New European places, Nordderby exasperated faces, and more in this match day 12 edition of the Bundesliga Round Up.
Borussia Dortmund had a big last seven days with victories over Bayern Munich and the record breaking 8-4 win over Legia Warsaw in the Champions League but that was not enough momentum to get even a share of points as Niko Kovac’s Eintracht Frankfurt put two past Roman Weidenfeller in a 2-1 match in Frankfurt’s Commerzbank-Arena.
Eintracht Frankfurt took the lead just after the half, about 15 second in, by Szabolcs Huszti who blasted in an unmarked long range effort. BVB were finally able to make good on their superior possession stats as a Ousmane Dembele cross for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 77th minute. This held for merely one minute as Eintracht took the ball to the other side of the pitch and Haris Seferovic scored from the top of the box to seal the match, a win that vaults SGE into fourth in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich had faced continuous amounts of criticism in regards to nearly everything that was available to be criticized. Against Bayer Leverkusen the trajectory was righted, if only because of the return of Uli Hoeness as club president, with a 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern was off to the better start when Thiago put away a 30th minute shot. The lead was not meant to last as erstwhile out of form Hakan Calhanoglu found an equalizer just five minutes later. The winner did not come until Mats Hummels, scapegoat for the previous week’s loss, headed home a corner to round off the match’s scoring.
Hertha Berlin were looking to preserve their flawless start to the season at the Olympiastadion, six wins from six, against recently bounced Mainz 05. Despite falling behind in the first half captain Vedad Ibisevic fired the Capital club ahead with a abrace, 2-1.
Mainz started their week poorly only gaining a draw in a win or go home scenario in the UEFA Europa League but looked fired up in the opening half. Aaron Seydel scoring the opening goal against the run of play made things interesting just 25 minutes in. Strong words from manager Pal Dardai and St Louis raised Ibisevic scored the equalizer shortly following. Berlin kept up the pressure and off a poorly defended cross it was the Hertha captain to pounced on the ball to make it 2-1. His sending off made things interesting as the match ended but the Capital club find themselves after 12 matches in the European places at present.
The Nordderby is about as friendly as a political discussion between a Palestinian and an Israeli, add in the fact that both Werder Bremen and HSV are in relegation trouble and you have one hot mess of a match. A result both teams neither benefit from it ended 2-2 in Hamburg.
The match got off to a flyer as Lewis Holtby’s cross in the third minute found Michael Gregoritsch’s head, 1-0 to the hosts. Fin Bartles of Bremen was not to let his comrades go down without a fight, a one touch to create space gave him time to get the equalizer on 14 minutes. HSV needed the full points in this match and Nicolai Muller blew past a few defenders to make Gregoritsch’s second seem easy on 28 minutes. Right at the death of halftime new signing Serge Gnabry waltzed past multiple defenders to score the equalizer at 2-2. Sadly the second half did not stay in keeping with the first half and each team shared points and both stay in relegation danger.
In the Bundesliga
RB Leipzig keep setting the pace as they defeated fellow newly promoted side SC Freiburg 4-1 in front of a sold out crowd dressed in Santa hats.
After a midweek draw meant Europa League knockout football as opposed to Champions League football Borussia Monchengladbach managed only a draw with European hopefuls Hoffenhiem, 1-1 at Borussia Park.
Schalke 04 fell behind early to Darmstadt but roared to a 3-1 victory with a pair of late goals to seal the three points, unbeaten now in their last 12 matches in all competition.
FC Ingolstadt now have four points from two matches with new manager Maik Walpurgis, a 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg still leaves the club in 17th place.
FC Koln and FC Augsburg played out to a 0-0 draw, this leaves Koln in the Europa League places and Augsburg comfortably mid table and in relative safety.
Player of the Week
Vadad Ibesivic-scored the brace to win the match for Hertha when they started to look for solutions, add in the fact he did this in only 2/3 of a match as he was send off for two yellows, yes he gets the Prost Amerika player of the week nod
German Phrase of the Week
Bananenflanke-out swinging cross, banana ball
