Embolo scores 2 to lift Gladbach back to top of Bundesliga

MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Borussia Mönchengladbach took back the top spot in the Bundesliga on Sunday after Breel Embolo scored two goals and set up another in a 4-2 win against Freiburg.

The win puts Gladbach back into first place by a point over Leipzig and is a welcome turnaround for the team after defeat to promoted Union Berlin last week.

With the score at 1-1, Embolo needed less than a minute of the second half to put Gladbach in front with his first Bundesliga goal in nearly two months.

The Switzerland striker hit a penalty against the post soon after, but redeemed himself by setting up Patrick Herrmann for Gladbach’s third in the 51st minute.

Freiburg scored through Lucas Höler and nearly leveled soon after but for a goal-line clearance. However, Embolo was there again to restore the two-goal lead in the 71st.

Earlier, Marcus Thuram had given Gladbach the lead in the 3rd minute when Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken dropped a header, but the lead lasted just three minutes before Jonathan Schmid leveled with a free kick.

Relegation-threatened Werder Bremen plays Wolfsburg later in Sunday’s other Bundesliga game.