Bundesliga Match Day 24: Weekend Wrap-Up
- Mar 4, 2019
- 6 min read
The race for the Bundesliga crown just got a bit more dicey.
Borussia Dortmund continued to flail and was was upset 2-0 by a surprisingly game FC Augsburg side, while Bayern Munich dismantled Borussia Monchengladbach 5-1. Those results left the teams tied in points, but with BVB holding a lead via goal differential (+2).
This are, indeed, getting hot up at the top of the table.
Dortmund's struggles continue, but Bayern storms forward
Even with the return of Marco Reus, Dortmund could not get itself on track.
Augsburg somehow, someway found the resolve within itself to battle Dortmund like it was the Champions League finale. Augsburg had been dreadful leading into the match with BVB, including a stretch where it had only won one game in its last 13 Bundesliga matches. The man of the match for Die Fuggerstädter was former BVB man Ji Dong-won, who continued his stellar play and had a brace. Dortmund's Paco Alcacer scored BVB's lone goal, but it was a thoroughly disappointing effort from Dortmund, which has shown great signs of wilting under the intense spotlight of being chased both in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
As for Bayern, Robert Lewandowski was reunited with Thomas Muller and the duo combined for three goals, while Javi Martinez and Serge Gnabry also scored. For M'Gladbach, Lars Stindl had a goal, but it was not going to be anywhere near enough to challenge the Bavarians on this day.
Lewandowski is being chided in some circles because he didn't convert on at least four other good chances, but the Polish Hitman absolutely looked more comfortable and free playing with Muller than he had at any point over the last four games, where Muller watched from the bench.
Muller's value to Die Roten cannot always be best measure by his own statistics. The 30-year-old provides creativity and attacks space in a way that allows Lewandowski the freedom to take more chances offensively. And a less conservative Lewandowski is exactly what Bayern will need in the coming weeks as it hopes to press ahead of Dortmund in the table.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3, FC Augsburg 1 (L)
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3, Borussia Monchengladbach 1 (W)
(standings courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
Fortuna Dusseldorf 4, Schalke 0: Yeah...so Schalke is going to need to fire Domenico Tedesco. He has completely lost the locker room and likley the fan base as well. The talent level on the squad is not indicative of the overall poor record for Die Königsblauen. Simply put, Schalke should not be this bad and unfortunately it just looks like the team has quit on Tedesco. While the young manager has done some quality things in his time there, Schalke is plummeting toward relegation and could soon find itself in real danger as it continues to under-perform. Tedesco's post-game antics in front of the Schalke fans (what was he doing there for upwards of three minutes???), left most puzzled and would likely make today the right time to make a change.
As for F95, you can't knock a four-goal effort over a more talented side in any respect. Dusseldorf was just way better on the day. Dodi Lukebakio (PK - 35'), Dawid Kownacki (62' and 84'), and Benito Raman (68') provided the offense for F95 as the squad looks like it close to securing another year in the Bundesliga.
Prediction: Schalke 2, Fortuna Dusseldorf 1 (L)
RB Leipzig 1, FC Nurnberg 0: Lukas Klostermann's 40th minute goal was the difference in the game, but it was a missed by PK by Nurnberg's Hanno Behrens that really made the difference in allowing Leipzig to walk away with three points. It has just been that kind of season for Der Club. Nurnberg is in a complete struggle to maintain its standing in the Bundesliga, but it is not looking good right now.
RB Leipzig's Timo Werner was held out again with an illness, which is affecting the offensive production for Die Roten Bullen. Surely, Ralf Rangnick is looking forward to getting his star striker back in the fold as soon as possible.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 4, FC Nurberg 1 (W)
Hertha Berlin 2, Mainz 1: An own goal by Hertha Berlin's Niklas Stark gave Mainz a 1-0 lead in the 46th minute, but Die Alte Dame's resolve and talent took over to come back and take the "W." Marko Grujic's 50th minute tally tied the game before Stark, himself, put home what would be the game winner in the 60th minute.
Stark has developed into one of the Bundesliga's top young center backs and is becoming a very attractive transfer target. The 23-year-old has been linked to Bayern Munich and would seemingly be a great fit to slot in next to Niklas Sule as Bayern's center back duo of the future. With Bayern's signing of Benjamin Pavard and rumored association with Atletico Madrid's Lucas Hernandez and Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt, Stark may only be a fallback option. With skill, aptittude, and relatively low cost, however, Bayern may want to re-assess its thinking.
Prediction: Hertha Berlin 2, Mainz 1 (W)
Eintracht Frankfurt 3, Hoffenheim 2: Goncalo Paciencia's goal in the 6th minute of extra time sealed the win for Die Adler as finished a furious comeback to capture three points. Ante Rebic gave Eintracht Frankfurt a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the game, but Hoffenheim battled back to take a lead and carry it late into the game.
Joelinton (43') and Ishak Belfodil (60') pushed TSG1899 into the lead, which the squad would hold on to until the 89th minute when Sebastien Haller knotted the game at 2-2. Paciencia's late heroics seal the victory in a wild comeback for Eintracht Frankfurt, which is making a strong challenge to get into a top four position.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Hoffenheim 1 (W)
Bayer Leverkusen 2, SC Freiburg 0: Aranguiz (4') and Leon Bailey (73') provided the goals for Die Werkself in helping the squad push further up the table. Leverkusen just looks much better under Peter Bosz than it did earlier in the season under Heiko Herrlich.
Julian Brandt had a standout performance as well for Leverkusen as the 22-year-old had seven key passes on the day. Brandt's rejuvenation under Bosz has been excellent, but it is also being speculated that the Brandt could be available on the transfer market for a reasonable fee. If that is the case, the German international is giving other teams a could reason to take interest.
Christian Streich's side could not continue its offensive outburst from last week, but with some key games upcoming and the chance to secure some hard-fought points, Streich will have his boys poised and ready to make some strides to avoid the threat of relegation.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3, SC Freiburg 2 (W)
VfB Stuttgart 5, Hannover 96 1: Could this be the resurrection of Stuttgart? FC Koln experienced a similar, late season awakening, but ultimately fell short in trying to make up for a brutal first half of the season. If Stuttgart can sustain any of the momentum it has built up over the past two weeks, it could go a long way to pushing itself out of the RELEGATION DANGER ZONE.
Stuttgart stormed ahead early and never looked back. Mario Gomez (4'), Ozan Kabak (16' and 45'), and the red-hot Steven Zuber (78' and 81') powered the offense for Die Schwaben. For H96, a 69th minute goal by 29-year-old Brazilian Jonathas was about the only bright sport for a team that seems destined for relegation.
Prediction: VfB Stuttgart 2, Hannover 96 1 (W)
Wolfsburg 1, Werder Bremen 1: John Brooks (54') and Max Kruse (74') traded goals, but these two teams are so evenly matched right now that it is only fitting that this game ended in a tie. Both squads are young, developing, and lookng solid for the future. It would great to see both work to get into European spots, but the league is a little too deep to fit both this season.
Prediction: Wolfsburg 2, Werder Bremen 2
Match day record: 7-2
Season record: 105-111
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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