Featured Game – Köln 2-1 RB Leipzig

Matchday 30 in the Bundesliga – a midweek job for the teams and this one in particular was a vital game at both ends of the table on Tuesday night. Leipzig were expected to win and maintain what slim chance they had left of a title challenge, but for Köln any points gained would have been massive in their bid for Bundesliga survival. Therefore, the end result all but put an end to Leipzig’s hopes of a first Meisterschale. However, for the home side, the final score was so important as it stopped a three-match losing streak and puts them level on points with Hertha Berlin, who reside in the play-off spot after not featuring in the past two matchdays. The victory may have gone the way of Köln, but the match did fall into the anticipated rhythm.

Possession was dominated by Leipzig, especially in the first half and that meant that the initial stages were tough for the hosts as the chances for their opponents came and gone. They say you need a bit of good fortune to avoid relegation, so this game may be a good sign for the Billy Goats, because they certainly rode their luck at times as the two most notable chances for the visitors fell to first Nordi Mukiele and then Alexander Sørloth. Mukiele is far from the top of the list of players that Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann would want a big chance to arrive for, but it was the Frenchman who was in position on the right-hand side of the box, only to fire wide of the far post. It was a massive opportunity squandered. Likewise, Sørloth’s attempt at goal was not the hardest to master either, as a header inside the penalty area presented itself. Aerially is normally where the Norwegian thrives as well, and for a striker it would be usual to suspect that he would be the first pick for Leipzig’s best chances, although most of their goals this campaign have come from midfield. Nevertheless, he put the headed effort straight into the gloves of the keeper and the half finished goalless.

After riding out the first half storm, it was Köln who raced into life after the break and caught their opponents cold inside a minute of the kick-off. In just his second game in charge after Friedhelm Funkel’s return as FC Köln manager, he made a big call in his starting line-up that some may have questioned, as he chose to play club captain Jonas Hector in a false-nine role. The new boss may feel that drastic measures must be taken in order to save his side from the dreaded drop, but the switch for Hector from a usual left-back position, where he has previously played for the German national team, to join the attack in this one, could have easily meant that arguably one of the team’s best players could not have his full effect in a strange part of the pitch. However, the truth was far from that, as Hector headed in the first chance of the second period to put his side 1-0 up merely seconds in. Furthermore, to Funkel’s credit, the cross to supply the goal had actually come from the chosen left-back for the game, Jannes Horn, who may not have played if Hector had been slotted in the back line. A master stroke from the experienced coach then. He now had to steer the home team over the line, however with practically the whole of the 45 minutes remaining, that task was going to be easier said than done.

A team like Leipzig, who have built up a talented squad over recent years, are always going to provide a threat going forward and their players can sometimes produce something out of nothing when they need it. That was definitely the case here with Amadou Haidara just before the hour. Having not scored since the opening day of the season, the Guinean may not have been expected to find the back of the net when he unleashed a shot from just outside the area, but he may start trying his luck more often, as a sweet hit sailed past Timo Horn in the Köln goal. The ball found the top corner and Leipzig were back level but knew still that a point would almost certainly not be enough in their title push. Therefore, as the proceedings restarted after the equalizer, the players’ minds may have been on how to find a go-ahead goal, rather than defending the very next attack for their hosts. If Köln’s start to the second half was fast, then the time in which they restored their lead was supersonic and the man to find the net was a familiar one.

When watching a team in 17th place, it is unlikely to see the kind of play that Köln strung together for their second goal, however Ondrej Duda absolutely perfected a controlled backheel into the path of his captain Jonas Hector, only for that to be followed up with a super touch into his stride and then crisp low finish. The player who opened the scoring doubling his tally for the match to claim his first ever Bundesliga brace and what a time to get it. There were still 30 minutes to play, but at this point, with their leader and talisman on fire, the confidence in the home camp was brimming and all resources switched to preventing any more goals being conceded. They were resolute in their defending and, despite an overwhelming control of the ball, Leipzig created very little unable to penetrate the wall that stood between them and their intended target. That was until the final seconds of the contest. After a goal had been scored inside a minute of the second period, it may have only been fitting to have one scored inside the last, but when Justin Kluivert found himself with a great chance right at the end of the game, he could only hit the upright and Köln survived. Perhaps Justin could have done with the predatory instincts in the box of his prolific father Patrick Kluivert.

The three points do so much for the home team’s bid to avoid the drop and putting an end to a recent slump may be just as important. Any kind of form in a relegation battle can be crucial, so a big win against 2nd placed Leipzig might just spark a late revival for Köln. As for the side from the East, a first ever Bundesliga title is surely now going to have wait at least another year, as the defeat opens the gap from them to Bayern München up to a seemingly unassailable ten points. What the distance does now mean, is that when Bayern travel to face Mainz on Saturday, a victory would seal a ninth straight championship with three games still left to play. Therefore, in Leipzig’s clash with Stuttgart on Sunday, they may already know that their title challenge is up.

The Games Keep Coming

Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 Schalke

To say that Schalke have had a tough season is more than an understatement, and fans of the historic club have had to endure one of the worst Bundesliga campaigns in history. Schalke’s relegation to the second tier has been coming for some time, with goals conceded far too freely while a major lack of them have been converted at the other end, but it was still mathematically possible for Schalke to avoid the drop before they headed to Bielefeld. Although, the Royal Blues knew that only maximum points against Arminia would keep the most unrealistic survival bid alive at least for another week. However, as play would pan out, it was the home side that only ever looked like getting the win and understandably so, as the hosts had arguably still much to play for. Their attempts to avoid the drop, unlike Schalke’s, are far from in vain with Bielefeld sitting just outside the bottom three, therefore a win against Schalke would aid their cause massively.

The first half went by without a goal, but the home team had done all of the attacking and Ritsu Doan had been at the heart of it. However, as often teams do in a time of need, the second period saw Arminia turn to their captain for inspiration that he was all too happy to provide. Their skipper Fabian Klos is a typical tall striker that is so invaluable for a side at the wrong end of the table, as their hold-up play can link the team for counterattacks, however at home to rock-bottom Schalke, he had to adapt to an unfamiliar role playing in a team on top of the game and having more of the chances. Therefore, when he came short asking for the ball on one occasion early in the second half, his next move was rather unexpected. A swift swivel and strike from range on his weaker left foot surprised all, and even more so when the effort nestled in the far bottom corner to hand his team the lead. Captain Klos was having a major impact, but really 1-0 should have become 2-0 with ten minutes left to play. After any kind of a Schalke fightback had been expelled with a second yellow card for teenage defender Malick Thiaw, and hence the German’s dismissal, matters were only made worse for the team from Gelsenkirchen as Bielefeld were awarded a penalty kick. Fabian Klos had the chance to find a second goal, but his spot kick was weak and was easily saved by Ralf Fährmann, and when he turned the ball home after being set up on the rebound, the goal was disallowed for an offside against Klos himself. No matter though for Arminia, as the final whistle blew to confirm that they would take all three precious points. However, the biggest implication of the conclusion of the contest was that it made the relegation of Schalke 04 official and sealed their unwanted place in the 2. Bundesliga for next season. There were emotional scenes for the players and staff with dejected faces wherever you looked. They will try and make an immediate return to the top flight, however the way in which they have crumbled this campaign, they would be unlikely to mount a promotion push if there is no drastic improvement.

Hoffenheim 3-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach

With just four games left to play after this one, it looks like both Hoffenheim and Gladbach will finish the season with disappointing mid-table spots. Therefore, this game may have appeared to be the least likely to serve up the most entertaining game of Matchday 30, but perhaps it was the little that was riding on it that made the clash so open. Gladbach aimed to utilise their exciting attackers in wide positions on the break and, in particular, Marcus Thuram had a good game. The Frenchman was pivotal in creating both first half goals for the Foals with some skilful, quick dribbling, although the opener did come after an attempted tackle on Thuram fell right into the path of his strike partner Alassane Pléa, who used his left foot to direct the ball home. Borussia would double their advantage inside the remainder of the first half with Thuram switching flanks to the left this time, and he skipped beyond the defenders to fire the ball across the box, setting up Valentino Lazaro for an easy tap-in. The Austrian winger had not scored since a scorpion-kick goal of the season contender earlier in the campaign. However, Borussia would produce no such quality after half time as they went rapidly downhill.

To be fair to the away side, they did play a completely different sparked-into-life Hoffenheim in the second half and they found the back of the net with great speed. Inside two minutes of the restart, a short corner was swung into the box and after a scramble and knock-down, Hoffenheim’s chief threat up front Andrej Kramaric managed to squeeze a scuffed effort inside the post to claw one back for Hoffenheim almost straight away. A more well-crafted goal came about for the home team’s equalizer, as they opted to use width, moving the ball out to the right wing for Pavel Kaderabek to whip into the penalty area. His cross was perfect, with the arced ball travelling right into the corridor between defenders and the goalkeeper, making it so hard for either to deal with and simple for the onrushing forwards. On this occasion, it was Ihlas Bebou who raced in to divert it into the net and Hoffenheim were level, but they showed no signs of letting up any time soon. The right-hand side was opted for again as a productive supply line, and once again it was Kaderabek to provide the service for the strikers. This time however, he pulled the ball towards the edge of the area for Kramaric and the Croatian angled his shot into the far corner past keeper Tobias Sippel. An unbelievable comeback was complete for Hoffenheim, and it was only a shame at the end of it all that no home supporters had been there to witness it, and that the points gained for Hoffenheim should really make little difference to their final standing this season. Nevertheless, it was an absolute cracker!

Rest of the Round-Up

Bayern München 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen

A big Bayern win to extend their lead at the top to ten points. They are on the verge of a ninth straight Meisterschale after a volleyed effort from Choupo-Moting and a 20-yard strike from Kimmich put the champions 2-0 up early on, and they controlled possession and the game thereafter to see off a lacklustre Leverkusen side.

Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Augsburg

A couple of headers did the job for Eintracht, as they move nearer to securing Champions League football next season. Martin Hinteregger powered in one from a set-piece in the first half, before the deadly combination of Kostic and Silva bore fruit once again after the break, as the Portuguese striker claimed a 24th league goal.

Werder Bremen 0-1 Mainz

A huge victory away to fellow relegation battlers Bremen has seen Mainz climb further from danger. Their timely run of form as this campaign nears its conclusion is largely thanks to the appointment of coach Bo Svensson, whose side has performed as one of the best in the division since he arrived at the club. However, the toughest of all tests come at the weekend as Bayern visit the Opel Arena with title confirmation in sight.

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Union Berlin

What could have been a tough game for Dortmund against arguably the league’s most tenacious side in Union Berlin, actually turned out to be more comfortable than some Dortmund have had in recent weeks. An early missed penalty by Haaland did not matter as Reus converted the rebound and the win was sealed late on as Raphael Guerreiro scored on the break.

Stuttgart 1-3 Wolfsburg

A typical away day performance from the Wolves saw them score three times despite a possession stat of less than 40%. Stuttgart could not handle their opponents on any level throughout the ninety and had to wait until injury time for a long-range consolation goal from Gonzalo Castro.

What to Look Forward to Next Matchday

Augsburg vs. Köln

Freiburg vs. Hoffenheim

Union Berlin vs. Werder Bremen

Mainz vs. Bayern München

Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

RB Leipzig vs. Stuttgart

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Arminia Bielefeld

There are a number of top games on offer on Matchday 31, but the most notable is the clash between Mainz and Bayern. The league leaders can clinch the Bundesliga championship with a win, but Mainz, who are in top form at the moment will not back down in their quest for safety. On top of that, Saturday also promises a crucial tie in the race for the Champions League as Dortmund travel to Wolfsburg and a Borussia win would really throw a cat amongst the pigeons to close the gap in the table with just three games left after that one.