Leipzig back on winning tracks with 2-0 over 10-man Union Berlin

RB Leipzig ended a run of three straight Bundesliga defeats with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Union Berlin on Sunday to close in on the Champions League zone again.

Lois Openda smashed into the top corner in the 10th minute for his 14th goal of the season in a scramble following a Leipzig free-kick.

The hosts' second also came off a dead ball situation when Benjamin Sesko nodded home David Raum's free-kick at the near post three minutes after the restart.

Sesko headed into the net again a few minutes later off a stunning Rabona pass (in which the kicking leg is crossed behind the back of the standing leg) from Dani Olmo but was ruled offside upon review. Xavi Simons hit the crossbar in stoppage time.

Union, who had won the last two games in Leipzig, showed some efforts in the ongoing absence of their suspended coach Nenad Bjelica but failed to create serious danger. Their captain Christopher Trimmel was sent off in the 73rd for a sliding tackle into Raum's ankle.

Leipzig remained fifth but are within one point of Borussia Dortmund in fourth thanks to their first points and victory of the year which eased the pressure on coach Marco Rose.

"It wasn't an easy phase at the beginning of the year. But we are at home, played well against a difficult opponent and got a deserved win," veteran Leipzig defender Willi Orban told streaming portal DAZN.

Union defender Kevin Vogt said: "The defeat is deserved but we shouldn't be ashamed to lose here. We lost against a very good Leipzig team."

Union in 15th are two points ahead of Cologne in the relegation play-off spot. They have a game in hand, on Wednesday at second last Mainz, which was postponed last month owing to winter weather.

Earlier, Lovro Majer scored a brace within 15 minutes after coming on to help Wolfsburg come from behind twice in a 2-2 home draw with Hoffenheim.

Majer was fielded in the 56th minute and netted two minutes later after being set up by newly signed Kevin Behrens. He then converted a 70th-minute penalty after being fouled by Stanley Nsoki.

Hoffenheim led from Maximilian Beier's opener in the sixth mninute, and again from Grischa Prömel's deflected 66th minute shot after a poor pass from Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

The draw helped neither side as 11th-placed Wolfsburg are now winless in five matches and have drawn all four since the winter break, and Hoffenheim in eighth have not won in six games.

Bayer Leverkusen lead the way two points ahead of champions Bayern Munich, who they host next weekend in a table topper. Leverkusen won 2-0 in Darmstadt on Saturday and Bayern beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1.