FRANKFURT:: Hoffenheim maintained their unbeaten league record this season with a goalless draw at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Friday. The result moves both sides to 26 points from 14 games, with Hoffenheim staying fourth and Frankfurt fifth. Frankfurt ended a niggly game of few goal chances with 10 men after US defender Timothy Chandler was dismissed with eight minutes remaining following an incident involving Hoffenheim’s Sandro Wagner and other players. Chandler had already been shown a yellow card, one of eight players to be booked, all in the second half.
Eintracht captain Alex Meier told Sky television: “It wasn’t overly hard. There were one or two fouls but nothing special. That’s part of it, and is now all forgotten.” Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann said: “I think we were the better side in the first half, that we played the better football.” Leaders Leipzig, the only other side yet to lose, are at bottom side Ingolstadt on Saturday. Champions Bayern Munich, on 30 points — three behind Leipzig — greet struggling Wolfsburg on Saturday, while third-placed Hertha Berlin (27) are at home to Werder Bremen in the day’s late kick-off. Both Hoffenheim and Frankfurt could be overtaken by sixth-placed Borussia Dortmund, who are at Cologne.
BRIGHTON SINK LEEDS
Brighton moved two points clear at the top of the Championship as a pair of penalties secured a 2-0 win against promotion rivals Leeds on Friday. Chris Hughton’s side stole a march on previous leaders Newcastle thanks to penalties from Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed at the Amex Stadium. Brighton went ahead in the 24th minute when Murray took his tally for the season to 12 with a spot-kick after Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips was sent off for handling Lewis Dunk’s goal-bound effort. The Seagulls doubled their lead seven minutes from full-time when Leeds captain Kyle Bartley fouled Dunk and substitute Hemed calmly converted the resulting penalty.
Brighton, unbeaten in 14 games and winners of six of their last eight matches, are now eight points clear of third placed Reading in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League. Newcastle can regain pole position with a win against Birmingham at St James’ Park on Saturday, while Reading host Sheffield on Wednesday. — DPA/AFP
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