Featured Game – Mainz 1-2 Union Berlin
Although the big names in the Bundesliga were in action on matchday seven, possibly the most interesting affair could have played out in Mainz. These two sides are on the up. The hosts Mainz turned around an abysmal first half of last campaign, bringing in Danish coach Bo Svensson when in the relegation zone, only for the new manager to steer them well clear of the drop zone come the end of the season. Their form has continued into 2021/22, and Mainz are showing they type of consistency needed to fight for a top half finish, potentially even to snatch European football via seventh spot and hence an entry into the UEFA Europa Conference League. That is something the visitors to the MEWA Arena know all about, after claiming a place in the inaugural Conference League on the final day last term. They came into the clash against Mainz off the back of a resounding Thursday night 3-0 victory over Israeli side Maccabi Haifa and hoped to proceed in that vein back in domestic league action. It was sure to be a tight contest.
Union’s opening group stage game in the new Conference League was their first match in Europe for 20 years, but they fell to defeat at the hands of Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic. Therefore, they would have been desperate to put that right in their second fixture, facing a slightly less threatening opposition in Israelis Maccabi Haifa. Berlin also seemed to have the home advantage for this tie. However, to increase crowd capacity for the continental clash, rather than playing at their usual ground, the Stadion an der alten Försterei, the match took place at the Olympiastadion: the 75,000-seater home of Union’s capital city rivals, Hertha. Nevertheless, the stadium was adorned with red banners and red-shirted fans, and the temporary tenants were able to record three European points. They returned to Bundesliga action aiming to repeat the trick. Travelling to Mainz made it, in truth, two away games in a row though, and the task ahead of them was going to be much trickier to tackle than that in midweek.
In the first half, neither side really came out of their shells. Throughout the whole game there was never a clear team dominating the play, and the possession stats reflected that, finishing 52-48 in the hosts’ favour. Especially in the opening period though, it was difficult for either to properly mount a sustained spell of pressure on the opposing goal. Hence, players would have to work in moments, waiting for the right time and taking any opportunity that came their way. Thankfully for the home fans, Mainz did create one very presentable chance with five minutes left before the break, leading to the only shot on target up to that point. A string of neat passes through the middle of the pitch sped up the play for practically the first time, resulting in Karim Onisiwo receiving the ball on the left-hand side of the Berlin box. Onisiwo was Mainz’s brightest spark on the day, coming to life particularly after half time, making good runs on the counterattack. However, in this incidence in the opening 45, he showed a cool head to lay the pass sideways for his teammate Marcus Ingvartsen. The chance was perfect for the Austrian Ingvartsen – unmarked, on the edge of the area, the ball rolling at the just the right speed to hit first time on his stronger left foot. It was not one he was about to pass up and he duly struck his effort into the bottom corner, not giving keeper Andreas Luthe a prayer. The realisation of scoring may have been a strange one for Ingvartsen though, demonstrated by his celebration. It was muted with a hint of confusion as how to react. That is because he joined Mainz from Union during the summer. Although, unlike a host of players who score against former teams and then abstain from their usual knee slides or backflips in celebration, Ingvartsen is actually still an Union Berlin player. He is just on loan at Mainz. Rules prevent this strange scenario from occurring in England, but in Germany and the Bundesliga, there is no such restriction to a player competing against their parent club. It is just a bit peculiar when they net one for the other team. Ingvartsen’s current side, or at least the one he is performing for, would not have had any qualms about the situation, though. They led at half time due to his strike, and hoped the Austrian would be the eventual and somewhat controversial match winner. However, Ingvartsen was not to be the only player to score against a former team.
Despite still having a significant proportion of the possession, Mainz very much became the team on the back foot after the restart to proceedings. Their chances were restricted to those on the break, and that is where Onisiwo tried his upmost to get his side another goal. Union also experienced a change in their approach in the second period, as their time on the ball became all the more productive. Notably, Berlin’s top two were getting more involved – the strike force of veteran German Max Kruse and young Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi. Both are capable of finding the net, but they work best with Kruse adopting the creative role with Awoniyi ready to apply the clinical touch in front of goal. Their relationship has developed since they both arrived in Berlin at the start of last season, Kruse on a free transfer from Fenerbahce in Turkey and Awoniyi initially on loan before making his move from Liverpool permanent in the summer. Consequently, over a year together means Kruse can pick out his strike partner with increased ease and regularity – a factor which came to fruition in this one.
The warning signs were there for Mainz though. The first occasion on which Kruse found Awoniyi, the Nigerian controlled inside the box and just steered an attempt wide with his weaker left foot. Then the German had a go himself, letting a throw-in from the right side line run across his body with a neat drop of the shoulder, before his unleashed a shot on his left foot. Although that is Kruse’s stronger side, the result was the same: just wide. Mainz goalkeeper and captain Robin Zentner remained untroubled, not required to make a save. He did not make one the next time Union came forward either, but in this scenario, he wished he could have done. Another Berlin opportunity arose from a Kruse pass for Awoniyi on 69 minutes. An incisive through ball set the pacey attacker away. He showcased his strength, shrugging off the defender. The finish was certainly not easy, requiring a powerful shot beyond Zentner to pick out the far corner from a tricky distance and angle. Nonetheless, he achieved the feat and thus levelled the game. But now momentum was in the corner of the away side, and they pressed on.
Supporters of the capital club did not have to wait long either for a second goal and the lead in the match. Kevin Behrens had come off the bench on the hour mark for Japanese international Genki Haraguchi, perhaps feeling a bit aggrieved to not have been part of the starting eleven after his winning strike last time out in the Bundesliga at home to Arminia Bielefeld. His stake for a regular first team place is getting ever stronger after another goal involvement against Mainz, and again for the game-clincher. When a long ball was hoisted forward, Behrens was the man to get the telling flick-on for Awoniyi to latch onto again. Whether the home defence had not learned from the first goal or simply were unable to prevent it from happening once more, the forward from Nigeria did pretty much the same thing. Collecting the ball on the right of the 18-yard-box, he fired another shot past the goalkeeper from a tight angle into the far bottom corner. Scarily similar. Maybe it was just a coincidence that the two Union goals were very alike, or maybe it just goes to show what a fine striker, and indeed, finisher Awoniyi is becoming. Marcus Ingvartsen netted earlier in the game – an Union Berlin player currently on loan at Mainz. Then Taiwo Awoniyi found the target – an Union Berlin player formerly on loan at Mainz. How peculiar. Safe to say that the supporters of the western club do not quite remember Awoniyi producing quite the goods he has been this season so far. He scored just once in his season with them in 2019/20. Hitting the back of the net twice in this one though, he turned the game on its head to come back to bite his old side.
The match ended in a particularly sour not for the home team as, with the game heading for a defeat, they were reduced to ten men. Dominik Kohr, who was already on a yellow card, picked up a second for a poor challenge on Kevin Behrens. A referee in a foul mood may have been inclined to present a straight red for the attempted tackle, if it could have been called that. Behrens went to chest the ball, got to it before Kohr, but the Mainz midfielder still left his raised foot it, studs showing. Although the contact was not severe, the underside of Kohr’s boot did graze the chest of his opponent. Behrens was fine and fully recovered after a moment to regain his breath. That did not spare Kohr though, and he was rightly dismissed with no complaints from the offending party. No wonder they call him “hard-Kohr.” Another incident ended what was an entertaining second period and, in fact, an enjoyable Bundesliga showing altogether. It just goes to show that there does not always have to be a German giant involved for a feast of football.
The Games Keep Coming
Wolfsburg 1-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach
A super start to 2021/22 is behind Wolfsburg now, and new coach Mark van Bommel is going to have to show his worth to get his team back on track after now failing to win in five games in all competitions. They were never one to hammer in the goals but keeping them out at the other end was something of the Wolves speciality. Six conceded in two in the league has changed that. However, they were up against stern opposition in Mönchengladbach who had managed a win at home to Dortmund in the previous round of fixtures. The Foals set about making it another victory when facing a title hopeful and they certainly began in the right fashion.
Just five minutes in, the contest was brought to life with a stunning piece of individual skill from Breel Embolo. The Swiss striker may not be the most consistent and has not yet fulfilled the hype that surrounded him as a youngster at Schalke. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old’s technical ability cannot be denied, and definitely not on the evidence of his goal to give the visitors the lead. Embolo’s compatriot Denis Zakaria, scorer of the winner against Dortmund, tried a volleyed effort following a wide set piece. The shot was heading for goal but would have probably been easily collected by the goalkeeper. Embolo had other ideas though. As the ball came his way, he pulled off a sensational overhead kick, catching it flush and firing past keeper Koen Casteels into the net. It was a brilliant start for Gladbach in every sense and they did not let up. Just a couple of minutes later and the early advantage was doubled. Embolo was involved again, supplying Jonas Hofmann this time for a chance at goal. He was slipped through and there was a footrace between the German and Casteels for the ball, with the goalie rushing out from his posts. Hofmann easily got there first and simply knocked the ball beyond Casteels whose attempt to stop him was weak, perhaps in fear of giving away a foul as last man. Therefore, Hofmann had an open goal and he did not mess around, rolling in for 2-0.
The away side’s fast start was met with a response from the hosts. Lively Wolfsburg youngster Ridle Baku, now a full German international, was not going to be kept down for long. His good play, nutmegging his defender before sending a shot towards goal, led to his side reducing the deficit. His curled effort did not find the target but took a number of ricochets before falling kindly at the feet of Luca Waldschmidt in the centre of the box. The forward took the opportunity with aplomb, sweeping home his first goal since returning to German football from a spell in the Portuguese capital with Benfica. Wolfsburg were back in the game. What would hinder them was once again a lack of creativity. For a top Bundesliga side like Bayern, Dortmund or Leipzig, goals are easy to come by and that can sometimes compensate for letting in one or two. They do not flow with the same effortlessness for the Wolves, though.
Their failure to net another would have meant defeat anyway. However, Wolfsburg’s task was made that bit harder by events after half time. With fifteen minutes to go, one of their standout players from last season was sent from the field following a foul and second yellow card. While French centre half Maxence Lacroix usually utilises his superior pace to outdo opposing attackers, he was unable stop his man legally on this occasion and it just so happened that the incident occurred in the penalty area too. A double whammy of red card and spot kick went against the home team. Lars Stindl stepped up to take, although his penalty was poor and very comfortably grabbed by Koen Casteels. That may have rejuvenated Wolfsburg. However, with ten men the fightback was always going to be tough and any hopes of rescuing a point were extinguished in the dying seconds.
A thumped clearance up field from Gladbach was met by their ever-eager young American full back Joe Scally. He nipped in to head the ball on and used his searing pace, as well as an impressive energy reserve for the 95th minute, to get on the end of his own knock down and burst into the opposition box. The majority of the Wolfsburg half was understandably vacant, with the team pushing for a late equalizer at the other end. This left Scally free, and he showed the composure of someone both older than him at 18 years and more used to playing in an attacking role, rather than a defender. He slotted in a third for the visiting team to seal a second straight Bundesliga win. Gladbach have shown in those two games that they can compete with the bigger teams, something they would class themselves as. This not a new phenomenon though; they often give the title challengers a run for their money. Making sure to perform when facing sides lower down the standings is the real key to success for Mönchengladbach, and it is Stuttgart up next for them after the international break.
Bayern München 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Champions Bayern had begun the campaign in their usual near faultless style. Five wins and draw from six games put them top of the standings where they are so comfortable being, but it was at home where they looked most formidable. So far at the Allianz Arena in 2021/22 they had put three past Köln, five past Hertha, seven past Bochum and five again past Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League in midweek. The Bavarians had been rampant to say the least. However, in football you meet your match sooner or later. Many just might not have thought that would come in the shape of bottom half Frankfurt.
That is not to say that Eintracht competed in terms of the pattern of the game, far from it. Bayern dominated as usual, and not just possession of the ball, but creating a plethora of chances and firing off shots too. Kevin Trapp in the away goal had one of his best ever games, performing a number of saves, 10 in total, and there were some pretty remarkable ones in there as well. Nevertheless, he was beaten for the game’s opener on the half hour. Martin Hinteregger’s pass out from defence was intercepted by Leon Goretzka just inside the Frankfurt half. In true Bayern fashion, they counterattacked swiftly, Müller knocking the loose ball on for Lewandowski who flicked it round the corner for Goretzka, who had continued his run forward, to get on the end of in the 18-yard-box and find the bottom corner with a low strike that Trapp was helpless to keep out. It was one little mistake, a slight lapse in concentration from an Eintracht player, Hinteregger in this scenario, and the visitors were punished. That is so often the case for any side travelling to München. However, when they get in front, the Rekordmeister do not normally hold back. Arguably, they did not against Frankfurt either. It just so happened that their offensive efforts did not translate into more goals as customary, due to the inspired form of the opposition goalkeeper.
It was Hinteregger’s loss of possession that led to the go-ahead goal for Bayern. Therefore, what better way to amend than to get one back straight away for your side. A corner swung in just three minutes after conceding was the perfect opportunity for the Austrian centre back to level things up again. He emphatically did so with a typically towering header past Manuel Neuer who was given no time to react. Hinteregger is not unaccustomed to finding the net, managing a staggering eight for a central defender in the 2019/20 season for Frankfurt and that is two for this new campaign now. Against Bayern they have undoubtedly more worth though.
The away side continued to survive, almost entirely thanks to their man between the sticks. Trapp even denied Lewandowski when the Pole tried a headed effort from near point-blank range. The German stopper was somehow equal to it and kept the scores as they were. His man of the match display gave his team a chance in the game, but it is all well and good having a goalie who is playing a blinder. If you do not make it count at the other end, then his efforts are all in vain. Lucky for him then that reliable star man Filip Kostic was in a lethal frame of mind. Although the Serbian is often the source of all things good for Frankfurt, his play down the left wing more often than not ends in him trying to find a teammate rather than going for goal himself. No matter, as his deliveries are pinpoint and make the finish somewhat comfortable for the man on the end of them. This time around, when he drove into the box with under ten minutes to go, the opportunity opened itself up for him to have a strike at the target. On his left peg packed with venom, he pulled the trigger and sent a rasping low shot towards the far corner. Neuer may have actually felt that he could have stopped the strike as it squirmed under his dive, but the power in the hit was ultimately what beat him.
Kostic had put Frankfurt into a shock lead with little time remaining and they held out resolutely until the end. It was a monumental victory – Eintracht’s first in München since 2010. The champions’ unbeaten start to the season was over and this could really give the Eagles the boost they need to begin climbing the table.
Rest of the Round-Up
Köln 3-1 Greuther Fürth
So near but yet so far for Fürth. This was the first time in eight years that the team had gone ahead in a Bundesliga game, having not done so since their only top flight campaign in 2012/13. Marco Meyerhöfer was the player to do it, scoring in the seventh minute to give the away side the perfect start. They made it to half time too, and perhaps hopes of a win would have been brewing for Fürth fans. That hope would have been dashed fairly quickly though. Sebastian Andersson was on hand at the back post when Benno Schmitz pulled one right across the face of goal to level the score early in the second period. The visitors would probably have taken a point at the start of the game, but Ellyes Skhiri, a fairly regular scorer for Köln despite playing defensive midfield, netted twice to make sure they left with nothing. For 2-1 he had the simple task of turning in a corner from practically on the goal line. However, his second and the game-clinching third for Köln was finished with a sumptuous dink over away keeper Marius Funk. It demonstrated the gap in quality between the sides and was a very apt way to ensure the Billy Goats move up to sixth.
Hertha Berlin 1-2 Freiburg
For the past couple of seasons, these two teams have been on very different trends. Hertha have been struggling, with Freiburg flying high. Therefore, when the fixture took place at the Olympiastadion last term, the 3-0 score line in the capital side’s favour came as rather surprising. This time around, however, Berlin plainly showed their frailties at the back that haunt them so often. Philipp Lienhart was the beneficiary of some slack marking from an early corner to put Freiburg in front. Although Krzysztof Piatek did equalize after the break, the Black Foresters managed to grab a winner inside the last fifteen minutes again making the best of Hertha’s failure to defend a corner kick. Super-sub supreme Nils Petersen was Johnny on the spot, mastering an overhead kick from close range to score just two minutes after coming off the bench. That won his team the game and took his career Bundesliga tally for goals as a substitute to 30.
Stuttgart 3-1 Hoffenheim
This game just went to show that nothing is ever sure in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim had begun the campaign very positively, whereas hosts Stuttgart had faltered since an opening day 5-1 hammering of new boys Fürth. Hence, the home team’s goal inside twenty minutes may have come as a welcome shock even to their supporters in the stands. Centre half Kempf headed home an Omar Marmoush corner to set the ball rolling, but he was supremely outdone by his fellow central defender for the second goal. One of the strikes of the season so far was delivered by Konstantinos Mavropanos, the Greek international on loan from Arsenal who seems to be involved in everything for Stuttgart in 2021/22. He drove forward, passing a number of opposition defenders before picking out the bottom corner with his weaker left foot. Mavropanos had been a major part of goals scored for and against his team this campaign, but it was about time Roberto Massimo found the net in the Bundesliga. The young winger was yet to notch his first in the league and put that right towards the end of this one, confirming the victory with a Stuttgart third. It was enough to render an even later Jacob Bruun Larsen strike nothing more than a consolation and the sides now sit on eight points each in the table.
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Augsburg
Erling Haaland had to watch from the stands yet again, missing the second Dortmund game in a row through injury. The impact of his absence was felt once more, although not quite as acutely as in the prior match away to Gladbach. This time the Gelbschwarzen dealt that bit better to do the job and see off visitors Augsburg, starting with an early goal – a very coolly taken first Bundesliga penalty from Raphael Guerreiro, and that with Marco Reus on the pitch. Augsburg did get back on terns before half time though. A long range effort from Arne Maier was unfortunate to not pick out the top corner, instead hitting the point on the frame of the goal where crossbar and post meet. Nevertheless, the rebound off the woodwork fell kindly right in front of the target for Andy Zeqiri, on loan from Premier League Brighton, and he reacted quickest and knocked in the chance for 1-1. Without Haaland on the field, it was then up one of Dortmund’s big name and big money players to step up to put them back in the lead. Julian Brandt certainly falls into the category of someone who was brought in for a large fee but has failed to reach anything near his full potential at the Signal Iduna Park. He can produce in fits and starts if not consistently, and it just happened that he in the mood for making something happen. His nifty touch and left footed shot sent the ball into the bottom corner of the Augsburg goal in the second half for what would ultimately be the winner. It was far from a comprehensive home victory; it was a victory all the same though.
RB Leipzig 3-0 Bochum
That is two dominant home Bundesliga displays in a row now for RB Leipzig, after a 6-0 thrashing of Hertha Berlin on matchday six. The result against Bochum was especially vital for morale though, with the Red Bulls defeated by Belgian side Club Brugge in the Champions League in the week. Perhaps this was the explanation for the slow start back in domestic action. The game never really looked to be heading for quite such an assured home victory until the opening goal with three quarters of the contest gone. Dominik Szoboszlai and André Silva had just been brought off the bench, and in the same minute they combined to break the deadlock. Hungarian Szoboszlai swung in a trademark vicious set-piece from a corner and Silva nodded in a header pretty typical of him too. Silva was integral to the second goal as well, setting up Christopher Nkunku, star of that Hertha annihilation, for a delightfully chipped finish over keeper Manuel Riemann. Nkunku would find the third goal too, and from a similar situation to before, opting for another lobbed attempt to beat Riemann. He pulled off the over-the-goalie effort but was so nearly denied by Armel Bella-Kotchap who had rushed back to try and clear off the line. The young defender was not quite hasty enough though. The ball just crossed the goal line and three it was made, and three it finished.
Arminia Bielefeld 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen
With Bayern surprisingly losing at home to Frankfurt, the door was wide open in the final game of Bundesliga matchday seven for Leverkusen to draw level on points at the top of the standings with the Rekordmeister. In order to do that, they needed a win in Bielefeld and they certainly went about it the right way. After dealing with an early spell of home pressure, it was the turn of the Bayer team to string together some forward moves, and Florian Wirtz was influential as ever for them. He did not find the net like last week against Mainz, but the German played a role in the first goal for the visitors, scored by Moussa Diaby, and provided the assist for Patrik Schick to put home the second. Wirtz had made a habit of setting up the Czech striker, indeed doing so for the big centre forward’s previous four goals. However, others in the side are allowed to create chances for their man up top, and Schick stuck away a perfect Jeremie Frimpong cross after the break with a bullet header for his second of the game and Leverkusen’s third. A flailing arm led to the fourth goal that really confounded the win for the Werkself. Karim Bellarabi was caught in the face with a stray hand in the box and that meant a 92nd minute penalty, which was taken and tucked away confidently by Kerem Demirbay. As mentioned, the 4-0 score line put Leverkusen in second place but on the same points as leaders Bayern. Furthermore, the sides meet after the international break in what should be an enthralling top two showdown.
A Few Words On… Kevin Trapp
Goalkeepers never seem to get the praise that superstar strikers or technically gifted midfielders do, despite the fact that they are often integral to their team’s success. You have to score goals, but you also must keep them out at the other end if you aim to win games. Although the Bundesliga may be home to the likes of Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski, the standard of shot stoppers in the German game is arguably one of the highest in Europe. That is most seen with the sides typically lower down the table whose goalies often keep them in games, or, in the case of Stefan Ortega with Arminia Bielefeld last season, keep them in the league. Kevin Trapp’s miraculous display away in Bavaria was the foundation for the shock result of matchday seven in the German top flight, when Eintracht Frankfurt beat record champions Bayern München 2-1 in their own back yard. Trapp pulled off a total of ten saves over the course of the contest, the sort of form that he is certainly capable of producing and did show perhaps more of earlier in his career.
He joined Eintracht in 2012 from Kaiserslautern, who had just been relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, while his new club were heading the other way. His consistent form over the next three years would help to solidify Frankfurt’s place as a top tier team. However, he soon became one of the more sought-after keepers in Europe, judged to be able to be lured away from a smaller club. Frankfurt being a smaller club, that is, in comparison to the side he signed for next: French serial title winners Paris Saint-Germain. It was during his time in Ligue 1 that Trapp made his Germany debut and would go on to feature five times for the senior national side. Nevertheless, his time on the pitch at PSG was always going to be restricted with their competition for places. Trapp was having to share the spot predominantly with France international keeper Alphonse Areola in his time at the club, but since, the French capital has seen Gianluigi Buffon, Keylor Navas and most recently Gianluigi Donnarumma stand between the posts at the Parc des Princes. Those are quite some names to have to displace from a starting line-up, and especially tough for a goalkeeper with only one spot in a team in your position. Hence, it was no surprise that when Lukas Hradecky left Frankfurt to join Bayer Leverkusen in 2018, Trapp made the switch back to his former side in search of regular game time in his native league. The German has not failed to provide a solid block behind a defence that must feel much more assured with him there to give that cover. At 31, he has gained a lot of experience. Although, goalkeepers are playing for longer and longer these days, just take the aforementioned Buffon for example. Eintracht will hope that more performances like the one against Bayern come from Trapp, and that he will continue to be the basis of the team for a while yet.
What to Look Forward to Next Matchday
Hoffenheim vs. Köln
Union Berlin vs. Wolfsburg
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Hertha Berlin
Borussia Dortmund vs. Mainz
Freiburg vs. RB Leipzig
Greuther Fürth vs. Bochum
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Stuttgart
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern München
Augsburg vs. Arminia Bielefeld
Unfortunately, Bundesliga fans must wait until after the international break for the return of domestic action in Germany. However, when it does re-emerge the other side, matchday eight is going to be good.
The Saturday fixtures are definitely going to be packed with drama for sure. Freiburg and Leipzig face off in what could be a very interesting battle between a big side not quite playing as well as they would have wanted and a team exceeding the expectations of most so far: either could take the points. Fürth and Bochum will meet in the first all-newly-promoted affair of 2021/22 in the German top tier, while Dortmund host Mainz in another potential entertainer.
Dortmund and Freiburg will both have a keen eye on the major clash on Sunday though, as Bayern travel to Leverkusen to take on Bayer as the top two come face-to-face. A draw at the BayArena would give either Dortmund or Freiburg the chance to go top if they were to be victorious in their respective fixtures. It does not mean much to be front runner at this stage, but if there is the opportunity for it, sitting atop the tree can be a pretty good feeling.