Bundesliga Match Day 10: Weekend Wrap-Up
RB Leipzig might just have found itself in time to make a serious run at both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich (more on them later).
Die Roten Bullen used a thoroughly dominant effort to push aside Hertha Berlin 3-0 behind a brace from Timo Werner and another goal from young Brazilian Matheus Cunha. While it is true that Hertha Berlin might be taking a slight step backward from its heroics earlier in the season, Die Alte Dame is still a very formidable squad that will likely be in contention for a top six position all season
Leipzig, however, is starting to get the look and feel of a team that is gaining confidence and not just winning games. Die Roten Bullen is unbeaten in its last nine Bundesliga matches and its last 14 overall. For a team that looked shaky at best early on, Ralf Rangnick has certainly found a way to make it work.
Perhaps the biggest boost to Leipzig's squad has been the re-emergence of Werner as a dynamic scoring threat. For as great as he was in 2016-2017, the 2017-2018 season and international play were not up to Werner's typical bar that he has set for himself.
If Werner can continue to produce like he has of late, it would not be shocking to see Leipzig make a run at BVB or Bayern as the season progresses.
Prediction: Hertha Berlin 2, RB Leipzig 2 (L)
Eintracht Frankfurt 3, VfB Stuttgart 0: Die Adler shook off a disappointing performance last week against FC Nürnberg and took care of business against hapless Stuttgart. Sebastian Haller, Ante Rebic, and Nicolai Muller provided the offensive power for Eintracht Frankfurt, which has a very friendly set of games forthcoming. Should Die Adler take advantage of some of the teams on its schedule in November and December, Eintracht Frankfurt could find itself in a very advantageous position by the end of the first half.
Stuttgart is bad and really just listless. There may be no rebound in this team that can save it from relegation.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 2 VfB Stuttgart 1 (W)
FC Augsburg 2, FC Nürnberg 2: This was a disappointing effort from Augsburg and a lost opportunity. Lukas Muhl's goal in the 88th minute secured a much needed draw for Der Club, but also sealed a disappointing ending for Die Fuggerstädter.
Alfred Finnbogason opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but Alexander Fuchs' 54th minute tally tied the game for Nürnberg. Even as Augsburg's Jonathan Schmid gave Die Fuggerstädter the lead in the 59th minute, it was all for naught.
The draw was huge for Der Club, which has only one win in its last five Bundesliga matches. Still not in the RELEGATION DANGER ZONE, Nürnberg will need to solidify its effort if it wants to at least progress to being a true, middle-of-the-pack team in the league.
Prediction: FC Augsburg 3, FC Nürnberg 1 (L)
Hoffenheim 4, Bayer Leverkusen 1: After a couple of great efforts, Die Werkself completely imploded and was dismantled by Hoffenheim. Karim Bellarabi's goal could not offset a barrage from Die Kraichgauer, which included scores from Reiss Nelson, Vincenzo Grifo, and a brace from Joelinton.
Both of these teams have performed curiously all season and are incredibly hard to read from week to week. One thing is certain, whoever takes over for Julian Nagelsmann is going to have a some good tools to work with, but will need to have patience and an understanding of how to work with young players.
Leverkusen's inconsistency is maddening. Perhaps that will heal over time, but it seems unlikely. The roller coaster ride might just be as good as the squad is under Heiko Herrlich.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2, Hoffenheim 2 (L)
Bayern Munich 1, SC Freiburg 1: Well, this was the shocker of the week. After scuffling along, Bayern finally broke through in the 80th minute on a goal from Serge Gnabry (his first in the Bundesliga with Bayern). Breisgau-Brasiliane, however, did not quit. Lucas Holer's 89th minute tally knotted the game and earned the surprised draw over a stunned (and unraveling) Bayern Munich squad.
This is yet another underwhelming performance under Niko Kovac for Die Roten. Something is missing and Kovac has not connected with the team in a way that would say he understands how to use the weapons at his disposal.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 4, SC Freiburg 0 (L)
Schalke 3, Hannover 96 1: A much needed winning effort from Schalke helped Die Königsblauen make some headway up the table. Schalke's Nabil Bentaleb and Hannover's Hendrik Weydandt exchanged goals early in the second half, but Breel Embolo and Mark Uth (!?!) tacked on later tallies to give Schalke the 'W.'
Uth's goal certainly gives Schalke some hope that the investment it made in him to score goals might finally start to pay off. If Uth can start to piece together some kind of scoring run, Schalke might be able to climb back up into respectability.
Prediction: Schalke 1, Hannover 96 0
Borussia Dortmund 1, Wolfsburg 0: BVB just keeps winning and locking down that top spot in the table. Cruising by Wolfsburg behind Marco Reus' 27th minute goal was nice, but Dortmund is clearly focused on this weekend's Der Klassiker. The game is monumental in a lot of ways for BVB - despite the fact that Dortmund will remain in first place regardless of the outcome on Saturday.
Reus and his squad will be ready...will Bayern?
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 4, Wolfsburg 3 (W)
Borussia Monchengladbach 3, Fortuna Düsseldorf 0: M'Gladbach is in a good place right now (even with the surprising loss last week to SC Freiburg). Using a brace from the electric Thorgan Hazard and a lone goal from Jonas Hofmann, Die Fohlen has continued to impress. Clearly the team has some flaws, but it is always a threat offensively and is capable of taking down any club in the league.
F95....not good...just not good.
Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach 3, Fortuna Düsseldorf 1 (W)
Mainz 2, Werder Bremen 1: Werder Bremen fell into the Mainz trap and paid for it. Maybe the good run is over for Bremen, but I doubt it. I would think this was a momentary lapse. As for Mainz, it was a needed win for a lot of reasons and more proof that there really aren't any easy outs in the Bundesliga.
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jean-Philippe Gbamin combined to achieve the rare "Jean-Philippe" combo brace, while the ageless Claudio Pizzaro scored for Bremen.
Prediction: Werder Bremen 2, Mainz 1 (L)
Weekly record: 4-5 Season record: 40-50
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.
