Hertha spills, Bayern thrills, and an undefeated goes down, that and more in the round 14 review.
FC Ingolstadt took a big roll of the dice when they hired Maik Walpurgis, a coach who had only worked at the third division level previously. And yet in the four league matches two wins and a draw with him in charge. A 1-0 victory for Ingolstadt ended the run of RB Leipzig as an unbeaten.
In his first match at the Audi Sportpark since Ralph Hasenhuttl took the job at RB Leipzig Ingolstadt set themselves up in a defensive framework that withstood every single attack that was thrown at FCI. As the Schanzer had a unique opportunity from a free kick a slight deflection Roger knocked in the ball for the 1-0 lead. Constant barrage of attacks by RB and yet there was no breakthrough. And so ends the unbeaten run of Leipzig ends and their time at the top of the Bundesliga.
BVB had a busy week earning a 2-2 draw in Madrid midweek to win their European group. Against FC Koln they found themselves in the same trouble as Bayern found themselves earlier. So with that a 1-1 draw earned with little time remaining and each club wincing in pain with the ‘What if’ question.
FC Koln ran against a BVB side that did not have a full strength squad on the field and the Cathedral club took advantage in the 28th minute as Artjoms Rudnevs directed home a free kick ball. Dortmund would continue to push and push for an opportunity to be able to not lose all the points and Marco Reus in the 90th minute the equalizer was found.
Werder Bremen has had its ups and downs and against Hertha Berlin they were able to get a massive 1-0 away victory that has propelled the club above the relegation zone at a key time.
Bremen was deep in relegation trouble a couple weeks ago but in the last two matches earning four points to pull themselves out of the dirt. Max Kruse was signed after a big flop at Wolfsburg the previous season and with a poor back pass the German international pounced and knocked home a ball that could give the full shot in the arm that will should mean difference between relegation and survival for the new TV monies.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt and TSG Hoffenheim, a match of two top six sides, played out to a 0-0 draw as neither clubs benefited from only one point and a couple crazy moments that referee’s will learn from.
Bayer Leverkusen benefited in the end from an early red card for Schalke 04 defender Naldo as the pharmaceutical club came away 1-0 winners.
Borussia Monchengladbach has gone through a difficult run and against fellow European participant Mainz 05 they found a possible solution coming away 1-0.
SC Freiburg kept their drawless campaign together with a 1-0 victory over managerless Darmstadt.
Hamburg gave themselves more hope of Bundesliga survival against FC Augsburg with both sides going down to 10 men 1-0, the dinosaurs have some life left in them.
Bayern Munich decided that they need to end 2016 and against Wolfsburg they showed the league that they are top dogs and left the Wolves in relegation trouble, 5-0 for the defending champions.
Bundesliga Player of the Week
Marco Reus – A massive player the entire week for BVB as his equalizing goals in the Bundesliga match against both FC Koln and Borussia Dortmund, without him this side would be in a world of hurt
German Football Phrase
Tunneln – to nutmeg a player
