Modeste eclipses Lewandowski in hot-shots battle

Berlin (AFP) – Cologne’s Anthony Modeste hit a hat-trick on Saturday to eclipse Robert Lewandowski in second place behind top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the battle to be this season’s Bundesliga hot-shot.

Gabon’s Aubameyang leads the way for the most German league goals with 23 goals in as many games after netting Borussia Dortmund’s first-half winner in Friday’s lacklustre 1-0 victory over second-from-bottom Ingolstadt.

Modeste moved up to second in the scoring table with 22 goals in 25 games, leaving Lewandowski — who netted 30 times to finish as last season’s top scorer  — just behind with 21 goals.

Modeste’s stellar season continued with some clinical finishing in Cologne as he needed just under 30 minutes to wrap up his hat-trick in a 4-2 home win over Hertha Berlin which left his side sixth in the table.

Japan striker Yuya Osako, who gave Cologne an early lead, set up Modeste’s first goal on 35 minutes.

The Frenchman’s second followed two minutes later with some superb finishing to make it 3-0 to the hosts.

Hertha’s top scorer Vedad Ibisevic pulled a goal back when he converted a penalty, but Modeste wrapped up his hat-trick by finishing off a superb Cologne counter on 63 minutes.

Lewandowski, who has scored 33 goals in all competitions for Bayern this season, can add to his league tally against Borussia Moenchengladbach in Sunday’s key clash.