman, however, was injured in the final stages of the game, turning his left ankle on which he previously had surgery on. Coach Niko Kovac said of Coman's injury: "It does not look good. We will know more tomorrow."

Bayern, who take on Liverpool in the Champions League Round of 16 next week, were 1-0 down after only 13 seconds with a Leon Goretzka own goal, in what was the fastest Bundesliga goal for Augsburg.

 

Coman briefly restored order when he tapped in a Joshua Kimmich cross in the 17th minute.

IMAGE: Bayern Munich's Mats Hummels, left, tries to get the ball past Augsburg's Michael Gregoritsch. Photograph: Andreas Gebert/Reuters

When Ji Dong-won netted in the 24th minute to give the hosts a 2-1 lead, it was the first time Augsburg had scored two goals against Bayern in a competitive game.

Robert Lewandowski, needing one goal to equal Claudio Pizarro's 194 goals for the league's all-time top foreign scorer, headed onto the crossbar but it was again winger Coman, who came to the rescue on the stroke of halftime to level once more.

Bayern's comeback was complete when David Alaba fired in from a tight angle in the 53rd before Coman almost got a hat-trick, with his 73rd minute header tipped onto the bar by Augsburg keeper Gregor Kobel.

However, Bayern have now conceded goals in the six matches they have contested in all competitions this year, even though keeper Manuel Neuer returned on Friday after his injury absence.

"We want to keep a clean sheet again," Neuer said. "Liverpool are an attacking team. We have to be better positioned against them."

The Bavarians are in second place on 48 points with Dortmund, on 50, travelling to bottom club Nuremberg on Monday.

Ronaldo scores as Juventus win easily

Cristiano Ronaldo

IMAGE: BCristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the third goal for Juventus. Photograph: Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Serie A leaders Juventus made light work of Frosinone as they scored twice in the first 20 minutes on the way to a 3-0 win over the relegation-threatened side on Friday.

Paulo Dybala fired Juventus ahead after six minutes with a shot from the edge of the penalty area and defender Leonardo Bonucci, returning from injury, added the second 11 minutes later.

IMAGE: Leonardo Bonucci scores the second goal for Juventus. Photograph: Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo got on the scoresheet with his 19th league goal of the season when he swept home Mario Mandzukic's pass in the 63rd minute.

Juventus, who visit Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, went 14 points clear of second-placed Napoli as they chase an eighth successive title.

Source: REUTERS
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