Werner 'tricks' Leipzig to victory; Marcel Schalke crisis deepens

BERLIN: RB Leipzig's Timo Werner scored a hat-trick as they demolished hosts Mainz 5-0 on Sunday to reclaim third place in the Bundesliga with an emphatic victory after three straight draws.

Germany international Werner, a target for several top European clubs this summer, opened his account in the 11th minute and Yussuf Poulsen nodded in the second goal in the 23rd.

Marcel Sabitzer killed off the game before the break, flicking in from close range as Mainz collapsed.

Werner scored again three minutes after the restart and the 24-year-old forward chipped the ball over keeper Florian Mueller in the 75th for his 24th goal of the season and 91st in all competitions for Leipzig to become their all-time top scorer.

"Timo Werner has developed a very good sense not to move only on the wings but to go over to the 10 position," said Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann of his striker's work in a more central attacking role.

"Coupled with his speed, that makes him a more versatile player and makes it harder for his opponents to control him."

Leipzig, who crushed Mainz 8-0 earlier this season with Werner grabbing a hat-trick, moved back into third on 54 points, one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and two clear of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the battle for a Champions League spot.

Leipzig also set a club record with 68 goals scored this season, more than in any other entire campaign since their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016.

Mainz put bodies in defence but were unable to match Leipzig's speed down the wings and they failed to launch any sustained attacks of their own until late in the game.

Bayern Munich lead the standings with 61 points, four ahead of Borussia Dortmund who they face on Tuesday.

The Bundesliga became the first major sports league to resume last week, with no fans in attendance, after being suspended for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schalke 04 slumped to a shock 3-0 home defeat by relegation-threatened Augsburg on Sunday, their fourth defeat in five games dropping them to eighth place in the Bundesliga.

Augsburg's Eduard Loewen curled in a sensational free kick from 23 metres in the sixth minute and Nigerian winger Noah Sarenren Bazee slotted home in the 76th before Sergio Cordova added the third in stoppage time.

Schalke struggled to launch decent attacks and a first-half chance which fell to Rabbi Matondo was the closest they came to scoring.

Despite having 67% possession, the Royal Blues managed just two shots on target in the match.

The defeat piled more pressure on coach David Wagner, whose team have scored only two goals in their last nine games.

"We are not dangerous enough and our conversion rate is not good either," Wagner said. "Then we also make mistakes that lead to goals. These are all things we need to work on.

"It is also a mental thing and the current situation does not go past the boys without leaving a trace.

"Now it is about supporting the boys so they can play football again with more confidence."

Late headers by substitute Anthony Modeste and Jhon Cordoba allowed Cologne to salvage a 2-2 home draw against Fortuna Duessledorf after Mark Uth had missed a penalty for the hosts on Sunday.

The result put Cologne 10th on 34 points from 27 games while Fortuna stayed 16th on 24 points, three adrift of the safety zone after 15th-placed Mainz had earlier suffered a 5-0 home drubbing by RB Leipzig. Agencies