Argentina's World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios struck twice from the spot as Bayer Leverkusen blew the Bundesliga title race wide open with a shock 2-1 win over Bayern Munich on Sunday.  With a little help from VAR, Leverkusen came from behind to hand coach Xabi Alonso a famous win on his first reunion with former club Bayern and keep the champions from regaining top spot.

Union Berlin's gave their Champions League hopes a boost on Sunday as a rare goal from Rani Khedira helped them to a 2-0 win over Bundesliga top-six rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.  Khedira - the brother of 2014 World Cup winner Sami - stabbed in the opener to score only his seventh goal in 194 Bundesliga appearances and lift Union back into third place.  "It's also my first goal for Union so I am very happy," Khedira told Dazn.

Sebastien Haller and Marco Reus both scored twice as Borussia Dortmund thrashed Cologne 6-1 on Saturday, sending the home side top of the Bundesliga ahead of Bayern Munich.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on Friday included in the first Portugal squad announced by new coach Roberto Martinez, for Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.  The 38-year-old "is very important for the team," the Spanish coach stressed during a press conference in which he unveiled his squad of 26. "I do not look at the age," said Martinez.

With the 'Klassiker' clash against Bayern Munich on the horizon, Borussia Dortmund will want to avoid a loss of focus against Cologne on Sunday with a title on the line.  While Dortmund have had their share of woes against better sides in recent years, their title challenges have truly come undone in poor performances against the league's outmatched but spirited underdogs.

An 84th-minute equaliser from Wolfsburg's Patrick Wimmer helped his side snatch a point at home in a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin on Sunday.  Despite Wolfsburg having the better of a less-than-inspiring encounter, a 72nd-minute penalty from former Celtic wing-back Josip Juranovic had Union on course for victory until Wimmer's late goal.  Freiburg's win earlier on Sunday meant Union, who have been in the top four for much of the season, had slipped to fifth before kick-off.  The home side had the better of a dour opening half, carving out a handful of half-chances against the dogged Union defence.  Wolfsburg midfielder Mattias Svanberg rattled the bar with a free-kick after 17 minutes.

When Schalke host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in German football's fiercest derby, the two sides' contrasting fortunes will be on full display. Dortmund come into the fixture in challenging for a title, while Schalke are looking for valuable points to avoid a direct return to the second division.  On paper, the clash should be a lay up for Dortmund.  The visitors sit second on goal difference and have chalked up eight straight victories in the league to start 2023.