European football: Goretzka double gives Bayern narrow win over Wolfsburg | European club football

Leon Goretzka scored once in each half to help Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to a 3-2 victory over visiting VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday and open up a seven-point advantage over champions Bayer Leverkusen in second place.

The Bavarians hit the crossbar through Leroy Sané after three minutes before Goretzka fired them into a 20th-minute lead with his shot going in off the post.

The Wolves needed just four minutes to level with their first chance through Mohamed Amoura but the hosts went back in front in the 39th after Michael Olise drilled in another long-range effort.

Bayern kept their foot on the gas and Goretzka headed in off the post just past the hour to make it 3-1 before Algeria international Amoura set up a tense finale with his second goal of the game in the 88th minute following a stunning run by substitute Tiago Tomas.

In La Liga Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone praised his players and told them to stay positive despite a disappointing 1-0 defeat at lowly local rivals Leganes on Saturday which ended their record-breaking 15-game winning streak.

Simeone lamented Atletico’s wasted chances in a game they dominated with more than 65% of possession, three strikes off the woodwork and twice as many goal attempts as the home side, including a penalty missed by Antoine Griezmann in added time.

“The team generated enough situations to have had a different scoreline,” Simeone said. “We started with a lot of energy, with key plays in which we could have found the goal. In the second half they made good use of the dead ball and after they scored they started defending better, with humility and we found it difficult to overcome that. We had that penalty, but Leganes did very well. It was our turn to lose.”

Atlético top the standings on 44 points, one ahead of second-placed Real and six clear of Barcelona in third, both with a game in hand. Real host Las Palmas on Sunday and Barca play at Getafe later on Saturday.

Girona missed the chance to move into the top six and the European qualification places when they lost at home to Sevilla on Saturday, but manager Michel still believes they can achieve that goal.

Michel’s side, who finished third last season to enter European competition for the first time in their history, have struggled to recreate that form this campaign, and the 2-1 defeat leaves them eighth in the standings.

“One game does not take away the idea that we have the potential to fight for Europe. I am clear about it and also that we have to show it on the pitch,” Michel said. “This is a step backwards but there is the whole second half of the season. We have to continue believing.”

A late goal from Bradley Barcola earned Paris St Germain a 2-1 victory at Lens on Saturday to keep the French champions well clear at the top of the Ligue 1 standings. Barcola struck four minutes from time when he met a pass from Joao Neves on the left of the box and sent a powerful shot into the top right corner.

PSG lead the table with 46 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille as they prepare to host Strasbourg on Sunday.