Bundesliga – Matchday 10 review

Article by Bundesliga Correspondent Ed Hewings

Once again, the Bundesliga has provided us with a weekend full of great matches, with 32 goals and plenty of talking points - the lone 0-0 last weekend remains the only goalless game of the season. Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen won yet again, Hamburg continue their rise up the table, and Nuremberg are still winless in the league this season.

The game of the weekend was undoubtedly at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where Bayern, fresh from easing past Plzen in the Champions League in the week, hosted an in-form Hertha Berlin. Mario Gotze, despite his game-changing performance last weekend against FC Mainz, started on the bench for the champions, with Muller starting up front. Adrian Ramos kept his place up front for Hertha after his winning goal last weekend against Monchengladbach. Bayern didn’t have this all their own way, with the aforementioned Adrian Ramos exposing Bayern and scoring after 4 minutes. Guardiola was ruthless to this goal being conceded, with Mandzukic and Gotze replacing Robben and Kroos after 25 minutes. Dividends were paid instantly, with Mandzukic netting the equalizer just two minutes after coming on. In a crazy 7 minutes just after halftime, Mandzukic and Gotze scored for Bayern, with Ben-Hatira scoring for Hertha. Javi Martinez made his long anticipated return from injury and helped Bayern to a 3-2 victory. How Guardiola can continue to omit Gotze from the starting XI?

Schalke 04 and Dortmund faced off in a local derby after contrasting midweek results in the Champions League – Schalke were seen off 3-0 by 2012 champions Chelsea at home, whereas Dortmund battled to a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in London. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continued his excellent goalscoring record in the German league with an early goal, which was subsequently followed up by Nuri Sahin just after half-time – despite a goal from another German ‘wunderkid’ in Max Meyer, Kuba Blaszczykowski scored just after coming on as a replacement for Aubameyang to secure the win.

Leverkusen struggled for large sections of their match against Augsburg, who started the day in 14th, and were victorious thanks to an 83rd minute winner from Emre Can at the BayArena.

Elsewhere, Nuremberg drew 1-1 with Stuttgart on Friday evening, with both goals scored in the first 6 minutes. Continuous pressure from Stuttgart throughout the remainder of the match did not see them find the net again, yet despite a good defensive performance, Nuremberg are still waiting for their first league win of the season after an excellent 2012/13 season which saw them earn a Europa League place.

Hannover 96 imploded at the HDI-Arena, going down 4-1 to Hoffenheim. A 10th minute opener from Salihovic for Hoffenheim was quickly followed by two yellow cards for Mame Biram Diouf – Hoffenheim took advantage and scored again soon after. What must have been a rousing haf-time teamtalk from Mirko Slomka led to Hannover scoring soon after the break to give the fans hope, but after another goal from Hoffenheim from Firmino, the red mist descended yet again and Marcelo saw a straight red for Hannover. Hoffenheim were kind, and only scored one more time.

Hamburg continued their resurrection under Bert van Marwijk, with Beister, Lasogga and van der Vaart scoring in an excellent 3-0 away victory at Freiburg, who, like Nuremberg, are winless this season and sit in the relegation zone. Wolfsburg beat Werder Bremen thanks to goals from Max Arnold, Ivica Olic and Ivan Perisic to take them up to 6th, and push Werder down to 13th. Two goals from Shinji Okazaki helped Mainz see off bottom club Braunschweig, for whom the season already looks incredibly bleak. In the late Sunday game, Borussia Monchengladbach swept aside Frankfurt 4-1 to push The Foals up into 4th, and Frankfurt down to 14th.

Nothing changes at the top of the table, with Bayern sitting top on 26 points, with Dortmund and Leverkusen one back on 25. It is a chasm of 9 points to Monchengladbach in 4th. Eintracht Braunschweig, SC Freiburg and FC Nurremberg sit in the relegation zone.

Next weekend sees Bayern travel to Hoffenheim, Dortmund host Stuttgart and Leverkusen visit Eintracht Braunschweig. Hamburg will look to continue their excellent form against Monchengladbach.

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