Teams sealed European places and another manager found himself unemployed. That and more on the Bundesliga weekly preview.
With the title of group winner on the line Borussia Dortmund took advantage of a lapse in concentration by Real Madrid to comeback for a 2-2 draw. Traditionally teams who make the final are almost always group winners, 2010 was the last time a runner up in the group who won the title and with the opposition and Juventus of 2015 that is it for finalists who didn’t win the group. Needless to say this bodes well for BVB. The match was one Real had in their pocket but a lightning counter with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out running all and finding Marco Reus for the equalizer.
Bayern Munich restored to themselves some measure of pride as they defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0. FCB had already been set as the runners up in the group when they fell at Rostov. But after the difficulty that was faced with the Madrid club in last season’s semifinals perhaps this is something that will give the reigning German champions the confidence should they meet again in the knockout stage.
Bayer Leverkusen was, like FC Bayern, set as the group runners up but showed up and demonstrated what they can do when focused as they defeated AS Monaco at the Bay Arena 3-0. It has been a long time since we have seen the best from this side. This being the first victory in one month is key as they take on Schalke at the weekend. Perhaps this is where the start of the turnaround begins.
Borussia Monchengladbach didn’t bow out of the Champions League but land in the Europa League, success? Answer is hell no. They looked weak and the fact that they are going to survive and do a little bit better than last campaign is not the best to come from the Foals. We saw it from them last season but the 2016-17 Bundesliga season has been anything but. Now there is still time for redemption but it is coming to a close.
Schalke 04 had already won the group and are planning for the knockout round and with a non-full strength side they fell to Red Bull Salzburg, not unexpected. Mainz 05 had experienced the feeling of not making the next round of competition had only to play for a prize money for a victory, and their players delivered in a 2-0 victory that means half a million euros to them.
Darmstadt has not had a victory since October 22 when they defeated Wolfsburg. That’s five Bundesliga matches and one cup loss to a fourth division side. That was it for Norbert Meier at Darmstadt. After long spells in charge at his previous stations the Hessian side which next to no money to spend on a side as they modernize their stadium. Well Dirk Schuster made it work and helped ensure survival but it would seem that this team will not have only one coach and there seems not timeline for a replacement.
Matches of the Week
Eintracht Frankfurt is one of a couple of sides who are surprise packages in the new season. Finding themselves in fifth place behind Hoffenheim this Friday match pits two different thinking coaches. Niko Kovac is one who has his players work for the side as a team whose efforts bear fruits only from the efforts of the collective. Julian Nagelsmann is the modern sort of coach. His tactics and progressive thinking are what is needed by modern football finding the little openings and utilizing them to their advantage.
Peter Stoger has FC Koln in a good place. They find themselves in seventh place chasing a European place and after a bad match against Hoffenheim last week there can be expected righting of the ship against a big team in BVB. Dortmund may have earned a draw against Real Madrid but they have been proven to be fallible.
Schalke 04 is in an interesting spot. They fell last weekend against RB Leipzig 2-1 and with only half strength fell to Red Bull Salzburg. After these losses to the Red Bull company a match vs Bayer Leverkusen will either be a good thing or bad. Leverkusen has been rather unstable and with a Chicharito who is on a goalless streak is not a good thing.
Bundesliga on Fox
Friday starts off with a match of the week as Eintracht Frankfurt hosts TSG Hoffenheim on FS2.
Saturday early slate has a good three matches with Borussia Dortmund and FC Koln on FS2, Bayern Munich vs VfL Wolfsburg on FS1, and HSV and FC Augsburg on Fox Soccer Plus.
Saturday topspiel, the late kickoff, pits John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin vs Werder Bremen on FS2.
Sunday is the doubleheader of Borussia Monchengladbach vs Mainz 05 on FS1 followed by Schalke 04 vs Bayer Leverkusen on FS2.
Bundesliga match day 14 preview
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