Despite it being a strange feeling behind closed doors, it was back with a bang and with all the typical Bundesliga drama; VAR disallowing goals, late winners and wonder goals.
The games started with a bang, when Dortmund blew Schalke away at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund dominated from early on, knocking the ball around the defence with ease. Wonderkid, Erling Haaland got the first goal with a lovely team move. A delicate flick from Brandt found Thorgan Hazard, who without any delay, found Haaland and it was a lovely cushioned finish into the corner. The second Dortmund goal came when a high press from the BVB attack, led to a mistake from goalkeeper Schubert as his kick fell to the feet of the Dortmund midfield. Before David Wagner’s men had time to recover, the ball had found Guerreiro, whose left-footed strike beat the onlooking goalie. Schalke had nothing to challenge Dortmund, which could’ve been due to the lack of focal point upfront. Midway through the second half, a swift counter-attack led by Haaland, turned out to be fatal as his pass played through Brandt and Hazard in a 2 on 1. Hazard’s right-footed finish didn’t look to be a challenging save but still managed to evade Schubert. As Dortmund continued to assert their dominance, a ball from Haaland, in between the Schalke defenders found the feet of Guerreiro, and his outside of the foot strike found the back of the net, to make it 4-0.
In the game between Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin, it wasn’t the most expected result as, away side, Hertha managed to get the victory in their first game with the new coach, Labbadia. In the first half, it was Hertha with the best chance when captain, Ibisevic, showed great fight and determination to bully Hubner off the ball. His ball across goal found Cunha, and only a great save from Oliver Baumann kept it all square at the break. In the second half, it was a Hertha side that showed more determination and drive to win. 15 minutes in and a cross from Plattenhardt that looked to be headed clear, fell to Pekarik. His volley from the edge of the box deflected off the leg of the outstretched Akpoguma to beat Baumann in the Hoffenheim goal. Just 2 minutes later, a combination on the left wing between Plattenhardt and Mittelstadt allowed the latter to cross. His left-footed, whipped ball in behind the defence met the head of captain Samin Ibisevic. Hertha Berlin were dominating the game at this point. A long ball to the feet of Matheus Cunha resulted in a tricky wonder goal. He used his strength to hold onto the ball and a Cruyff turn to beat his man, along with the pace to accelerate away and finish into the corner, with what could be a goal of the week contender. This was all that was needed for Hertha Berlin to get all 3 points and improve their league position in a fairly comfortable manner.
There was late drama at Augsburg against Wolfsburg but it was the away side who started brightly, looking dangerous with crosses from right-back Kevin Mbabu the main source of attacking play. In the 27th minute, his cross looked to deflect off the arm of Augsburg defender Jedvaj, but the ref waved play on. Just before half time, an exciting ball from deep from left back, Paulo Otavio was met just inside the box by a bullet header from Renato Steffan into the bottom left. A beautiful header that was guided into the corner. Not long after, an in-swinging free kick from left back Philip Max caused problems in the Wolfsburg defence. Wolfsburg defender, John Brooks was so focused on winning the header that he ended up turning it goalwards. Casteels was able to tip it onto the bar and as it bounced down it was followed in by Jedvaj. Augsburg continued to show their threat from set pieces, as another in-swinging free kick from Max was met by the head of Uduokhai and directed into the goal to make it 2-1. But after a VAR check it was clear that Florian Niederlechner was effecting the ball and the goalkeeper’s line of sight and it was disallowed. In added-on time, Switzerland right back Kevin Mbabu went on a powerful run down the right resulting in a low driven cross to the back post where it was met by Daniel Ginczek. There was no time for a comeback and Wolfsburg got the 2-1 win.
In what was perhaps the biggest upset of the day, RB Leipzig were held at home to Freiburg. RB Leipzig started the game, how they have done so well all season with a clear attacking purpose, when 1 minute in, Laimer shot just wide of the post. A very direct counter-attack from the favourites saw a Timo Werner shot parried by Schwolow, but Laimer couldn’t get the shot away. The hosts continued to dominate and this was clear to see when Werner’s set back to Kampl, was deflected wide. The away side went ahead with Grifo’s corner that was met at the front post by Manuel Gulde and it snuck into the far post past Peter Gulacsi. RB Leipzig continued to dominate and early on in the second half, a lovely ball from Kevin Kampl found Ademola Lookman alone at the far post but his volley went agonizingly wide when he seemed certain to score. 5 minutes later Werner’s pull back from the right found Kampl and his shot that looked destined to find the bottom corner, was once again cleared off the line. With only 15 minutes to go, Kevin Kampl’s cross from the left found Poulsen, who rose highest to head home. Leipzig were desperate for the winner to keep their slight title chances alive. Sabitzer’s driven effort was fumbled by Schwolow and Shick looked set to follow it in but was offside. In stoppage time, all focus was on Leipzig to get the winner however a Freiburg free kick that was nodded back from Holer to Koch and tapped in looked to have won the underdogs the game but after a long VAR check it was given offside. RB Leipzig dropped 2 points but were lucky to have not dropped them all.
In an important game at the bottom of the league, it was a 6 pointer for both when Fortuna Dusseldorf hosted Paderborn. 15 minutes in, the first chance of the game found Zimmerman towards the right of the box but his shot was blocked by a scurry of Paderborn defenders. Fortuna Dusseldorf were seeming dominant and a Valon Berisha effort, with a deflection, cannoned off the post. 20 minutes later a free kick that was met by the head of Ayhan again hit the post. Just before half time, Paderborn had their fast attempt with a Kai Proger free kick being palmed away by the Dusseldorf keeper. The hosts were playing the nicer football of the two and a backheel combination between left winger and left back allowed Zimmerman to cross. Valon Berisha’s free header cannoned off the bar and Dusseldorf were just unlucky hitting the woodwork 4 times. The game ended 0-0 but Dusseldorf will see that as points dropped and Paderborn will see it as a point gained.
The later game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach started with a bang. The away side came out of the blocks very quickly and just 36 seconds into the game, a one-two between Alassane Plea and Neuhaus allowed the French striker to fire home past Trapp. Just 6 minutes later, Monchengladbach left back Bensebaini fired in a low driven cross that was met by young striker Marcus Thuram to tap in from 3 yards. The marking from the Frankfurt defence was appalling. A game with little chances found the away side dominate proceedings, without having very many chances to capitalize on. Late into the second half, a counter attack from Gladbach found Embolo latching onto a through ball from Neuhaus and was brought down by centre back N’Dicka. Algerian, Bensebaini took the penalty and it evaded Kevin Trapp to make it 3-0. Frankfurt scored a consolation goal with Andre Silva firing past Yann Sommer. It was a strong performance from the away side, who eased through the game and picked up the 3 points.
The first game on Sunday was between FC Koln and Mainz and it was the home side that had the first chance of the game when a long ball found striker, Mark Uth and as he entered the penalty area he was bundled to the floor by Niakhate, for an obvious penalty that was comfortably slotted away by Mark Uth. Mainz came back 7 minutes later with a jinking run into the area by Onisiwo and his pull back found Boetus, all alone 6 yards out from goal, but he struck it wide, for what is undoubtedly the worst miss of the day. Koln double their lead, soon into the second half, when a beautifully whipped cross from Drexler found Kainz at the back post, who headed home. Mainz replied when a disguised ball from star player, Robin Quaison found Baku, and his driven cross was turned in at the near post by Awoniyi past Horn. Ten minutes later, Mainz grabbed the equalizer when Pierre Kunde Malong picked the ball up from just inside the Koln half and drove forwards. No defender put any sort of challenge on him and he just walked through the defence and slotted home, awful defending from the home side. Mainz nearly completed the perfect comeback when Adam Szalai’s ball found Onisiwo but Horn, making himself big, wouldn't let the ball through. That was all that there was time for in the exciting fixture between the two clubs. Poor defending from both teams were to blame for the draw.
League leaders, Bayern Munich, faced the team that have shocked everyone this season, Union Berlin, in what turned out to be comfortable fixture for the big boys. Hansi Flick’s men dominated play and had a goal ruled out early in the first half after a Joshua Kimmich corner was nodded on by Leon Goretzka and at the back-post, Serge Gnabry headed it towards the back post. Instinctively, Thomas Muller stuck his foot out and put the ball in the net. After a VAR check it was confirmed that Muller was just offside and play resumed at 0-0. Not long before half time, Kimmich’s lofted ball into the channel found Lewandowski. His volleyed ball into the box was intercepted by Subotic however before the Serbian centre-half was able to clear it, Leon Goretzka got in there and consequently was brought down to win Bayern a penalty. The spot kick was calmly dispatched by top scorer, Lewandowski to get his 40th goal of the season in all competitions. Bayern were asserting their dominance and nearly got another when a driven shot by Benjamin Pavard found the side netting from outside the box. They nearly doubled their lead, soon into the second half, when a fancy one-two between Muller and Goretzka put the midfielder in, but he dragged his shot just wide. 10 minutes before time, a Kimmich corner was met by Benjamin Pavard who headed home, showing Kimmich’s inch-perfect delivery once again leading to a goal. Union Berlin were outplayed and despite their defensive 5-4-1 tactics and leaving their top goalscorer out, they didn’t have any answers for Bayern’s attacking threat.
The final game of the week was between two sides at opposite ends of the spectrum. A Werder Bremen side, second bottom of the league trying to stay up against a strong Leverkusen pushing for a Champions League spot. The first real chance came 27 minutes in when young winger, Moussa Diaby got to the by-line and put a cross to the back post, where it was met by Kai Havertz who cushioned the header back towards where it came from past Pavlenka. The lead was only kept for 2 minutes though, as a Bittencourt corner was flicked in by Gebre Selassie at the near post. This goal was Bremen's first at home since November, testament to the troubled season they've endured, and not even a fan in the ground to see it. An eventful 5 minutes culminated 3 minutes later when a Demirbay in-swinging free kick found Havertz all alone to head home. Not long into the second half, a dominant Leverkusen side made it 3-1 when a Moussa Diaby cross was attacked by Mitchel Weiser and his header was too powerful for Pavlenka. The away side were easing through the game, eloquently portrayed when Bellarabi’s run inside resulted in a ‘no-look’ pass to Demirbay, who topped off the move with a dink over Pavlenka in to the net. Leverkusen edged closer to RB Leipzig as Bremen continue to edge nearer the relegation abyss.
Although many football fans may not have been that familiar with the German league, it's fulfilled our need for a football fix and I'm sure we're all looking forward to the next offering on Friday night when Hertha face Union in the Berlin derby. Thank God for footie. BT 1 Sky 0.
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