BERLIN, Jan 12 (Reuters) – RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons scored twice on his comeback from injury to help his team to a 4-2 victory over visitors Werder Bremen on Sunday as new Red Bull Head of global soccer Juergen Klopp watched from the stands.
Klopp, who ended a successful nine-year stint at Liverpool last season and has coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, started his new role on Jan. 1 and will act as advisor for the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, the United States, Brazil and Austria.
Dutch international Xavi had been out of action since a ligament injury in October but he looked in top form as he fired Leipzig into a 24th-minute lead in his first start since.
Werder, who had won their last three league games before the winter break, levelled two minutes later through Mitchell Weiser but Xavi bagged his second goal of the afternoon with a superb solo effort and a slightly deflected effort that went in off the crossbar.
Benjamin Sesko put the game to bed two minutes after the restart with a stunning strike from 25 metres which had a speed of 126km/h.
The hosts went close to a fourth goal in the 81st after a sensational solo run by Antonio Nusa but his low shot bounced off the post. Christoph Baumgartner did better in stoppage time to make it 4-1 before Werder pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Oliver Burke.
Leipzig are in fourth spot on 30 points, level with third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern Munich lead the title race on 39 points following their 1-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. Werder dropped to eighth on 25.
