Sebastien Haller scored on World Cancer Day just two weeks after returning from a six-month battle with the disease as Borussia Dortmund beat 10-man Freiburg 5-1 on Saturday.
Haller, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer last summer, scored Dortmund’s third goal in a win that saw them move level on points with Bayern Munich, who travel to Wolfsburg on Sunday.
The former West Ham striker, 28, signed for Dortmund from Ajax last July but complained of feeling unwell during the season and tests came back positive.
After two surgeries and chemotherapy, Haller was given the all-clear to return to training last month and made his competitive debut as a substitute in the 4-3 win over Augsburg on 22 January.
Saturday was his second start for Dortmund and he will certainly not forget a day as they punished a Freiburg side that sent off Kiliann Sildialia after just 17 minutes against two quick bookings.
Nico Schlotterbeck got the winner in the 26th minute and although Lucas Holer equalized at half-time, it was a one-way street in the second half.
Karim Adeyemi turned in Jude Bellingham’s corner to make it 2-1 early in the second half, and minutes later Haller headed home Raphael Guerreiro’s cross.
That was the first of three assists for Guerreiro, set up by Julian Brandt and his substitute Gio Reyna.
Union Berlin went top of the table until at least Sunday with a 2-1 win over Mainz.
Kevin Behrens fired the Union into the lead before half-time, but they needed Jordan Siebatcheu to score an 84th-minute winner after Marcus Ingvartsen equalized from the penalty spot.
Cologne were held to a goalless draw at RB Leipzig, which left them one point behind fourth-placed Dortmund and just a point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt, who beat Hertha Berlin 3-0.
Bochum moved three points clear of the bottom three with a 5-2 win over rivals Hoffenheim and finished goalless between Borussia Monchengladbach and league-fighting Schalke.
Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa celebrated from the bench after scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Getafe.
Correa was handed the lead when he fired Atletico ahead on the hour and was replaced by Diego Simeone before the VAR could intervene to allow the goal.
But it wasn’t enough for Atletico to win as Getafe leveled relegation thanks to Enes Unal’s late penalty.
Elche picked up their first win of the season in their 20th outing as Pere Milla scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Villarreal, who sit four points behind fourth-placed Atletico.
Martin Braithwaite canceled out Ante Budimir’s goal as Espanyol and Osasuna played out a 1-1 draw as Celta Vigo recorded a stunning 4-3 win over Real Betis.
Lionel Messi scored the winner as Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain came from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1.
Branco van den Boomen put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute before Achraf Hakimi equalized before the break and Messi made it 2-1 after 59 minutes.
Sixth-placed Lille also came from behind to win 3-1 at Rennes thanks to goals from Edon Zhegrova, Remy Cabella and Andre Gomes.
Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette were on target for Lyon in a 3-1 win over Troyes.
Roma moved up to second in Serie A with a 2-0 win over Empoli as Nicola Zalewski and Tammy Abraham both struck inside the first 10 minutes.
At the other end of the table, Lecce and Sassuolo both moved away from trouble with wins against Cremonese and Atalanta respectively.