BERLIN, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Leipzig recaptured the top spot after scoring twice in the first half and extending the lead with ten-men against injury-ridden Werder Bremen at the 5th round of Bundesliga on Saturday.
From the starting whistle, both sides exchanged attacks, as a result Leonardo Bittencourt unleashed the first shot on target for Werder Bremen with only three minutes on the play clock.
Leipzig staged a clinical chance conversion and scored with their first corner kick after Christopher Nkunku's cross into the box found Willi Orban at the first post in the 13th minute.
The visitors gained the upper hand as they scored their second goal with their second dead ball as Marcel Sabitzer curled an awarded free kick over the wall into the top left corner with 35 minutes into the game.
Werder tried to respond and had the chance to reduce the arrears before the break however Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was on guard to defuse Davy Klaassen's shot on target.
After the restart, Leipzig protected their lead and focused on fast breaks while Bremen lacked in ideas to threat Gulacsi.
The dismissal of Leipzig's Konrad Laimer sparked hopes but the "Green-Whites" continued to lack in penetration to overcome the visitor's well-positioned defense.
Leipzig remained unimpressed by their numerical disadvantage and were even able to extend their lead in the closing period when Marcelo Saracchi tapped home a rebound following a counter attack.
"Leipzig secured a deserved victory. We have deservedly lost to a top team," Werder Bremen head coach Florian Kohfeld said.
"The first two dead ball situations smoothed the way for our victory today," said Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
With the victory, Leipzig oust defending champions Bayern Munich from the first place in the table meanwhile Werder Bremen stay on the 10th position.
The following fixtures are scheduled for Sunday: Borussia Monchengladbach host Fortuna Dusseldorf and Eintracht Frankfurt clash with Borussia Dortmund.
