Featured Game – Wolfsburg 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
It was not just the Frankfurt fans rooting for an away win in Wolfsburg on Matchday five, with the other title challengers hoping that the so-far faultless hosts would drop their first points of the new campaign. The Wolves had been typically dogged in defence in the opening games, conceding only once in four. They had done just enough going the other way to create goals of their own, despite not being absolutely prolific. However, a mix of the two had found the vital winning formula up to this point and it would take a particularly well-prepared side to be able to land a blow on the early league leaders.
That is where Eintracht Frankfurt come in. The Eagles had been slow to adjust life without their main man up top from last season, André Silva, after he made the switch to RB Leipzig in the summer. Nevertheless, Frankfurt had brought in some new offensive players and they would simply need to be given time to learn the ways of the league like Silva was himself. The Portuguese had not made a rapid start to his Bundesliga career, but the goals flowed towards the end of his Eintracht spell. The same patience may have to come from the supporters towards Sam Lammers, on loan from Atalanta in Italy, and Rafael Santos Borré, signed on a free after his release by Argentine giants River Plate. Both started in attack at the Volkswagen Arena in what looked like a threatening front four, accompanied by fan favourites Kostic and Kamada. The Japanese Kamada had an unusually poor game though, and Kostic spent most of his time trying to keep tabs on Kevin Mbabu who had was flying down the right flank for the home side in arguably his best Bundesliga game yet. Therefore, there was a lot of weight on the shoulders of the two new boys.
Borré, who often played in a central striking position for River, took up a wide birth throughout most of this one with his main focus on creating for others. There were a number of occasions where he delivered a good ball into the box for teammates to attack. The most notable was early on: a tantalising cross from the right wing just evaded his target at the far post, but this provided a clear signal of intent from the away team. Having better luck than the Colombian Borré, was his Dutch counterpart Lammers. Although Wolfsburg may have the Bundesliga’s undoubted top centre forward from the Netherlands in Wout Weghorst, the young Lammers created a lot of interest when on the books of PSV in his native country. Atalanta from Bergamo in Italy were the side to make the eventual move for Lammers, but a season on loan in Frankfurt is hoped to be able to really spark his career and get his goal scoring boots finely in tune. For this reason, his parent club would have been especially happy with his display against Wolfsburg.
Eintracht were not too displeased with his actions just before half time either, as he put them into pole position. Filip Kostic had one of his quieter games, but his quality was only accentuated by the fact that he still managed an assist, laying the ball off for Lammers on the edge of the area. The Dutchman is very adept on both feet, and likes to fire of shots on either side with regularity. However, it was his left peg that did the honours this time around and with frightening accuracy, bending a first time effort into the top corner. Koen Casteels did not move in the Wolfsburg goal, simply watching like the rest of us as the ball found the back of the net. Lammers wheeled away in celebration, becoming only the second player to beat Casteels in the Bundesliga this season and the first from open play. The only previous time had come in the second round of fixtures, when Wolfsburg travelled to Berlin to face Hertha. They had beaten the capital side convincingly that day, but did concede from the penalty spot. Strangely, the player that converted the kick was Dodi Lukebakio, who has since joined Wolfsburg on loan from Hertha. Lammers joined the Belgian in the exclusive club, making the score line 1-0 and that is how the first half ended.
Lukebakio was heavily involved in this game too, in fact, and he and Mbabu made life difficult for Frankfurt’s left flank, posing a constant threat throughout. Both showcased their ability to carry the ball, at times jinking past a string of opponents. Their end product was rarely lacking as well, and Lukebakio created arguably the best chance of the match early in the second period. Standing up a cross from the right by-line to the far post over a number of heads, the forward picked out exactly the man that Wolfsburg would have wanted on the end of it. However, the normally reliable Wout Weghorst could not keep his side-footed volley down. The technique was difficult and the striker had to lean back to make the right contact on the ball, but in doing so, directed his attempt over the bar from eight yards out. A mix of shock and anger with himself was evident from the big centre forward, and as the match continued it was clear that he was replaying the chance in his mind, wondering how he missed from so close in. It takes a top player to get over something like that – to show desire to redeem rather than hiding when an opportunity presents itself again. Weghorst is a top player though, and it was not long before the miss was well and truly behind him.
The danger signs started to show for Frankfurt when their hosts were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. It was certainly in Max Arnold territory. The German hit a shot towards the far top corner, but his compatriot Kevin Trapp was more than equal to it, producing a comfortable save and pushing the ball away. However, the threat to the visitors’ goal was far from over. When the ball was recycled, it found its way to the right-hand side and the feet of the ever-probing Kevin Mbabu. He drove into the penalty area, dribbling past a number of opposing defenders and pulling a cross back for Luca Waldschmidt to strike on the volley. His effort was more successful than Weghorst’s earlier try at the same technique, steering the ball on target, although Trapp this time pulled off a much more impressive stop than what Arnold asked of him from the dead ball. The keeper stuck out a big right glove to paw the ball away from the net. Unfortunately for him and the Eintracht defence though, his smart reflex save was ultimately in vain. Weghorst, like a magnet for the ball, was in the right place at the right time to pounce and stuck out a long limb to latch onto the loose parry from the goalkeeper. He turned home from a couple of yards, albeit from a tight angle, levelling the scores once more. Often the villain of the piece for an opponent of Wolfsburg’s, Weghorst had stripped Frankfurt of two points with 20 minutes to play.
Nevertheless, the away side were somewhat lucky to leave with the draw after a late scare. The match became extremely stretched in the latter stages, with both teams believing that the victory was theirs to grab. That left both exposed at the back and it was the hosts who nearly profited. A long ball into the box found the head of the Wolves’ young French centre half Maxence Lacroix who had gone up to play as a makeshift striker for the final minutes. His presence in the penalty area nearly paid dividends as well, as his height enabled him to climb and head a knock down for Wout Weghorst. Under pressure from Frankfurt captain Evan Ndicka, Weghorst could not manage a clean header of his own, but he did connect with the ball, diverting it for a third Wolfsburg head. With little time to react, it rather cannoned off the skull of substitute Lukas Nmecha who could not do much about directing his effort. Regardless, it founds its way past Trapp in goal, only for the offside flag to be swiftly raised. A VAR review concluded with just as much speed that the decision of the linesman was correct, showing that both Lacroix and Weghorst were actually behind the last defender when the initial cross was delivered into the area. Frankfurt fans could breathe again and 1-1 was how the game ended. A fair result on reflection.
Wolfsburg lose their 100% record at the start of 2021/22, but their unbeaten status remains intact. On the other hand, Frankfurt may be annoyed to have not seen out the match from a winning position. However, a point on the road, and especially when visiting the Volkswagen Arena, home to the stingiest of teams when it comes to conceding goals, is always a welcome point. This was a very even contest overall, despite the hosts having edged the possession and shots on target statistics. Both were resolute at the back, and both showed their ability going forward, and that made for a very enjoyable Bundesliga viewing.
The Games Keep Coming
Bayern München 7-0 Bochum
The champions have certainly looked to rectify their slow start to their title defence after a 1-1 draw in Mönchengladbach on opening day. Since then, it is 19 scored in just four games and a staggering seven of those put past Bochum at the Allianz Arena on Matchday five. Poor visiting keeper Manuel Riemann who really gave it his all, trying to keep the ball out of his net. The home players were relentless and even one of Riemann’s own players got in on the act for Bayern. It simply was never going to be Bochum’s day.
The trend was set in pretty stupendous style. Free kicks from range were often the jurisdiction of David Alaba for Bayern before his departure at the end of last season. In that department, the baton has been passed to Leroy Sané, who was yet to find the target direct from a dead ball in the Bundesliga. However, his Cristiano Ronaldo-like technique was not going to desert him for long, and on 17 minutes he sent his strike up and over the Bochum wall before it dipped back down and in the bottom corner past Riemann for the first time in the game. It was an experience the man between the posts was going to have to get used to.
Joshua Kimmich found the finishing touch next, and a goal from Serge Gnabry swiftly followed to make it 3-0 just after the half hour point. That is when, for some inexplicable reason, the away side’s Greek defender Vasilis Lampropoulos decided Bayern seemed to be lacking somewhat in front of goal. He helped them on their way and, without being under much pressure inside his own box, calmly slotted the ball past his unsuspecting and rather bewildered goalkeeper. How nice of him. In truth, he appeared to be trying to play a pass back to Riemann, but the goalie was coming for the ball himself anyway and could not react in time when his teammate knocked it past him. It did not look like it could get much worse for Riemann at four-down. This was still in the first half though, and plenty of time yet to play.
In typical Bayern München fashion, the hosts did not let up as well and the chances and ultimately the goals continued to flow. It would not be a compressive hammering from the Rekordmeister without their goal scorer-in-chief bagging one for himself. Although, it would not have taken a striker of Robert Lewandowski’s quality to tuck away the opportunity that presented itself to the Pole after an hour, getting a goal in thirteen straight home league games from pretty much on the goal line. If a chance has ever been more unmissable than one for the world’s best centre forward from no distance at all, then who ever got that chance had better not have missed it.
Just four minutes later, it was a super sixth for the home crowd to cheer. Surprisingly, Joshua Kimmich had never registered a career brace up to this point, but he doubled his tally for the match in classy style, side-footing a volley into the corner of the net in off the post, albeit another one from close range. A player more familiar with putting the ball in the net than Kimmich is Bayern’s number-two striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Having once upon a time been relegated from the English top flight with Stoke City, Choupo-Moting has since featured in a Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain and found a place as an integral part of the set-up in München. He is a more than reliable man to throw on for the latter stages of any game. He allows Lewandowski to be given a rest before big games, as was the case in the last round against Leipzig with Barcelona awaiting in midweek. The Cameroonian came on to add a fourth goal and seal the away win. This time at home, he notched again after his introduction off the bench. However, on this occasion he was only making it a mere seven goals for his side. He did need three bites of the cherry after a fantastic Riemann double save initially denied him. He got there in the end though, and 7-0 was how it finished.
Safe to say, Bochum were rather pleased when it did, eventually, all finish.
Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Union Berlin
There was every chance of an upset at Signal Iduna Park, as Dortmund welcomed Union Berlin. The visitors had been in fine form at the start of the new season, unbeaten before their trip west. A major driving force behind the capital side’s success to this point had been the dynamic duo up top of Max Kruse and Taiwo Awoniyi, who had combined brilliantly in the early weeks to provide Union’s most potent Bundesliga forward threat yet. Therefore, the hosts Borussia would have to be on their game if they were to handle the challenge, and they certainly gave themselves a good chance in the contest with their first half showing.
Getting off the mark in any match can be difficult, so a go-ahead early goal is always to be appreciated for the side that finds it. But, when your left back pops up with an absolute belter inside ten minutes, you just know your luck is in. Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro is the definition of a modern day full back, rarely finding himself outside of the attacking third of the pitch when his team is in possession. The Portuguese international is a very technical player, with great dribbling and crossing ability that earns him a number of assists each campaign. However, his shooting accuracy is not to be understated either, as he exemplified in the previous match away to Leverkusen with a precise free kick goal and then again at the start of this one against Berlin. From the left side of the penalty area, he caught a volley perfectly, sending it arrowing into the far top corner of the net over the helpless keeper Andreas Luthe. One of Dortmund’s wide defenders had put them 1-0 ahead, and the other was to have a hand in doubling that tally not too long after.
In what was almost a carbon copy of the Black and Yellows’ second goal from that Leverkusen game, Thomas Meunier sought to find his striker Erling Haaland once again in the area with a precise stood up cross. The Belgian was again allowed the time and space to pick out just the delivery that Haaland would have been asking for in the middle, and the big Norwegian met the flighted ball with a header just as pin-point. 2-0.
Three followed shortly after the break, and without a home player even having to exert themselves as far as putting the ball in the net. Union captain Marvin Friedrich did the job for them, running into, and inadvertently diverting in, a cross fizzed across the face of goal. He could do little to prevent receiving the unwanted accolade, but his teammates then rallied to try and restore some sense of dignity to the score line, and make sure that they did not simply get blown away. Five minutes later, they had one back. A foul in the area from Axel Witsel led to a spot kick being awarded to the away side, and the infallible penalty specialist Max Kruse coolly tucked the ball home. Then, another set piece for the visitors made what was appearing to be a rather routine home victory look increasingly less certain. The Gelbschwarzen have had their troubles defending dead balls into the box in the past, and this was another one to add to the collection. Andreas Voglsammer powered home a header from the corner swung in by Niko Gießelmann and 3-2 with ten minutes to go put the game right back in the balance. Surely, from three goals up, Borussia Dortmund would not be able to let their lead slip.
Not if Erling Haaland had anything to say about it that is, and he certainly did. He may be one of the best finishers in the world right now, and constantly registers some of the fastest sprint speeds in the league, but with his height, the long ball forward is always an option. Route one is often preferred too when on the back foot and with defenders normally just happy to be clearing their lines. Therefore, whether the punt up field by Mats Hummels was a clearance or a precise long pass, Haaland made use of that bit of extra room that strikers can find at the end of a game. The ball came over his head, and with the goalkeeper off his line, Haaland pulled off a majestic lob to find the far corner and seal the win once and for all. As soon as the ball left the forward’s foot, it seemed, the Yellow Wall rose to its feet in celebration, sure that their favourite had given them all three points yet again.
Rest of the Round-Up
Hertha Berlin 2-1 Greuther Fürth
Friday night saw two strugglers go head-to-head, as Hertha Berlin took on winless Fürth. The club from the capital had begun the new season with three straight losses, before a win against other promoted side Bochum stopped the rot. The visit of Fürth offered another chance to put the poor start behind them. However, they trailed just before the hour mark through a Branimir Hrgota penalty. Hrgota had been the Clover Leafs top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga last term, but it was a new Berlin signing that turned the game on its head. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, brought in from the Netherlands during the transfer window, scored the first Hertha goal and his presence in the box forced the second via an own goal. They went ahead and ended up losing – the top flight is not getting any easier for Greuther Fürth.
Augsburg 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
This was a typical away performance from Augsburg, at home. They only registered 28% possession, although not a lot of the ball is always needed to pick up the points if your defence is solid. The Bavarians frustrated their visitors from the west, restricting Gladbach to half-chances at best. The final piece of the puzzle is just a goal of your own, and having super subs ready on the bench is never going to hinder your odds of finding one. Florian Niederlechner was introduced half way through the second period, and required under a quarter of an hour to get his shooting boots broken in. Young Swiss international Ruben Vargas is often a livewire for Augsburg and he was making things happen once more, driving with the ball to the by-line before cutting it back for his striker Niederlechner, whose low left-footed effort swept past Yann Sommer in goal and found the corner to grab the victory late on for the hosts.
Mainz 0-0 Freiburg
With two evenly matched sides facing off, a draw was a likely end result in Mainz. Both teams have had good 2021s so far. However, unfortunately for the neutrals, improved defensive displays have been the main catalyst for their respective improved consistency. The rear guard effort was the order of the day this time around as well, and that meant 0-0 always looked like the probable conclusion. That is not to say that neither side does not have the quality to break down a stern back line, and with Freiburg bringing on the technical ability of Vincenzo Grifo with ten to go, perhaps Mainz would have feared the threat of a late winner from their opponents. It was not to be though, and it finished a clean sheet a-piece.
Arminia Bielefeld 0-0 Hoffenheim
Perhaps some sides are starting to feel the pressure of earning points five games in to the new Bundesliga campaign, as another defence-orientated goalless stalemate played out, this time at the Schüco Arena. Hoffenheim had managed a win on opening day: 4-0 away in Augsburg. Their opposition, Arminia had had no such luck though, and after another draw, they remained without a maximum haul. Patrick Wimmer will be ruing that fact, because he had by far the chance of the game early on, which could have set Bielefeld on their way if converted. Although, despite having an open goal staring him in the face after his captain Fabian Klos drove a cross along the edge of the six yard box, it was not as easy for the Austrian Wimmer to connect with the ball as it first appeared. There was a significant pace on the attempted assist from Klos, and the young Wimmer had little time to react and sort out his feet to apply a final touch. Much like the chance for win, the ball screwed agonisingly away from Wimmer and his team.
Köln 1-1 RB Leipzig
When it does not look like being your day, it usually is not. Anthony Modeste was having a torrid time in terms of trying to find a goal against Leipzig, but his efforts all seemed to be in vain. Not because of his finishing either. He put the ball in the net often enough, only to see the offside flag raised on more than one occasion when he did so. The trend of disallowed goals appeared to be continuing too when he swept a shot right into the top corner just before the hour mark. This time, instead of the offside flag denying him, the referee initially deemed that visiting defender Mohamed Simakan had been fouled in the build-up, and hence chalked the goal off. A check of the pitch side monitor made him change his mind though, and finally one of Modeste’s attempts stood. It was a visibly emotional day too for the Frenchman, and he dedicated the goal to his late father, whose birthday it would have been. Leipzig had to find a response to the setback, after coming close themselves a number of times. The Red Bulls had hit the post, had one of their own ruled out, and just continually looked threatening. However, their equalizer came rather unpredictably via corner kick. Normally a fast flowing, football playing attacking side, they showed that with Dominik Szoboszlai standing over a set piece for the new season, there is another route to goal that they can hopefully exploit. The Hungarian’s whipped delivery was too inviting for Amadou Haidara not to head home, so he obliged and earned the away team a much-needed point in the process.
Stuttgart 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Scoring inside two minutes is always nice, and especially in a tough away match against Stuttgart. Therefore, Robert Andrich’s early header would have been welcomed by all associated with Leverkusen. It got better soon too, with Patrick Schick doubling the advantage before the twenty-minute mark, but if any Bayer fans were getting ahead of themselves, they were quickly stopped in their tracks. The game took a downward turn for the visitors. Firstly, a horrific knee-high challenge from Andrich saw his day go from a goal-getting high to the low of a straight red. The play himself argued little with the decision, which was fairly straightforward for the referee following a VAR review. Stuttgart did not wait around to make the numerical disparity count as well, with Orel Mangala halving the deficit. The contest appeared to have completely changed course, but Stuttgart’s Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, who had a hand in Mangala’s goal for the hosts, then laid one on a plate for another player. On this occasion though, it was for someone on the wrong team – Bayer wonder kid Florian Wirtz. The newly made Germany international pounced on a mistake in the middle of the park, showed the composure of someone double his age to carry the ball into the opposing penalty area and dispatched a cool left-footed shot in the corner to dispel any Leverkusen worries of a Stuttgart comeback.
A Few Words On… Dodi Lukebakio
After impressing with a lively display on his first Wolfsburg start, Belgian winger Lukebakio could prove to be one of the most intelligent signings of the summer. There tend to be a number of Bundesliga-to-Bundesliga club transfers in each window. However, Lukebakio’s switch from Hertha Berlin to the Volkswagen Arena seems rather odd. The forward has plenty of Bundesliga experience despite his relatively young age. Still just 23 years of age, Lukebakio started his Bundesliga career back in the 2018/19 season, when loaned out to then top flight Fortuna Düsseldorf from English side Watford. Fans of the German game soon began to take notice of this exciting player, shining in a bottom half side – arguably the sign of a quality player. He even managed the near-on impossible task that year of netting the first hattrick in Bundesliga history against Germany keeper and legend Manuel Neuer. That was more than enough reason for Hertha to swoop in at the end of that campaign, and secure the Belgian’s permanent move from Watford, staying in Germany to hopefully carry on thriving. His time at in Berlin certainly was not unproductive, taking his career Bundesliga tally for games to 95 and goals to 23. Not bad statistics for a player who is not an out-and-out centre forward. In between some spells on the side lines with injury, Lukebakio was often one of the key men for Hertha, even if not totally consistent. That is what makes the move to Wolfsburg so strange though, as it is not a permanent move for an eye-watering transfer sum that can weigh over an exciting 23-year-old coming into a new club. On the contrary. Rather, he joins the Wolves on loan for the season. A plain old, no buy option, no obligation to buy, no pay a bit now and pay the rest later type of loan deal. It is the sort that is normally seen when players are sent out to get some experience and game time where they would not get it with their current sides. That is evidently not the case with Lukebakio. Therefore, why have Hertha lent him to a rival for the year? If it could not get any more peculiar, his only goal of the season so far came from the penalty spot for Berlin against Wolfsburg on matchday two. Wolfsburg are probably just happy to have him.
What to Look Forward to Next Matchday
Greuther Fürth vs. Bayern München
Hoffenheim vs. Wolfsburg
Union Berlin vs. Arminia Bielefeld
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Mainz
RB Leipzig vs. Hertha Berlin
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Köln
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Borussia Dortmund
Bochum vs. Stuttgart
Freiburg vs. Augsburg
Bayern ruthlessly put seven past one of the newly promoted teams, Bochum, as they climbed to the top of the Bundesliga standings for the first time this season on matchday five. That is thanks to their superior goal difference, and, even though they have won the same number of points as second-placed Wolfsburg, the Bavarians actually equalled the Wolves’ tally for the whole league campaign so far in the last match. Therefore, Fürth may be fearing the worst for when they host the champions on Friday night.
The Saturday Topspiel sees the battle of the Borussias, with Gladbach and Dortmund going toe-to-toe in another edition of their historic rivalry. However, another clash earlier in the day could prove to be just as intriguing. RB Leipzig entertain Hertha Berlin at the Red Bull Arena, and some may see this as a great chance for Leipzig to kick-start what has been a poor 2021/22 for them. Hertha will surely not roll over so easily though, as two wins from two goes to demonstrate. What better way to really showcase the potential of this Berlin project than to topple one of the last term’s high flyers.