Bundesliga Match Day 2: Wrap-Up
RB Leipzig had a roller coaster ride of a day on Sunday when it ousted a very game Eintracht Frankfurt side 2-1.
First, the club shocked the world and was able to extend Timo Werner's contract when it did not look at all possible. Werner, of course, carried on that fairy tale scenario by scoring just 10 minutes into the game. The 23-year-old striker's good fortune did not last long, though, as he was hit what looked to be a muscular injury (possibly hamstring) and had to leave the game in the 79th minute.
In the end Yussuf Poulsen added another Die Roten Bullen goal in the 80th minute that would be enough to hold off Die Adler. Goncalo Paciencia's tally in the 89th minute cut the lead to one goal, but Eintracht Frankfurt just did not have enough to catch RB Leipzig on this day.
While the game itself was interesting, the news on Werner was EXACTLY what RB Leipzig needed. The confidence that Werner will be there for the remainder of this season and potentially through 2023 set the squad up nicely under Julian Nagelsmann.
Sure, Bayern Munich could come calling, but if they do, Leipzig knows that it will at least get some financial compensation instead of than letting the Germany international leave on a free transfer next summer.
Die Roten Bullen should be one of the top contenders for the league crown this season.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 4, Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (W)
Bayern Munich 3, Schalke 0: Robert Lewandowski's hat trick powered the Bayern Munich offense against a deep-sitting, non-risk-taking, and frankly timid Schalke side. It was a disappointing effort by Die Königsblauen, who really showed no desire to actually play against the Bavarians.
Bayern Munich, itself, was not spectacular, it just happened to actually want to score and had the best player on the pitch in Lewandowski.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 4, Schalke 1 (W)
Borussia Dortmund 3, FC Koln 1: After falling behind 1-0 on a goal from FC Koln's Dominick Drexler, BVB stormed back with three unanswered goals to bounce the Billy Goats. Jadon Sancho, Achraf Hakimi, and Paco Alcacer all found the back of the net to lead Dortmund into another three points.
I know I keep saying it, but right now Dortmund is scary and could be a legitimate threat in Champions League play as well. Bee-ware I guess.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 4, FC Koln 1 (W)
SC Freiburg 3, SC Paderborn 1: This one didn't live up to the grandiose fireworks that I predicted, but it was pretty solid nonetheless. Streli Mamba shockingly put SCP on the scoreboard early, but Breisgau-Brasilianer came storming back with three goals to capture the victory.
Luca Waldschmidt (21'), Nils Petersen (40'), and Chang-Hoon Kwon (90') provided the offense for Freiburg, which is taking care of business early. The squad might not have the kid of depth needed to compete for a top-six position, but it would be a helluva lot of fun to see them push some of the upper-echelon teams in the league by continuing so play with such courage.
Prediction: SC Freiburg 5, SC Paderborn 2 (W)
Borussia Monchengladbach 3, Mainz 1: M'Gladbach fell behind early on an 18th minute goal from Robin Quaison, but Die Fohlen came back....blastin'. Stefan Lainer (31'), Alassane Plea (77'), and Breel Embolo (79') all scored to carry M'Gladbach to the victory.
Plea is going to have to become a vital player for Die Fohlen. One of the top offensive players on the squad, Plea is absolutely going to be counted on to have a big season. He's going to have to do it against the Bayerns and Dortmunds of the world, however, and not just a lowly side like Mainz.
Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach 2, Mainz 1 (W)
Hoffenheim 3, Werder Bremen 2: I had the score right, but the sides wrong unfortunately. It appears that I'll be waiting a little bit longer for Die Werderaner to wake up, while Hoffenheim got the message.
Niclas Fullkrug must be starting to find his bearings a bit with Werder Bremen as he gave his squad an early 1-0 lead, but Ermin Bicakcic (54') and Ihlas Bebou (59') put TSG1899 out in front heading into the homestretch of the game. Werder Bremen's Yuya Osako, however, knotted the game at 2-2 in the 81st minute, which looked like it would help Die Werderaner come away with at least one point.
Not so fast, my friend!
Pavel Kaderabek's 87th minute goal stunned Werder Bremen and clinched a hard-fought win for Hoffenheim.
Prediction: Werder Bremen 3, Hoffenheim 2 (L)
FC Augsburg 1, Union Berlin 1: Union Berlin picked up its first point of the season when Sebastian Andersson scored in the 80th minute to knot the game at 1-1. We know it's early in the season, but this was super-important for Union Berlin. It's a fascinating club with a tremendous back story. Ruben Vargas had the goal for Augsburg in the 59th minute, which has to feel like it lost a great opportunity to get three points.
Prediction: FC Augsburg 2, Union Berlin 1 (L)
Wolfsburg 3, Hertha Berlin 0: The Wolves just keep rolling. Wout Weghorst's ninth-minute penalty kick gave Wolfsburg an early edge, while Josip Brekalo (82') and Jerome Roussillon (90'+1) also scores. Brekalo is a really ice, young player for the Wolves and also assisted on Roussillon's goal as well.
With Weghorst powering the offense at striker, Wolfsburg looks like it is headed for another strong season. It has been quite the turnaround the past two years after a couple of down seasons.
Prediction: Wolfsburg 2, Hertha Berlin 1 (W)
Bayer Leverkusen 3, Fortuna Dusseldorf 1: Yet another of the league's most promising squads continued its roll when Die Werkself battered F95 behind an own goal in the sixth minute and tallies from Charles Aránguiz (33') and Karim Bellarabi (39').
For Fortuna, American Alfredo Morales scored an 82nd minute goal to avoid the shut out.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 4, Fortuna Dusseldorf 2 (W)
Random Quick Hits
Things are pretty much going as planned so far: Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig, and Leverkusen look really solid, while Wolfsburg is really making great strides. The biggest shock so far is Werder Bremen's unlucky record. We'd expect Bremen to be able to turn it around rather quickly, but it won't be so easy this year given the target they will have in them as one of the Bundesliga's top, young squads.
The race for relegation is still far too early, but Mainz certainly is not helping itself right now.
I hope that Freiburg continues to play as fearlessly as they have so far. Augsburg might be able to learn a little from seeing how Freiburg is just opting to "go for it" rather than be conservative. FCA has all of the tools to play with a little more reckless abandon, but will they?
Hertha Berlin might have come back down to Earth this week, but there is still something to work with there. I'd expect they will be a difficult match for anyone as the season grinds onward.
Random thought: How in the F did I not know there was a Breaking Bad movie coming out on Netflix?
One can never have enough Skinny Pete! I am just hoping that Badger also makes an appearance.
Random thought: Every summer I say: "I am going to stick with 'Fear the Walking Dead' and follow it the whole way." And every summer, I end up recording the episodes and fast forwarding through them to try and catch up. I think I am four in the hole at the moment.
The show, itself, is not great. It's passable mostly because of the lack of competition (looking at you HBO!), but I'm finding myself straying further and further away from all the Walking Dead iterations.
Weekly record: 7-2
Season record: 12-6
Perfect calls: 1
