Bundesliga Match Day 6: Weekend Wrap-Up
- Chuck Smith
- Oct 1, 2018
- 4 min read
The top of the Bundesliga table has an intriguing look to it after a crazy weekend. On Friday, Hertha Berlin stunned the suddenly vulnerable Bayern Munich, 2-0, before Borussia Dortmund used a four-goal rally to sweep by Bayer Leverkusen 4-2.
From those four teams that figure to be in the running for a top six spot, two came away confident, while two others are sputtering.
Hertha Berlin used a foolish challenge by Jerome Boateng to take an early lead behind Vedad Ibisevic's penalty kick conversion before Ondrej Duda continued his torrid run through the Bundesliga with a 44th minute tally.
It was an apathetic effort for Bayern and did show some cause to doubt iterations of Niko Kovac's player rotation. Renato Sanches, who has been hailed as much improved, as a disruptive force to his own team's midfield and hindered the performance of Thiago Alcantara.
There isn't reason to panic in Munich as of yet, but things are a little ugly. Considering the squad has not found a way to get Robert Lewandowski engaged offensively in the past three outings, it could only get worse unless Bayern figures how to get the ball to its top scorer in more advantageous positions.
Predicted score: Bayern Munich 3, Hertha Berlin 0 (L)
Borussia Dortmund, however, showed the heart of a champion by battling back from a two-goal deficit against Die Werkself. Mitchell Weiser's absolute screamer gave Leverkusen an early 1-0 before Jonathan Tah's 38th minute goal gave Die Werkself a 2-0 advantage.
BVB was far from done at that point and, in fact, was just getting started. Impressive Danish 20-year old Jacob-Bruun Larsen kick-started the Dortmund scoring with a goal in the 65th minute, which ignited a barrage for BVB. Marco Reus' 69th minute tally was the precursor to Alcacer Paco's brace, which gave the game its final margin.
If there was doubt about BVB's worthiness in being a challenger to Bayern Munich, you can consider that erased until further notice.
Predicted score: Borussia Dortmund 3, Bayer Leverkusen 2 (W)
RB Leipzig 2, Hoffenheim 1: Yussuf Poulsen's brace powered Julian Nagelsmann's future team past his current squad. It was a lackluster effort for Hoffenheim, which used an extra-time goal from Andrej Kramaric to at least make the score look respectable.
Predicted score: Hoffenheim 2, RB Leipzig 2 (L)
FC Nürnberg 3, Fortuna Düsseldorf 0: Der Club shook off its thrashing by BVB to push aside F95 in a much-needed victory. Hanno Behrens, Mikael Ishak, and Federico Palacios-Martinez provided the scoring for Nürnberg, which has climbed to 10th in the table.
Predicted score: Fortuna Düsseldorf 2, FC Nürnberg 1 (L)
Schalke 1, Mainz 0: FINALLY! Die Königsblauen put one on the win column. After five Match Days of utter Bundesliga frustration and poor play, Schalke got its first win over Mainz. Alessandro Schopf's 11th minute goal somehow held up and now, perhaps, Schalke can move on and start playing up to its capability.
Predicted score: Schalke 1, Mainz 0 (W)
VfB Stuttgart 2, Werder Bremen 1: Stuttgart finally asserted itself a bit by holding off Werder Bremen. Die Schwaben received a 19th minute goal from Anastasios Donis before Werder Bremen's Milos Veljkovic picked up red card in the 36th minute. Even with that, Die Werderaner was able to battle back to tie the game, though it wasn't necessarily through their own creative play, yet an absolute howler by Stuttgart goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler:
Gonzalo Castro's 75th minute goal would prove to be the game winner for Stuttgart, which was in dire need of the "W."
Predicted score: Werder Bremen 2, VfB Stuttgart 2 (L)
Borussia Monchengladbach 2, Wolfsburg 2: One of the most interesting games on the docket lived up to its billing. Two emerging teams battled to a stalemate as M'Gladbach's Alassane Plea and Thorgan Hazard traded goals with Wolfsburg's Renato Steffen and Wout Weghorst to account for the draw.
Predicted score: Borussia Monchengladbach 3, Wolfsburg 2 (L)
Eintracht Frankfurt 4, Hannover 96 1: Die Adler finally had the overpowering offensive showing that we've been waiting to see all season. Behind goals from Obite Evan N'Dicka, Ante Rebic, Jonathan de Guzman, and Luka Jovic, Eintracht Frankfurt stormed away from Hannover. Florent Muslija accounted for Hannover's only goal in an uncharacteristically underwhelming effort for the squad.
Predicted score: Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Hannover 96 1 (W)
FC Augsburg 4, SC Freiburg 1: It was unclear if Alfred Finnbogason was definitely making his comeback this week, but he did...and it was an immediate difference for Augsburg. The Icelander notched a hat trick in his return and has Die Fuggerstädter looking like it could be dangerous. Caiuby had the other goal for Augsburg, while Freiburg sputtered on both sides of the pitch, only getting on the scoreboard via an own goal.
Predicted score: SC Freiburg 2, FC Augsburg 2 (L)
Last week's record: 3-6
Season record: 21-32
Note: Predicted ties count as a win if correct and as a loss if there is a winner; conversely if a game is predicted to have a winner but ends in a tie, it will count as a loss.
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