Uberprufung der Bundesliga: Dortmund rescue draw, Hoffenheim smash Leipzig, bottom two claim valuable points

With the Christmas break fast approaching and having still not won a league game since 30th September, time is running out for Borussia Dortmund to claim a Bundesliga victory before the year is out. Peter Bosz and his team faced a stern test in Leverkusen this week, who have been relatively impressive this season and sat just a point behind us going into this game. Elsewhere, Bayern were looking to recover from their first loss of the third coming of Jupp Heynckes when they welcomed Hannover to the Allianz Arena and Red Bull Leipzig faced a tricky Hoffenheim side. At the other end of the table, Cologne travelled to Gelsenkirchen looking to do what Dortmund couldn’t, which was beat Schalke and claim their first elusive domestic win of the season. Werder Bremen meanwhile welcomed VfB Stuttgart to the Weser Stadion, looking to distance themselves from Cologne and the bottom of the table.

Freiburg 0-0 Hamburg

Both these sides were victorious last weekend. Freiburg won in dramatic fashion, clinching a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Mainz, while Hamburg had a much more comfortable time when they defeated Hoffenheim 3-0 at home. Neither side was able to find a way through in this one though and the points were shared as the game ended goalless.

Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

Considering the proximity of these two teams and Dortmund’s stunning collapse in their 4-4 draw with Schalke last week, a home win seemed the most likely result here. This was a prediction further supported when you look at Leverkusen’s 1-0 win in Frankfurt last time out. Kevin Volland looked like he had put the home side on their way to another victory and into the top four when he put Heiko Herrlich’s boys 1-0 up within half an hour. However, Wendell, in his first game back from suspension, was sent off for a bad foul on 41 minutes. Dortmund’s man advantage finally paid off on 73 minutes when Andriy Yarmolenko equalised to claim a share of the spoils for Peter Bosz’s side.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Hannover

Bayern were hoping home comfort would help them recover from Jupp Heynckes’ first domestic loss back in the hotseat, when they were beaten 2-1 by Gladbach last week. Hannover themselves were looking to get back to winning ways after being able to only gain a point at home to Stuttgart last Saturday. It looked as if it would be the home side more likely to get back on track here though when Arturo Vidal put Bayern ahead on 17 minutes. Hannover claimed an unlikely equaliser on 35 minutes though through Charlison Benschop. Bayern began an assault and finally broke their opponents’ resistance on 67 minutes through Kingsley Coman. They won a pen on 87 minutes, which was converted by Robert Lewandowski to add gloss to the scoreline.

Hoffenheim 4-0 Red Bull Leipzig

Hoffenheim were surprisingly well beaten 3-0 by Hamburg last week, while Leipzig continued their fine season with a 2-0 home win over Werder Bremen. Hoffenheim would use this game to put last week’s poor result behind them though and that began in the 13th minute when Nadiem Amiri put them ahead. It stayed tight until half-time but the Julian Nagelsmann’s team finally cracked open Leipzig again on 52 minutes through Serge Gnabry. Gnabry would claim his second and Hoffenheim’s third ten minutes later and Mark Uth scored late on to ensure a humiliating defeat for Ralph Hassenhutl’s boys.

Mainz 1-3 Augsburg

Mainz conceded a demoralising late goal to Freiburg last week, conceding a 2-1 defeat along with it. Augsburg fared much better, beating Wolfsburg by the same scoreline at home. It would be Augsburg who would take the lead in this one through Michael Gregoritsch on 22 minutes. Alfred Finnbogason made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 43 minutes after Gregoritsch was fouled in the area by Robin Zentner, to send Manuel Baum in the much happier of the two managers at half-time. A tight second half exploded into life in the last 5 minutes of the game. First, Gerrit Holtmann pulled a goal back for Mainz on 85 to give them hope of snatching a point. However, Finnbogason got his second of the afternoon which would ultimately be the winner.

Werder Bremen 1-0 VfB Stuttgart

After beating Hannover at home a few weeks ago to claim their first win of the season, Bremen were soundly beaten in Leipzig last week. Stuttgart have had a steady start to life back in the Bundesliga and moved further towards survival by drawing with Hannover last week. This game always promised to be a tight one and It was decided by a solitary goal – coming for Bremen through Max Kruse on the stroke of half-time, boosting their hopes of staving off relegation.

Schalke 2-2 Cologne

After claiming a miraculous point in a phenomenal 4-4 draw in the Ruhr derby last week, Schalke were hoping for an easier time of it on Saturday against bottom side Cologne. Their winless won was prolonged with a 2-0 defeat at home to Hertha Berlin last week. What was looking like a routine win for Schalke was kicked off with a goal from Guido Burgstaller on 36 minutes. Sehrou Guirassay scored a surprise equaliser for Cologne on 50 minutes to give Peter Stoger’s side hope of finally getting that elusive win. However, Amine Harit made their task harder when he put Schalke back in the lead on 72 minutes. This game was far from over though and when Benjamin Stambouli was penalised for a handball in the box, it was Guirassay who would step up again to bring Cologne back into the game. Yuya Osako was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, after diving inside the box, but the scoreline stayed the same and Cologne went home with another valuable point.

Hertha Berlin 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Pal Dardai and his boys were victorious away from the capital last week, beating lowly Cologne 2-0. Frankfurt weren’t as fortunate as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Leverkusen. Hertha started the game on the right foot again here when David Selke put them 1-0 up within 15 minutes. They wouldn’t be ahead for long though as Marius Wolf equalised for Frankfurt 11 minutes later. It looked as if the game would end in a draw until Kevin-Prince Boateng scored against his former club to win it for Niko Kovac’s side with 10 minutes to go.

Wolfsburg 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach

Wolfsburg were disappointingly beaten at home last week, 2-1 by Augsburg. Gladbach, however, had a much better time, surprisingly beating Bayern Munich 2-1 at home. It would be Wolfsburg who would take the lead here though when Yunus Malli put them 1-0 up within 4 minutes of kick off. The game became gradually more one-sided and Daniel Didavi doubled Wolfsburg’s lead on 26 minutes. With the fixture now seemingly over, it took until the 70th minute for Joshua Guilavogui to make the scoreline even more impressive by scoring Wolfsburg third.

 Game Week 15 Fixtures

Friday 8th December

VfB Stuttgart vs. Bayer Leverkusen (19.30)

Saturday 9th December

Borussia Dortmund vs. Werder Bremen (14.30)

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich

Hamburg vs. Wolfsburg

Red Bull Leipzig vs. Mainz

Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. Schalke (17.30)

Sunday 10th December

Cologne vs. Freiburg (12.30)

Hannover vs. Hoffenheim (14.30)

Augsburg vs. Hertha Berlin (17.00)