Featured Game – Wolfsburg 2-3 Bayern München

First played third on Saturday in a thrilling clash at the top of the Bundesliga, with Bayern hoping to make up for dropped points at home to Union Berlin last time out. Furthermore, the German champions had been knocked out of the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, and that added to a shock cup upset which saw them dumped out of the DFB-Pokal by second-tier Holstein Kiel earlier in the campaign, means that full focus now for Bayern has to be concentrated on securing a ninth straight Bundesliga title. However, their hopes of retaining the championship were boosted the previous night, as challengers Leipzig could only muster a draw at home to Hoffenheim, therefore a win would restore München’s seven point gap at the top of the table.

For this reason, Bayern had every motivation to start quickly in Wolfsburg and that they did. An early goal from teenager Jamal Musiala settled the nerves and set the visitors on their way. The importance of this go-ahead goal could not be understated for Bayern, who have often taken a while to find their feet in games, especially at home this season. Games against Arminia Bielefeld and more recently PSG saw Bayern go a couple of goals down before any kind of response came, and even then the end result did not go their way on either occasion. Hence, Musiala’s twinkle-toed manoeuvre past four Wolfsburg defenders and then powerful finish were celebrated by the away side with added emphasis, perhaps for the significance of the goal if not its majesty. Musiala had netted a similar strike against Union last matchday and the expectation for him to produce is only growing. Fortunately for Bayern, they were rather handed a second goal shortly after to add security to their lead. When a tame cross that did not seem to pose much of a threat to Wolfsburg was fumbled by Koen Casteels, it was deputizing striker Choupo-Moting that was on hand to pounce. The Cameroonian, who scored the only goal of the European second leg against his former side, has had to fill in for the injured Robert Lewandowski lately, and although he may not have the world class finishing ability of the Pole, the Belgian goalkeeper gifted him a simple tap-in from a mere few yards shortly before the half hour mark in this one. Casteels mentioned after the game that he had judged at the time that the ball that came into the box was too awkward to catch, therefore trying to reach with an outstretched left glove. However, he could only flap at it and present the goal to the opponents. His post-match regret was not going with both hands for the ball.

Nevertheless, when your team has a prolific striker on the pitch, there is always a chance of goal and this was proven by the hosts with a strike to reduce the arears on 35 minutes. Six-foot six-inch Dutchman Wout Weghorst may possess the frame of a typical target man up top, however he encapsulates the all-roundedness of a great modern centre-forward with his vast range of abilities, notably his awareness around opposing penalty areas. He showcased this as midfielder Xaver Schlager picked up possession and the front man moved into space on the left hand side of the Bayern box. When fed through on goal, there was little doubt as to final outcome, as he curled his effort into the far corner of the net past Manuel Neuer and the score not stood at 2-1. Wolfsburg’s hopes of getting something from the game were revived, and the value of three points for them could have easily been overlooked with many focusing on the title implications of this clash. However, after seeming fairly comfortable in their pursuit of Champions League football next campaign, a loss here combined with defeat to Eintracht last matchday could allow Dortmund to really cut down what was once a sizeable gap between the sides in the Bundesliga standings. Consequently, Bayern München hitting back just two minute after Weghorst’s goal would have demoralised the Wolfsburg camp going into the break.

And hit back they did. Musiala stepped up again for the visitors, as the young German showed off his range of skills, this time planting a header into the far top corner. The ever-reliable supply line of Thomas Müller has been a consistent route to goal for the leaders over the course of the season and he stood up an inviting cross for the youngster, however there was still much work to do and the looping header over the keeper was perhaps the only way a goal could have been scored, but Musiala mastered the technique expertly. This perfect execution perhaps surprised him more than most however, as the look on his face during celebrations revealed. What would have pleased Bayern boss Hansi Flick the most is the two-goal lead to take into half time.

The increased advantage was crucial as well, as Bayern failed to net in the second period, as full resources were switched to trying to prevent them at the other end. A goal from Maximilian Philipp did make the latter stages that bit more tense for Bayern though, as he cut back the lead to a solitary goal with the majority of the second period still to be played. A Paulo Otavio cross was reached by the German forward as he moved just ahead of Neuer to steer the ball into the roof of the net. Although Philipp has only played a bit-part since returning to German football after a spell in Russia with CSKA Moscow, he has forced a couple of late scares for Wolfsburg’s opponents in the last couple of games. His goal here came after his presence in the box had made Frankfurt defender Tuta put one in his own net for a let Wolfsburg consolation in last matchday’s 4-3 thriller. This time around, the importance of the goal was no different as the 3-2 score line could not be improved in the home side’s favour, and they were condemned to a second straight loss.

After the big win, Bayern fans may have been expecting to enjoy a calm, celebratory rest of their weekend, however the news that emerged in the hours after the match meant that would not be the case. The shock announcement was that Bayern München manager Hansi Flick has decided to leave the club at the end of the season, with the intention of taking over as the German national team coach when Joachim Löw departs after the upcoming European Championship. As more information has been revealed, greater uncertainty has arisen over the head coach position in München, because it appears that the hierarchy at the club do not want to see Flick go and there is still time left on the manager’s contract. Therefore, Flick, who is looking to win a seventh trophy in just 18 months in the job with another Bundesliga title, may have to rethink his plans if he is denied a desired switch to international management.

The Games Keep Coming

Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0 Eintracht Frankfurt

A rather surprise result at Borussia Park on Saturday as mid-table Gladbach knocked Champions League-chasing Frankfurt off of their perch in clinical fashion. It was a typical away day display from Borussia, but just in their own back yard as they looked to hit their opponents on the break and with set-piece situations, while allowing Eintracht to dominate possession. However, the hosts exemplified that more of the ball does not necessarily translate into more goals and it was through an old-fashioned powered header from a corner ten minutes in that saw them take the lead. Centre-half Matias Ginter rose highest at the near post, seemingly unmarked, and his effort flew past both keeper and defender on the line. They had to wait until the hour mark to add a second for security however, and it was another corner that started the move. This time round, the cross into the box from Jonas Hoffman was at first defended, before the ball was played out to the German once more. Afforded too much time and space by the visiting defence, Hoffman tried his luck from an angle and his fierce shot squirmed under the Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp. This opened up the floodgates somewhat, and a third corner wreaked havoc when headed onto the crossbar by Nico Elvedi. Although the Swiss international did not find the net, the ball rebounded off the woodwork only to be steered home by the head of fellow defender Ramy Bensebaini. Eintracht had not exactly been terrific at preventing goals the week prior against Wolfsburg, as they conceded three to their top of the table rivals, however the difference was that they managed to conjure up four strikes themselves. This contest was very different however for them and they failed to convert any of their chances, while it was Mönchegladbach who netted four. The last of these came after a swift counterattack in the fifth minute of injury time and when substitute Hannes Wolf was played in on goal on the left of the attack, he fired into the far corner to wrap up a resounding win for the Foals.

Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Werder Bremen

With Wolfsburg and Frankfurt both losing the day before, a home clash with Bremen gave Dortmund a prime opportunity to close the gap further to the Champions League spots. After a loss to Frankfurt a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like the race for fourth was over for Borussia, but poor results for the teams above them has let them back in and the home side made sure that Werder were not going to get in their way. It did take an early Milot Rashica goal to spark Dortmund into life though, and their fans may have feared that this would be a chance wasted before a sensational volley from young Gio Reyna pulled them level. The ball sat up nicely, but the sweet hit from the American did most of the work and his shot arrowed into the top corner, rendering Pavlenka in goal helpless. From there, the hosts did not sit back and unsurprisingly it was Erling Haaland who grabbed a brace inside the next nine minutes to put a bit of daylight between the sides. Firstly, a successful penalty made the score line 2-1 in his team’s favour, before a penalty box scramble ended up with the ball at his feet just a couple of yards out and he nonchalantly tapped it in for his 23rd goal in the Bundesliga this campaign. Haaland’s trademark strike is arguably a powerful finish after using his pace to spring an opposition offside trap, but these goals were very different in nature, if seemingly easier, however they do signify the vast capabilities of the young Norwegian striker. Mats Hummels was able to seal the victory with a fourth goal late on in the second half, after a set piece was played into the Werder box by Thorgan Hazard. The win means that with five games left to go in this Bundesliga season, the gap stands at six points between Dortmund and Frankfurt, with Wolfsburg just a point higher. It will be difficult for Dortmund to claw this distance back, but the lead for the two above them is not an unassailable one.

Rest of the Round-Up

RB Leipzig 0-0 Hoffenheim

Leipzig were denied all three points on Friday night when an apparent stoppage time winner was ruled out following a VAR check. The initial award of the goal was overturned for a handball by Yussuf Poulsen, which was undoubtedly the correct decision, as the striker had headed the ball onto his hand before it hit the back of the net.

Augsburg 0-0 Arminia Bielefeld

An uneventful game, but the sort which Arminia need desperately at the moment in their fight for survival. The point gained moves them out of the relegation play-off spot at Hertha’s expense, however the capital club do have a game in hand on Bielefeld.

Union Berlin 2-1 Stuttgart

The home side would have been grateful that Stuttgart front man Sasa Kalajdzic was not firing this week and their two goals were therefore enough for Union to beat their visitors. A valuable win in the race for the Europa League, and with Leverkusen travelling to München in midweek, there is ample chance that the side currently in sixth will slip up.

Freiburg 4-0 Schalke

Christian Günter starred for Freiburg as they demolished bottom side Schalke, allowing their mistake-prone opponents no reprieve throughout the ninety minutes. The Black Forest side’s captain, Günter, is not a regular scorer of goals, however he does supply them often for teammates from his left-back position, but it was his turn in this game to get on the score sheet not once but twice.

Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Köln

As Friedhelm Funkel took over the reins at Köln for the first time in his second spell at the club, after the sacking of previous manager Markus Gisdol in an attempt to avoid the drop, the new appointment had no immediate positive impact away to Leverkusen. Leon Bailey was the main cause of distress for Funkel’s team as the Jamaican’s pace on the break earned him two goals and an assist.

A Few Words On… Jamal Musiala

Last week’s player to get a mention was Dortmund’s young Englishman Jude Bellingham, however this time the focus has to be on Bayern’s main youth star. In fact, Musiala was eligible to play for England at international level and had represented them all the way up to the under-21 category, but he has only recently decided to commit his future to his country of birth. After being born in Stuttgart, Musiala spent his early years in Germany, before moving to England at the age of seven, although the switch back is what has brought him success. Already in his fledgling career with Bayern, the young midfielder has won a Bundesliga title and is an ever more integral part of the side that is looking to capture another this season, and the types of performances that he has been putting in in recent weeks are clear evidence for Hansi Flick to give him more and more game time. After a stunning goal against Union the week prior, Musiala became the youngest player in history to notch six Bundesliga goals away to Wolfsburg, at the age of just 18 years and 50 days.

What to Look Forward to Next Matchday

Köln vs. RB Leipzig

Bayern München vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Augsburg

Arminia Bielefeld vs. Schalke

Werder Bremen vs. Mainz

Borussia Dortmund vs. Union Berlin

Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach

Stuttgart vs. Wolfsburg

After a COVID-19 outbreak in the Hertha Berlin camp, there was no game for the club from the capital this week and there will not be in the next two rounds of fixtures either, therefore their games have been postponed to a later date. However, there is another vital clash involving teams at the bottom of the table in Matchday 30’s selection of midweek fixtures. Schalke travel to Bielefeld to take on Arminia in a game that could spell the end of a torrid season for the Royal Blues. With just 13 points on the board, relegation has been on the cards for Schalke for a while now, but for such prestigious club that was enjoying European football not so long ago, it is still hard to believe the fall that has occurred for them over the past months. After many tough matches and many managers that have been and gone for them, a loss away to Bielefeld could finally mean that Schalke are relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.