Featured Game – RB Leipzig 1-4 Bayern München
It may still be early in the season, but a clash between the top two from the last Bundesliga campaign was never going to be uneventful. There was much riding on the contest: for RB Leipzig a chance to get one over the side they are hunting down in the pursuit of their first ever German title, while visitors Bayern would have wanted to simply keep their challengers at arm’s length. Past meetings between the two have often gone the way of the Rekordmeister. However, that is not saying much considering the case is the same for every other German side Bayern München have faced. Nevertheless, this match at home in front of the Red Bulls’ fans was a great opportunity to try and turn the tide for Leipzig.
One of the key talking points before kick-off was the summer influx of new recruits to München from Leipzig. This would be the first time that Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer would return to the Red Bull Arena since departing to try their luck with the German giants, along with coach Julian Nagelsmann. It must have been rather strange for the home crowd to see these very familiar, once-adored faces in the setting where they really made their names, but now wearing the black and gold of the new Bayern away strip. Sabitzer, signed on the penultimate day of the transfer window, started on the bench, ready to come on for his debut. However, Upamecano had been thrust straight into the Bayern side from the start of the season and hence already had a few games under his belt. That had been partly down to injuries for his fellow defenders, with Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard both beginning the new campaign still in recovery. Both were back and in the starting eleven for the trip to Leipzig though, after the international break gave them the time to get back to full fitness while others were away playing in the World Cup Qualifiers. That meant a frightening array of defensive talent was left on the bench for the champions – Niklas Süle, Bouna Sarr and impressive youngsters Nianzou and Stanisic all watching on. Who needs David Alaba and Jerome Boateng when this is the back line at your disposal?
Leipzig may have thought that they could really test what has not always been the sturdiest of Bayern defences over the past year or so. The hosts possess an attack not too shabby in its own right, and the high intensity game may have had a number of spectators assuming that the likes of Andre Silva and Dominik Szoboszlai were going to cause the opposition some real trouble. In contrast, it was the visiting defence that got the better throughout, always remaining rigid despite Leipzig actually having more of the possession. That happened to suit Bayern and their defensive foundation provided the springboard for their seemingly endless chances on the counterattack. After turning over the ball, it was the pace on the break of the Bayern front line that really came to fruition, with Leroy Sané especially being able to express himself. However, this ability to sit back and counter was massively aided by the early penalty incident.
What at first looked inconspicuous turned out to actually be foul play. When Leipzig’s Kevin Kampl appeared to control a loose ball with his chest in his team’s 18-yard-box, there was little appeal from Bayern for any decision to be made. A VAR review, on the other hand, spotted that what originally looked like the use of the chest was actually the upper arm of Kampl. The video replays clearly showed that he had leant into the ball and there was a slight movement of the left arm to put the ball into his path. The action was perhaps not wholly intentional and Kampl was trying to legally use his shoulder instead, but the spot kick had to be given regardless. There was only ever going to be one taker. Robert Lewandowski is Bayern’s and the Bundesliga’s top marksman and from twelve yards he is almost faultless. His trademark cool-as-a-cucumber stuttered run-up has deceived so many goalkeepers, but this time around he opted to emphatically strike the ball into the net with little fuss. It almost looked as if it was Peter Gulacsi’s duty to dive out of the way of the Lewandowski penalty, but in truth there was little chance that the Hungarian stopper would be able to do anything to prevent the Pole in that situation, even if he is one of the league’s best keepers. That, therefore, was 1-0 to the away side with twelve minutes on the clock. It set Bayern up perfectly for the aforementioned counterattacking style, although the fruits of this would not come until the second half.
The first 45 had been frantic and fast-paced and highly entertaining. The Bundesliga does not do cagey top of the table clashes anyway. The speed of proceedings had taken its toll on Serge Gnabry, who had got injured late in the opening period for Bayern who were forced into a substitution. Gnabry may be an exciting and, these days, very productive forward player and the visitors would have been disappointed to lose him. Nevertheless, in hindsight, they would not be too bothered. His replacement young Jamal Musiala more than filled the void. The teenager, who has just come back from his first spell with the senior Germany side, can play anywhere across the attacking line and his two-footed ability makes it hard for defenders to predict which way he is going to go. The supposedly right-footed player did not take long to have a big impact on the game and handed his side some breathing space just two minutes after half time, firing a shot on his left past Gulacsi from a tight angle and into the far corner. This type of quality is becoming more and more expected of Musiala, but the pressure does not seem to be getting to him and he continued to produce in this one.
Bayern did have to survive a mini scare before Musiala could strut his stuff again though. Andre Silva had the ball in the back of Manuel Neuer’s net, slotting home a cool finish after being played through. However, the flag went up pretty quickly for offside and the video assistant referee conquered, meaning the score stayed at 2-0. Unfortunately for Leipzig, after momentarily thinking they had reduced the deficit to one goal, that gap soon became three and this one was not going to be chalked off. Musiala was instrumental once more, dazzling down the right flank and firing a cross along the face of goal. Leroy Sané was on hand for a tap in from next to no distance, grabbing a well-deserved goal after an impressive display. That effectively killed off the tie even with over a third of the game still to play, but a three-goal lead was not one that Bayern’s experienced heads were going to let slip.
They may not have been expecting what was to come next, however. A bolt from the blue gave RB Leipzig a glimmer of hope and a bolt is exactly what it was. A thunderbolt in fact, and from the unlikeliest of sources. Konrad Laimer can play both as a defensive midfielder or a right wing-back and this versatility is just one of the reasons why he has been a top player is the Leipzig squad for a number of years now. Nonetheless, goal scoring is not one of his key attributes and many would have been surprised when he lined up an effort from 25 yards out just before the hour mark, let alone when he thwacked the ball past Manuel Neuer and into the top corner. Goal of the Bundesliga season so far and little doubt about it after four games. Laimer’s reward for the wondergoal and for hauling his side back into the game? He was immediately substituted by manager Jesse Marsch. Perhaps the American coach thought Laimer had only one screamer in him and needed new players on the field to try and find two more. Although, as RB Leipzig made changes, Bayern were preparing players to enter the game as well, and one of them was a particularly notable one: Marcel Sabitzer.
Boos, whistles, and jeers greeted the Austrian midfielder as he stepped onto a Bundesliga pitch for the first time since leaving Leipzig in the summer. Probably not the reception Sabitzer would have been dreaming of for his Bayern debut, but that just gave him extra determination to push for another goal for his new team, both to secure the victory and net against his old side. Who the hosts really should have been worrying about though was the man who came on at the same time as Sabitzer, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Cameroonian striker had replaced Robert Lewandowski, in order to give the star man a rest before Bayern’s monstrous Champions League clash in midweek against Barcelona. It was he who was up to the task of putting away Leipzig once and for all, sealing a dominant away day display for Bayern in stoppage time at the end of the game. The clock read 91 minutes when Joshua Kimmich slipped Choupo-Moting in behind a now weary-looking home back line, and the forward’s touch and finish had the look of someone just that bit fresher. 4-1 that made it and that was how it ended.
Any Leipzig hopes of an early season edge over the mighty Bayern were quashed by the clinical play of the away side. Lewandowski always scores, but the timing of the penalty played cruelly into the hands of their opponents from the home team’s perspective and from there they were always chasing the game. Potentially, seeing more of the ball may have actually hindered their chances, going against what they may have expected and prepared for. Their chances for a typical Leipzig counterattack were minimal, whereas their opponents gave them a taste of their own medicine on a number of occasions. Ultimately it was Jamal Musiala who sparkled though, and his introduction was the key decider in the tie. Leipzig have promising young players of their own, but Musiala seems to be just that little bit special.
The Games Keep Coming
Bayer Leverkusen 3-4 Borussia Dortmund
This tie never fails to disappoint. After a shared 16 goals over the four previous meetings between these two sides, another goal fest was always going to be on the cards. Both teams’ attacks can be lethal on their day, while their defences are prone to producing some shoddy displays when faced with tough opposition. It was set up perfectly, and every neutral was hoping for a repeat of the 4-3 Bayer win in February 2020, when since-departed club legend Lars Bender headed home a late goal for the Werkself. Perhaps the experience of both Lars and twin brother Sven, who have gone back to boyhood club Brannenburg for the latter stages of their career, was what was missing this time around for the home side as Dortmund were able to give them a taste of their own medicine.
What was even crueller about the defeat for Leverkusen was that they actually led three times in the game. Florian Wirtz put them ahead early on: the youngster pounced on a Dortmund loss of possession in the middle of the park and fired past Gregor Kobel for 1-0, becoming the youngest player to reach eight career Bundesliga goals. Wirtz is certainly an impressive talent, but Dortmund have a machine in their ranks in the form of Erling Haaland. They can always rely on him to grab a goal when they need him, or even when they do not and he just wants more goals. Either way, he scores a lot and this match was no exception, equalizing on 37 minutes with a towering header after a brilliantly stood-up cross from Belgian Thomas Meunier. The chance to net on the break is often there against Dortmund though, and Bayer sprung the counter just before half time, Wirtz turning provider on this occasion for Patrik Schick. The Czech striker has been on top form ever since his prolific European Championships in the summer, and he slotted a finish into the bottom corner for 2-1.
The home faithful would have been hoping to try and hold onto the lead for as long as possible after the restart, but the advantage lasted all of four second half minutes. To rub salt into the wounds, the second Dortmund leveller came about through former Bayer boy Julian Brandt, who has struggled ever since his switch to Borussia, in truth. However, he decided to pop up with a goal just to frustrate his old employers. Or at least that is probably how they saw it. Never mind though, because Moussa Diaby, Leverkusen’s current exciting attacker and now a fully-fledged France international, put them back into pole position just six minutes later. The ball came out to him on the edge of the area after a corner kick was only half cleared, and he used his less trusty right foot to have a go at goal. Nevertheless, the result was just the same if it had been on his stronger left, picking out the corner. 3-2. Surely they would not concede again?
Well, they did. Twice in fact. Not that they could do anything about the first goal, however, apart from watch in awe as Rapha Guerreiro curled a delicious free kick into the top corner for the goal of the matchday and a third equalizer. That set up the grandstand finish. Both sides could have gone on to win it from there on, but only one team has a Haaland and, like he did against Hoffenheim in Round three, he bagged the winner at the end of an enthralling contest. This time, the route to goal was via the penalty spot, stepping up to take the kick after Leverkusen summer signing Odilon Kossounou fouled Marco Reus in the area, raising a hand to the German’s face. A strike from twelve yards may seem simple for a player of Haaland’s immense talent and he did indeed make the conversion of the penalty look routine, but the pressure he was under in the circumstances cannot have made it easy. Nonetheless, his finishing ability once again means that his side take all three points. The win sees Borussia leapfrog their western rivals in the Bundesliga standings, moving up to third spot with the table starting to take shape after four matches.
Bochum 1-3 Hertha Berlin
It is safe to say that their match against newly promoted Bochum came at the right time for Hertha Berlin, after a poor and pointless first three games to the season. Although, Bochum had shown a good account of themselves so far, managing to beat Mainz on matchday two. Nevertheless, they did not compare to the opposition Hertha had faced up to this point, just coming off the back of a 5-0 trouncing handed to them by champions Bayern. As there often seem to be when a team is not performing, whispers of the Berlin coach’s future were circulating in the capital, including the speculation that Pal Dárdai may voluntarily step down if results do not improve. However, Dárdai is something of an icon for the club, both as a former player and manager. Having returned at the helm last season to steer the side back towards where they want to be in domestic terms, it would appear strange if he were to suddenly leave when the going got tough. The coach would have known more than most the importance of a victory against Bochum, in order to kick-start Hertha’s campaign and instil some much-needed confidence.
The main issue for Hertha has been their recruitment over the last few seasons. They have spent big and too often players have failed to deliver, with many of the acquisitions from abroad not adjusting to the intensity and style of the German game. Berlin have looked to invest for the future, buying players under 30 years on the whole, which seems like a sensible strategy when trying to start a long-term project with the end goal of European football in mind. However, mixing players from different leagues and footballing backgrounds will not work without a foundation of Bundesliga experience. Despite spending similar amounts of money to Hertha on new players, RB Leipzig have looked to bring in from the Bundesliga just as often as elsewhere and signings like Kevin Kampl from Bayer Leverkusen have formed the basis for the club’s substantial rise in success. Therefore, when Berlin brought in Suat Serdar at the end of last season after his old side Schalke were relegated to the second tier, there may have been a bit more interest from the club’s fanbase, seeing a recognisable face coming in the door – someone they had already seen produce the goods in the Bundesliga.
Although the supporters would not have been delighted with the start that Serdar had made in a Hertha shirt, every player needs time to settle into new surroundings and a new style of football. This may be especially the case for Serdar though, who would be unused to playing football on the front foot after the torrid time he and the rest of his Schalke team endured in 2020/21. However, with three games under his belt, the German midfielder was ready to unleash his potential for his new side and popped up with a first Bundesliga brace in the opening half against Bochum. His second goal showed particular desire, snapping up the loose ball after some lackadaisical defending from Bochum’s young Armel Bella-Kotchap and rifling home.
The home side do have quality of their own, showcased on numerous occasions last season on the way to securing the 2. Bundesliga title. The top flight has already been witness to the technical ability of Gerrit Holtmann though, after his dancing feet earned him one of the best goals yet in 2021/22, dribbling around as many as five Mainz defenders on his way to netting in the second round of fixtures. He was determined to remind the spectators of his footwork in this one too though, going on another mazy run, before being denied by keeper Schwolow. Simon Zoller was there when needed though, as all good strikers are, to turn in the rebound for a goal back. Hertha did find a way to win in the end, however, adding a third strike to seal the deal with twelve minutes to go through new attacker Myziane Maolida, brought in from French outfit Nice. Maolida fits the mould for many of the failed young forwards signed from all over Europe that have been and gone in Berlin, so the Hertha fans will not be getting too excited even after his impressive debut goal. But surely one of them has got to fit at some point. Those concerns would have put aside at least for the moment though by the fans of the capital side, as a first league victory of the new campaign was reason for celebration, lifting them off the foot of the table.
Rest of the Round-Up
Union Berlin 0-0 Augsburg
This was a game short on clear cut chances, but Augsburg will undoubtedly be the happier of the two sides after earning a clean sheet and point away to European hopefuls Union. Niko Gießelmann arguably came closest to scoring for the hosts. The wing-back had been on something of a hot streak in front of goal, rather surprising for a player who was far from a prolific scorer before the start of this Bundesliga season. His first half effort was kept out though, as were any other half-hearted attempts and the match petered out to a score draw.
Freiburg 1-1 Köln
Anthony Modeste has had rather peculiar time with Köln. He was a regular scorer of goals for the Billy Goats before a move to China in 2017 rather halted his career momentum when he was in his prime. Returning to Köln just a year later, he found the art of putting the ball in the net much harder this time around, cast out of the side for long spells, admittedly due to injuries on the main part. New boss Steffen Baumgart has full faith in the Frenchman, however, and Modeste has repaid this with a terrific start to the campaign, finding the target thrice in four games. The last of those three arrived just over half an hour into this one, a monstrous header beating Freiburg’s Mark Flekken in goal. The finish was not enough for the victory though, as Rafael Czichos put into his own net with just minutes remaining to equalize for the home side, who just about kept their unbeaten league status.
Greuther Fürth 0-2 Wolfsburg
Bundesliga life was not getting any easier for Fürth, who welcomed league leaders Wolfsburg to the Sportpark Ronhof. Despite an impressive last campaign, Wolfsburg were able keep all of their top performers in the summer transfer window and even strengthened further, especially in attack. The hosts could not cope with this added fire power, with new boy Lukas needing just ten minutes to put his side in front. From there on, the task for the home team got near-on impossible. Wolfsburg have conceded a solitary goal in the league so far, and the clean sheet at Fürth meant that statistic remained unchanged. They were even capable of doubling their advantage late on and through the most predictable of sources – main man up top Wout Weghorst scoring from the spot to ensure a fourth straight win at the start of 2021/22.
Hoffenheim 0-2 Mainz
What a completely different side Mainz have become when compared with the one struggling for results at the start of the calendar year. They were languishing in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga table before Danish coach Bo Svensson came in to turn them around entirely and steer them well clear of relegation trouble. He has shown no interest in stopping there either, and their impressive display away to a tough Hoffenheim team has seen them climb into the Champions League spots at this early stage of the campaign. Most will say that league positions mean nothing after just four games, but the fact that Mainz have actually registered more league points in the year 2021 than last season’s runners-up RB Leipzig cannot be argued with.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Stuttgart
A potential summer switch to Italian capital side Lazio fell through for Filip Kostic, meaning he is back amongst the Frankfurt squad. The disappointment for him may not be such a disappointment for the Eintracht fans, however, who would have been delighted to see their star winger fire home a shot ten minutes from time against Stuttgart to consolidate the fact that he will be hanging around for a little while longer. At the other end of the spectrum, the Stuttgart supporters were yet to witness Omar Marmoush in action, their new loan signing from Wolfsburg. His debut went just as he would have dreamed though, netting an 88th minute leveller to rescue a point for the visitors.
Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 Arminia Bielefeld
Borussia were yet to win in the Bundesliga this season but draw specialists Arminia were determined to break that trend when they travelled Gladbach. However, despite ensuring that they did not pick up the single point this time around, they ended up leaving Borussia Park with none at all. Bielefeld were unfortunate to concede a freakish deflected opener that was accredited to home captain Lars Stindl who took on the strike, although the defender’s touch did most of the work. Masaya Okugawa pulled the visitors level just before the break, only to see Stindl net once more and this time his contact was very much the decisive one, finding the bottom corner with a well-placed header. Despite Stindl’s brace, Denis Zakaria was arguably the star of the show for the hosts in this one, almost single-handedly running the midfield. He was rewarded for his efforts with twenty to go, scoring on the break to make it 3-1 and seal a first victory in 2021/22.
A Few Words On… Leroy Sané
It is not a revelation to say that Leroy Sané struggled in his first season at Bayern. He returned to Germany after four years in England, enjoying great success with Manchester City, winning two Premier League titles. However, after being something of a wonderkid at Schalke, the great depth of squad at City meant Sané was perhaps not getting the game time that he felt he deserved or would get elsewhere. He also sustained a lengthy injury, which rather put a dampener on the end of his time with the club. A change of scenery was needed more than anything else and club sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić was keen on bringing him to Bavaria. That is where the problems started for Sané though, as then boss Hansi Flick was not the man who instigated the transfer. The move came from higher up. Flick seemed reluctant to play the German at times and stuck him out on the right wing even when he was given minutes, rather than utilising him on the left flank where Sané thrives, able to be more direct on his natural side. Since Hansi Flick’s München departure to become coach of the German national team, however, Sané has been used in his favoured role under Julian Nagelsmann and it appears to be getting the best out of him once again. He was a constant livewire against Leipzig and made sure to be in the right place for Jamal Musiala’s cross in order to bag himself a goal. Sané may have arrived for a big transfer fee, an initial £40 million, but he is starting to show the kind of quality in a Bayern shirt that the price tag suggest. It is easy to forget as well that he is still only 25.
What to Look Forward to Next Matchday
Hertha Berlin vs. Greuther Fürth
Bayern München vs Bochum
Augsburg vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Mainz vs. Freiburg
Arminia Bielefeld vs. Hoffenheim
Köln vs. RB Leipzig
Stuttgart vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Borussia Dortmund vs. Union Berlin
Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Leipzig have been slow to get going at the start of 2021/22, but a trip to Köln does not make things seem like they are going to get any easier. The Billy Goats have been determined for a change of fortune after they just stayed up last term, and their early season form has been a signal of that. They will go into the clash with Leipzig with over double the points haul of their opponents up to this point and will only look to extend that further.
On Sunday, another title hopeful will encounter a stern test, when Dortmund host Union Berlin. Haaland’s goals may see them to another victory, but the capital club have a squad full of potential these days and an away win would be far from an upset.