The Bundesliga returned Saturday after its winter break, bringing a cavalcade of impactful American stories to the field.
[ MORE: Premier League schedule ]
RB Leipzig 3-1 Union Berlin
The table leaders got two goals from Timo Werner and a goal and an assist from Marcel Sabitzer to open the second phase of the season with a bang.
Leipzig has a five-point lead on second-place Gladbach, though Bayern Munich can pull within four points with a win at Jurgen Klinsmann’s Hertha Berlin on Sunday morning.
American midfielder Tyler Adams had another strong day in the win, going 86 minutes and gathering over 100 touches while completing 84 percent of his passes. He registered two key passes and a shot on target to go with a clearance, blocked shot, interception, and tackle. Adams was fouled four times.
Augsburg 3-5 Borussia Dortmund
Erling Braut Haaland became the first Borussia Dortmund player to score a hat trick on debut since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as BVB came back from 2-0 and 3-1 holes to move onto 33 points.
Watch Haaland’s incredible day here. Jadon Sancho had a goal and an assist, while Julian Brandt also scored for BVB. Florian Niederlechner scored twice for Augsburg, with Marco Richter also finding the back of the net.
American teenager Giovanni Reyna also made his debut in the win, earning praise from manager Lucien Favre.
Hoffenheim 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
That’s right wing Timmy Chandler to you.
After missing all but one match last season due to injuries and fitness, the 29-year-old former USMNT mainstay has his first Bundesliga goal since Feb. 19, 2018.
Chandler rose above the fray to power home a match-winning header to move Eintracht four points clear of the relegation places, surprising a Hoffenheim side with designs on a return to Europe.
Bas Dost scored Eintracht’s other goal, with Konstantinos Stafylidis equalizing just after halftime.
Fortuna Dusseldorf 0-1 Werder Bremen
American forward Josh Sargent made his return from injury, playing 86 minutes in a huge win for Bremen. The visitors climbed over the now 17th place hosts via a Florian Kastenmeier goal.
USMNT midfielder Alfredo Morales played well over 71 minutes in the loss, while Zack Steffen missed out with a reported knee injury.
Elsewhere
Schalke 2-0 Borussia Monchengladbach -- Friday| RECAP
Koln 3-1 Wolfsburg
Mainz 1-2 Freiburg
Hertha Berlin v. Bayern Munich -- 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday
Paderborn v. Bayer Leverkusen -- Noon ET Sunday
STANDINGS
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS |
| RB Leipzig | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 21 | 30 | 6-2-1 | 6-2-1 | 40 |
| Mönchengladbach | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 33 | 20 | 13 | 7-1-1 | 4-1-4 | 35 |
| Bayern Munich | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 46 | 22 | 24 | 6-1-2 | 4-2-2 | 33 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 46 | 27 | 19 | 5-3-0 | 4-3-3 | 33 |
| FC Schalke 04 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 31 | 21 | 10 | 5-4-1 | 4-2-2 | 33 |
| SC Freiburg | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 24 | 5 | 4-2-2 | 4-3-3 | 29 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 3-4-2 | 5-0-3 | 28 |
| 1899 Hoffenheim | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 30 | -4 | 4-1-5 | 4-2-2 | 27 |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 3-4-2 | 3-2-4 | 24 |
| FC Augsburg | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 31 | 36 | -5 | 4-2-3 | 2-3-4 | 23 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 29 | 30 | -1 | 4-3-2 | 2-0-7 | 21 |
| 1. FC Union Berlin | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 21 | 27 | -6 | 5-0-4 | 1-2-6 | 20 |
| 1. FC Köln | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 33 | -11 | 4-1-4 | 2-1-6 | 20 |
| Hertha BSC Berlin | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 3-1-4 | 2-3-4 | 19 |
| FSV Mainz 05 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 26 | 41 | -15 | 3-0-6 | 3-0-6 | 18 |
| Werder Bremen | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 41 | -17 | 1-2-5 | 3-3-4 | 17 |
| Fortuna Düsseldorf | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 37 | -19 | 3-1-5 | 1-2-6 | 15 |
| SC Paderborn | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 36 | -16 | 2-1-6 | 1-2-5 | 12 |
