Uberprufung der Bundesliga: Bayern held by Hertha, Bremen back on track, Cologne shock Leipzig

There were a couple of tasty fixtures for the eyes of Bundesliga fans in this which turned out to be a strange old weekend. Mainz and Wolfsburg faced off on Friday night, two teams who are on the precipice of a relegation battle. The more interesting games came on Sunday though. Leverkusen faced Schalke at the BayArena in probably the game of the weekend on the face of it, and Red Bull Leipzig welcomed  Cologne for what was surely a gimme home win. Another rare Monday night game was in store for us to, as Augsburg came to Signal Iduna Park to face our very own BVB.

Mainz 1-1 Wolfsburg

These sides had contrasting fortunes last week. Mainz travelled to Berlin as the underdogs but came away from the capital with 3 points having beaten Hertha 2-0. Wolfsburg performed to expectations however, going down 2-1 at home to Bayern. This would be a very much an even affair at the bottom of the table, yet the deadlock was broken within 6 minutes when Josip Brekalo put the away side ahead. Wolfsburg would ultimately not be able to hold on though and Yoshinori Muto equalised on the stroke of half time. The game would stay that way and these two would have to be happy with a point each.

Bayern Munich 0-0 Hertha Berlin

In reverse to the Friday night game, the opponents of Mainz and Wolfsburg last week met at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Bayern were hoping to continue their record breaking unbeaten run while Hertha will have been happy to come away unscathed. The game would go exactly to plan for Pal Dardai in that case as neither side were able to force an opening and Hertha would frustrate Bayernin a goalless draw.

Hannover 0-1 Borussia Moenchengladbach

Both these sides will have been disappointed with their results last week, especially Dieter Hecking whose Gladbach team lost the Borussen derby at home 1-0. Hannover fared marginally better but will still not have been happy to come away from bottom side Cologne with only a point. It would only take one goal to win this game and it would prove to be Gladbach’s redemption when Christoph Kramer won it for the away side on 72 minutes.

Hoffenheim 1-1 Freiburg

Hoffenheim have been the model of inconsistency this season which their 2-1 defeat in Schalke last week epitomised. Freiburg are dangerously close to the drop zone but where able to give themselves some breathing space last weekend with 1-0 win over Werder Bremen. It would take until the 57th minute for this game to have its first goal, which Andrej Kramaric scored for the Julian Nagelsmann’s men. The lead wouldn’t last long though and when Freiburg were given a pen on 66 minutes, it was Nils Peterson who stepped up to secure a point for Freiburg. This would turn out to be the highest scoring game on what was becoming a strange old day of Bundesliga action.

VfB Stuttgart 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt

Stuttgart’s decent form since Hannes Wolf’s sacking continued last week with an impressive 1-0 win Augsburg for Tayfun Corkut’s men. Eintracht Frankfurt also put on a very good display during their Monday night 2-1 victory over Red Bull Leipzig which moved them into the Champions League places. They wouldn’t fare as well here though and it took only 13 minutes for the game to have what would be its goal, Erik Thommy being the hero for the home side.

Werder Bremen 1-0 Hamburg

Bremen’s resurgent form came to an end last week when they were surprisingly beaten 1-0 by relegation rivals Freiburg. Hamburg can’t seem to buy a win at the minute despite the appointment of Bernd Hollerbach, a trend which wasn’t halted during their 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. This game would be another tense affair and looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw. That was until Rick van Drongelen put through his net on 86 minutes to gift the home side the points and make Hamburg’s bleak outlook look even bleaker.

Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Schalke

Bayer Leverkusen are flying this season under Heiko Herrlich and extended their good form with a 2-1 win over hapless Hamburg last Saturday. Schalke are having a decent season themselves under Domenico Tedesco and their 2-1 win over Hoffenheim on the same day was a fine example of just what they are capable of when in the mood. What many thought would be a tense affair had its first goal on only 11 minutes when Guido Burgstaller put the visitors ahead. The complexion of the game was changed on 38 minutes when Dominik Kohr was sent off for the home side for a rash challenge on Breel Embolo. The game became incredibly tense but was eventually won on 89 minutes by Nabil Bentaleb from the penalty spot.

Red Bull Leipzig 1-2 Cologne

It’s fair to say that Red Bull Leipzig have not really hit the heights of last season so far in 2017/18 and their 2-1 loss in Frankfurt last week encapsulated that statement. Cologne look increasingly likely to be playing 2.Bundesliga football next season though performances like they put on during their 1-1 draw with Hannover will be encouraging. Leipzig predictably took the lead in the 5th minute through Jean-Kevin Augustin. Leipzig should have taken control from there but were unable to and were punished on 70 minutes when Vincent Koziello equalised. Cologne completed an astonishing comeback 7 minutes when Leonardo Bittencourt scored what would be the winner for the Bundesliga’s bottom side.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Augsburg

A returning Marco Reus was the hero in the Borussen derby for Dortmund last week firing them into second place in the process. Augsburg however were much more disappointing during their 1-0 home defeat against VfB Stuttgart, and will have been aiming to set the record straight here. Dortmund took an early lead when Marco Reus pounced on a rebound to cheekily dink the ball into the back of the Augsburg net on 16 minutes.

Game Week 25 Fixtures

Friday 2nd March

Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. Werder Bremen (19.30)

Saturday 3rd March

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Hannover (14.30)

Augsburg vs. Hoffenheim

Hamburg vs. Mainz

Schalke vs. Hertha Berlin

Wolfsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Red Bull Leipzig vs. Borussia Dortmund (17.30)

Sunday 4th March

Cologne vs. VfB Stuttgart (14.30)

Freiburg vs. Bayern Munich (17.00)