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Soccer

RED BULL LEIPZIG

Lepizig equal record and join Bayern at Bundesliga summit

Bundesliga new boys RB Leipzig drew level on 24 points with Bayern Munich at the top of the table on Sunday with a record-equalling 3-1 win over Mainz.

AFP
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Leipzig's Swedish midfielder Emil Forsberg (C) makes a hear-sign after scoring the second goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Mainz 05 in Leipzig
JOHN MACDOUGALLAFP

Red Bull Leipzig have now matched Bayern's run of seven wins and three draws from their first ten German league games.

They equal the record for a team in their first Bundesliga season, set by MSV Duisburg, who also went ten games unbeaten in the 1993/94 campaign.

Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg scored all three Leipzig goals and it threatened to turn into a rout as the hosts wasted four clear chances with the scoreline flattering Mainz, who drop to tenth.

After Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw at Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday, Leipzig seized their chance to match the Bavarian giants' points tally, but stay second on goal difference.

Leipzig, who were only founded in 2009, earned their place in Germany's top flight this season with four promotions in seven years.

Their pre-Christmas showdown with Bayern at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday December 20 is building to be a top-of-the-table clash.

But Leipzig are keeping their feet firmly on the ground, repeatedly rejecting the tag of 'Bayern's Hunters', which the German media is eager to bestow upon them.

A falsely triggered fire alarm delayed kick-off by three minutes at Leipzig's Red Bull Arena, but the 43,000 spectators barely had time to find their seats when Werner gave Leipzig the lead.

Leipzig's players celebrate with their fans after the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Mainz 05
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Leipzig's players celebrate with their fans after the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Mainz 05JOHN MACDOUGALLAFP

Left winger Forsberg had his shot blocked, but Werner tapped home the rebound for his fourth goal of the season with three minutes gone.

Werner returned the favour by out sprinting Mainz's Nigerian defender Leon Balogun and steered the ball into Forsberg's path for the Sweden international to double their lead on 21 minutes.

Leipzig's Emil Forsberg (L) and Timo Werner celebrate the 3:0 goal by Werner during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FSV Mainz 05 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, 06 November 2016.
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Leipzig's Emil Forsberg (L) and Timo Werner celebrate the 3:0 goal by Werner during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FSV Mainz 05 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, 06 November 2016.JAN WOITASEFE

A minute from the break, Forsberg also sprinted past Balogun before squaring for Werner, who fired home off his left foot to make it 3-0 at the break.

Mainz coach Martin Schmidt brought on defender Stefan Bell for winger Jairo Samperio for the second half, but Forsberg and Werner both had second-half chances and could have added four more goals.

Werner went off to loud applause, making way for Scotland winger Oliver Burke for the final 20 minutes.

Mainz pulled a goal back 16 minutes from time when Bell out jumped his marker from a corner and placed his header into the far corner