Bundesliga: Match Day 22 Weekend Wrap-up
- Chuck Smith
- Feb 11, 2018
- 3 min read
What I am learning every week with the Bundesliga is that my crystal ball sucks. Just when I think Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach have turned the corner into real contenders, they fall back to the mediocre play that has plagued them both in recent years. I feel betrayed...well, the GIF below probably most accurately reflects my feelings on those aforementioned squads:
As for FC Koln, well, it was a fun ride while it lasted.
Dortmund, meanwhile, has rejuvenated itself with some new blood and is starting to, again, look like a team that could pose a threat when clicking on all cylinders instead of a team suffocating itself with its own turmoil.
While some of my predictions when awfully awry, some other were on-point, but enough about me and what I think I know...let's take a look at what I know, I know and that is the results of Match Day 22 from the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich 2, Schalke 1: The dangerous duo of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller found the back of the net for Bayern, whil Arturo Vidal and Joshua Kimmich, among others turned in stallar efforts. For Schalke, Franco Di Santo scored, but it was Leon Goretzka, who garnered the most attention (for obvious reasons). Schalke fought hard, but like just about everyone else that has face Bayern lately, it was just too tough a task to knock off the Reds. PLUG ALERT: We will take a look this week at the roster dilemma facing Bayern as it's squad is nearly fully healthy (aside of Manuel Neuer).
Hertha Berlin 2, Bayer Never....err Leverkusen 0: I look at Leverkusen with Kevin Volland, Leon Bailey, and Julian Brandt as a core and think..."This team - one the right day - can challenge Bayern"...and then they go out and get waxed by Hertha Berlin. Valentino Lazaro and Salomon Kalou were credited with goals for Hertha Berlin, who are certainly better than I have given them credit for.
Dortmund 2, Hamburger SV 0: Michy Batshuayi converted an excellent ball from Christian Pulisic and Mario Gotze came on for the returning Marco Reus to notch the game clincher. Great effort by Dortmund. They lost a great scorer in Pierre Emerick-Aubamayeng, but they are playing better without the weight of that situation hovering over the team. Hamburger, meanwhile, is desperately trying to fight their way out of the RELEGATION DANGER ZONE.
Eintracht Frankfurt 4, FC Koln 2: Eintracht Frankfurt has not gotten enough respect from me (or really anyone else), but that side has turned in an excellent year thus far. Ante Rebic, Marco Russ, Simon Falette, and Marius Wolf, all were credited with goals to lead a balanced attack. Meanwhile, Koln, another RELEGATION DANGER ZONE contender, got two goals from Simon Terrode, who has been a real force for the Billy Goats. he needs some help, however, I thought Koln has turned the corner, but Frankfurt was there to kick sand in the face of Koln. I picked this games as a tie because I had a sense Frankfurt would be a touch match, but they just overwhelmed a Koln side that has looked rejuvenated of late.
Hannover 96 2, SC Freiburg 1: Freiburg was another team I may have went too far in on. I really like the way they were playing and thought this would be another solid performance, but Hannover simply seemed to want it more.
Hoffenheim 4, Mainz 2: For Hoffenheim it was a case of "You gotta get yours before I gotta get Mainz"...the Julian Nagelsmann-led squad was reeling over the past month, but found its bearings this week against an overmatched Mainz side. Adam Szalai and Andrej Kramaric each had a brace for Hoffenheim, which was pretty impressive offensively, but still displayed some holes on D. For Mainz, it will be a tough limb out of the RELEGATION DANGER ZONE.
Leipzig 2, Augsburg 0: Leipzig is creeping back into form and not soon enough. Naby Keita put home a goal to hopefully help rebuild his confidence, but Timo Werner was still absent from the score sheet. To get to its best form, Leipzig must get Werner going.
Stuttgart 1, Borussia Monchengladbach 0: You fooled me Monchengladbach. I am not sure I can trust you any longer.
Werder Bremen 3, Wolfsburg 1: Werder Bremen is finding some positives of late in an otherwise dismal season. With both teams in the RELEGATION DANGER ZONE , this was a big win for Bremen. I predicted this gae would be a draw because I am an idiot.
This week's prediction record: 4 wins, 5 losses
Overall prediction record: 8 wins, 10 losses.
Note: Predicted ties count as a win if correct and a loss if there is a winner in the game; conversely games that end in ties, but where a winner is predicted count as a loss.
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