Bayern batter Augsburg, Leipzig pretty much seal Darmstadt’s fate and inform Bremen do it again

Friday’s match saw Hertha taking on Hoffenheim; two high flyers looking for a place in next season’s Champions League. Both sides didn’t start that well and possession was lost more often than not. Hertha struck first thanks to Peter Pekarik, an unlikely source. The lead didn’t last long though as Hertha gave away a penalty 7 minutes later, this was put away in cool fashion by Ex-Leicester man, Andrej Kramaric.

Maximilian Mittelstädt was then sent off for a second bookable offence, the later a pretty shocking challenge that on another could have easily seen a red. This spurred Hoffenheim on and on came Mark Uth, a third striker. However, it was Niklas Süle who managed to turn the tie with a 30-yard screamer. Süle didn’t have the best of games as most of his passes to the wingbacks and midfielders were often short and cut out by Hertha. That will all be forgotten about following that goal and Bayern fans will be even more excited with what Süle has in his locker.

Hoffenheim sealed things on 86 minutes when Sandro Wagner collected that ball in an excellent position, he could have easily shot a missed, and with time to spare, Hertha could a snatched something, leaving with 2 points dropped. Instead, he looked up and played a perfect cross to Kramaric to tap in his second, killing the game. It was excellent vision from the big German striker, in most cases, a player would have shot, but he showed the intelligence and awareness to play that pass at the correct time. Maybe his statement was correct?

Time once again for the Revierderby, Schalke taking on Dortmund at the VELTINS. Both sides looked a little nervous and caught up on the occasion and as a consequence, not much happened in the first 45. The second half, though, things started to happen.

Who was to open things up for Dortmund, none other than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Not a surprise as he cannot stop scoring for BVB at the moment. Thilo Kehrer levelled things up though after a lovely backheel from Leon Goretzka. Although the biggest talking point was after penalty claims were turned down following a suspected handball from Marc Bartra.

Schalke boss Markus Weinzierl was sent off during to debacle but he might not be the only Schalke representative in trouble. At the end of the game, the assistant referee threw the red card on the floor, why, I have no idea but he did. So Schalke’s mascot came running up a shown the referee the red card for what he thought to be a mistake not awarding Schalke the penalty. Comical, but could, however, leave him in trouble with the German FA.

Bayern steamrolled their way past Augsburg in a crushing 6-0 win. That’s Bayern’s 25th goal in their last 5 home games. A Robert Lewandowski hat-trick, a brace from Thomas Muller and Thiago Alcantara completed the rout and saw the Champions look even closer to retaining their title.

Two goals from Naby Keita helped Leipzig destroy Darmstadt and has probably no sealed their fate and now destined for 2. Bundesliga. Emil Forsberg and Will Orban completed a convincing 4-0 victory.

Another twist in the battle to avoid the drop as Hamburg lift themselves out of the playoff spot thanks to an injury time winner from Lewis Holtby. Nicolai Müller broke the deadlock for Hamburg but was cancelled out by Koln’s Milos Jojic. Both sides looked capable of snatching it but when Koln thought it was over, Holtby snuck in after a goalmouth scramble. Ensuring a vital win for HSV.

The Bundesliga’s in form side Werder Bremen done it again and this incredible run continues. This week Freiburg were cast aside as Bremen ran out 5-2 winners. A hat-trick from the unsung hero, Thomas Delaney, a cracking strike from Max Kruse and a fancy flick from Fin Bartels completed the win. Goals from Nils Petersen and Vincenzo Grifo weren’t enough for Freiburg to get something.

A blank between Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach in a game which no one really took control of. A poor no score game in a very high scoring weekend.

Ingolstadt are now 7 points away from safety after they managed to beat Mainz in a huge relegation 6 pointer. Mainz must be very worried now as all sides around them are starting to win and they drop to level points with Augsburg in the relegation playoff. If I was a betting man, which I very much am not, I would say that if Mainz doesn’t change their fortunes quickly they will be in the playoff and perhaps even go down. It pains me to say as I like them as a club, but they are struggling and I cannot see a win anytime soon.

Karim Bellarabi and Kevin Volland put underperforming Leverkusen 2 up against Wolfsburg and looked comfortable. That was until the 80th minute where quite frankly, the unthinkable happened. Leverkusen fans must have been pulling their hair out, as Mario Gomez completed a hat-trick in 7 minutes, taking it to 2-3. But things weren’t over as young star Kai Havertz scored his first goal for Leverkusen 2 minutes later, making it 3- at the end.