Bundesliga Match Day 22: Weekend Wrap-Up
- Chuck Smith
- Feb 19, 2019
- 5 min read
It did not quite live up to the offensive slugfest that I expected, but Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach tangled in a hard-fought bout that showed how both squads have developed into capable contenders for the league crown.
Granted, Die Adler's mathematical journey to the top would require A LOT of things to happen (and they won't), but Frankfurt would be ecstatic to gain a top four position for Champions League play if it can get a little lucky. M'Gladbach, meanwhile, battled back from a 1-0 deficit to force the draw and show the resolve and fight that it had been missing in past years.
Admittedly, I expected a more free-wheeling style of game given the offensive talent available, but Adi Hutter chose to sit out Luka Jovic until late in the game, which appeared to cause his team to play a bit choppy early on. The Foals also played a bit more conservatively at times, but both team did display why they are so highly regards (at least on this site).
Danny da Costa's goal at the 45'+1' mark gave Eintracht Frankfurt confidence and the lead heading into halftime and Die Adler did look to be in control. Well, up until Denis Zakaria's game-tying goal in the 82nd minute knotted the game for good and gave each team a deserved point.
Matthias Ginter turned in a solid effort in leading the M'Gladbach defense in throttling Eintracht Frankfurt's big three (even with Jovic coming on late).
While neither team gained the ground each sought out entering the game, both showed once again that they are more than just flashy goals. Both teams are legit and should battle until the end to secure a top four position.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 3, Borussia Monchengladbach 2 (L)
Borussia Dortmund 0 FC Nurnberg 0: This was an enormous effort Der Club to secure a much needed point, while BVB continued it awful run of play. Dortmund has not been good of late and has show signs of doubt within its own play.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3, FC Nurnberg 0 (L)
Bayer Leverkusen 2, Fortuna Dusseldorf 0: Die Werkself's resurgence gained further momentum as Kai Havertz (18') and Leon Bailey (66') provided the offense, while the squad helped Lukas Hradecky secure a clean sheet.
Leverkusen appears to be headed back in the right direction during this initial period under Peter Bosz. Bosz has seemingly removed the shackles that were weighing down the Leverkusen offense as it just looks infinitely more dangerous each week. Let's also face this fact: Havertz is a bonafide star who is about to explode on a global scale.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 4, Fortuna Dusseldorf 2 (W)
Werder Bremen 1, Hertha Berlin 1: Claudio Pizarro maintained his stranglehold on the title of the Bundesliga's leading foreign scorer as he somehow, someway guided a free kick under and off of the Hertha Berlin wall in extra tie to secure a near-miraculous draw for Werder Bremen.
This was exactly the type of battle I expected from two teams on the rise. Both have a great amount of quality, but some areas for improvement. Despite any of that, the squads showed the depth and strength of the Bundesliga as a whole. Both squads will be a tough draw for the rest of the league as the season winds down and also have the potential to upset the natural order of things at the top of the table.
Mercurial forward Davie Selke had the goal for Die Alte Dame and continued to show flashes of brilliance mixed in with his normal bouts of frustrating play.
Prediction: Werder Bremen 2, Hertha Berlin 2 (W)
Wolfsburg 3, Mainz 0: Yet another impressive performance by the Wolves resulted in another three points gained. Maximilian Arnold scored just four minutes into the game before Wolfsburg took complete control later in the contest.
26-year-old Dutch striker Wout Weghorst continued his solid play and converted a penalty kick in the 69th minute, while Robin Knoche (76') sealed the deal for the Wolves just seven minutes later. This is clearly not the Wolfsburg of the previous two years; this Wolves squad is hungry and talented and a total pest to deal with. They are for real and play with some real juice. I look forward to watching how this squad develops in the coming months.
Prediction: Wolfsburg 2, Mainz 1 (W)
RB Leipzig 3, VfB Stuttgart 1: Die Roten Bullen made easy work of Die Schwaben after an early score behind a brace from Yussuf Poulsen (6' and 74') and Marcel Sabitzer (68'). Steven Zuber's 16th minute penalty kick represented the lone goal for Stuttgart.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 3, VfB Stuttgart 0 (W)
Schalke 1, SC Freiburg 1: Schalke's Suat Serdar was hit with a red card in the 42nd minute, which changed the course of this game and ultimately allowed both teams to escape with a point. For Freiburg, this was a lost opportunity to secure an additional two points against an undermanned squad. Freiburg's Christian Gunter, too, was assessed a red card (yellow card accumulation) in extra time, but it was too late to have a material effect on the game.
Schalke, meanwhile, should consider itself lucky to have at least forced the tie. Both teams are within striking distance of relegation and while it may seem like a bit of a long shot for the squads to fall that far, it could well happen if each reverts to some of the poor play that has plagued both over the course of the season.
Prediction: Schalke 2, SC Freiburg 1 (L)
Hoffenheim 3, Hannover 96 0: This was utter domination from Hoffenheim. Joelinton, Ishak Belfodil, and Kerem Demirbay supplied the goals, but Julian Nagelsmann has his team rolling right now.
Prediction: Hoffenheim 3, Hannover 96 1 (W)
Bayern Munich 3, FC Augsburg 2: It was scary for Bayern, but Die Roten survived a scare from Augsburg behind a brace from Kingsley Coman and a single goal from David Alaba.
Augsburg took advantage of a record-breaking own goal from Leon Goretzka and a first half score from Dong-Won Ji, but could not find a way to break through one last time and force a draw.
For Bayern, the win could still prove costly. Coman suffered an injury late in the match and while he has been medically cleared to play, he still may not be well enough to actually take the pitch. The absences of the pacey and lethal winger could make Liverpool's life a lot easier in the Champions League fixture later today.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3, FC Augsburg 2 (W)
Match day record: 6-3
Season record: 95-103
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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