Bundesliga Match Day 7: Weekend Wrap-up
The league's table leader, Borussia Dortmund, was engaged in the wildest game of the weekend., escaping the match against FC Augsburg with a 4-3 victory. Paco Alcácer had a hat trick and Mario Götze (!?! - remember him) also found the back of the net. For Augsburg, it was Icelandic legend Alfred Finnbogason, along with Philipp Max, and Michael Gregoritsch that provided the scoring. The game figured to be an offensive showcase, but there were some wild swings of emotion that carried this contest to be the game of the week within the league.
After Finnbogason continued his torrid play with a goal in the 22nd minute, Dortmund was held off the scoreboard until Alcácer scored in the 52nd minute. Max added a 71st minute tally that officially opened the floodgates with Alcácer and Götze scoring two goals in a four minute span (80th to 84th minute).
Gregoritsch appeared to knot the game for good with an 87th minute goal and Augsburg's overpowering offense looked like it had shocked the league leaders and force a draw. Alcácer's dramatic goal in the (unbelievable) 6th minute of extra time, however, clinched the victory for BVB.
Predicted score: Borussia Dortmund 3, FC Augsburg 2
Over in Bavaria, things did not get any better for Bayern Munich. Borussia Monchengladbach dominated Bayern for a 3-0 victory over the reigning champions. M'Gladbach's Alassane Plea opened the scoring early before returning captain Lars Stindl found the back of the net in the 16th minute. Patrick Herrmann delivered the final dagger in the 88th minute.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich's season has continued to careen off the rails at great speed after being blanked by M'Gladbach. Die Fohlen became yet another team to go directly at Die Roten and win. There is no longer any fear of Bayern and teams have figured out that you CAN win by simply playing the game with the Bavarians.
Predicted score: Bayern Munich 3, Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Werder Bremen 2, Wolfsburg 0: Werder Bremen continued its fine play and used goals from Davy Klaassen and Johannes Eggestein to capture the victory for Die Werderaner. Bremen is truly earning its reputation as one of the league's up-and-coming teams.
Predicted score: Werder Bremen 2, Wolfsburg 1
Schalke 04 2, Fortuna Düsseldorf 0: Finally, Schalke appeared to be getting over the hump of the poor play that plagued it earlier in the season. Behind second half goals from Weston McKennie and Guido Burgstaller, Die Königsblauen seems to headed back to respectability.
Predicted score: Schalke 04 1, Fortuna Düsseldorf 0
Hannover 96 3, VfB Stuttgart 1: While Hannover winning a match that they absolutely needed was impressive, Stuttgart's collapse is what stole the headline. The defeat ultimately marked the final nail in the coffin for Tayfun Korkut's coaching career with Die Schwaben. Stuttgart's performance under Korkut this season has been less-than-stellar and the squad looks like a team without an identity. Seeing these things, Die Schwaben's management opted to cut Korkut loose and will seek to make a hiring to help save the season. Mario Gomez scored for Stuttgart, but the squad needs a sharp change of direction as it has under-performed and often looked sloppy and/or uninspired.
Hannover excelled behind goals from USMNT man Bobby Wood (brace) and Ihlas Bebou, which secured three very important points in the battle to avoid relegation.
Predicted score: Hannover 96 2, VfB Stuttgart 2
Hertha Berlin 0, Mainz 0: Die Alte Dame suffered through a bit of a letdown game in this one. Sure, Mainz played to survive and get a point, but part of Hertha Berlin's growth as a team is approach games like this and bring the same mentality that it did against Bayern Munich.
Predicted score: Hertha Berlin 3, Mainz 1
Bayer Leverkusen 0, SC Freiburg 0: This is what you would call a lost opportunity for Leverkusen. Yet for Freiburg, it was a badly needed point. All that is holding Die Werkself back is consistency. They seem to have none of it.
Predicted score: Bayer Leverkusen 3, SC Freiburg 1
Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Hoffenheim 1: Die Adler is starting to look dangerous. Ante Rebic is rounding back into form and score a spectacular goal in taking advantage of some poor positioning from Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Later, Luka Jovic added another goal, which helped Eintracht Frankfurt hold a convincing lead until Hoffenheim's Reiss Nelson scored in the 81st minute to at least put Die Kraichgauer on the scoreboard for the contest.
Predicted score: Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Hoffenheim 2
RB Leipzig 6, FC Nürnberg 0: Die Roten Bullen looked more dominant than they ever have in throttling Der Club. Leipzig scored three goals in the first 21 minutes of the game and never looked back. Kevin Kampl scored at the 3' mark and Yussuf Poulsen (7') and Marcel Sabitzer (21') powered the offense early. Sabitzer ended with a brace, as did Timo Werner. In a league that is there for the taking, Leipzig is starting to put it all together at the right time.
The emergence of Werner had to be the most important part of the game for Die Roten Bullen (even though he missed a penalty later). If Werner can play with the explosiveness and confidence he displayed against FC Nürnberg, it will a HUGE piece of the Leipzig puzzle coming together.
Predicted score: RB Leipzig 3, FC Nürnberg 1
Last week's record: 4-5 Season record: 26-37
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.
