The three greatest performances from The Bundesliga weekend
#1: Schalke
Despite Borussia Dortmund being on an atrocious run of form, with just one point from five Bundesliga matches prior to the weekend, there is no taking away from the heroic nature of Schalke’s recovery from being four goals down to snatch a point at the Signal Iduna Park.
It had initially been a blistering start by Dortmund, who looked like they had the game wrapped up after just 25 minutes. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 12th minute opener was followed by three in seven minutes as Peter Bosz’s side looked to be finally earning themselves a much-needed win.
It appeared like it was going to be an extremely one-sided derby encounter with a double Schalke substitution being made as early as the 33rd minute. Many Dortmund fans could have been forgiven for believing their side was coasting to victory at half-time with the four goal advantage still intact.
However, quick-fire goals from Guido Burgstaller and one of the 33rd minute substitutes, Amine Harit, brought Schalke back into the game just after the hour mark. This flicker of hope became a beaming ray of sunshine when Aubameyang was sent-off in the 72nd minute after picking up his second yellow card.
Schalke would have to wait a further 14 minutes before Daniel Caligiuri put the away side within a goal of Dortmund. The home’s side misery was compounded when the dramatic comeback was completed in the fourth of seven stoppage-time minutes. Centre-back Naldo headed home from a corner to spark off jubilant post-match celebrations in front of the away supporters.
Come back from 4-0 down in your arch-rivals’ backyard?
Completed it mate ✅ #BVBS04 pic.twitter.com/TzS1hTI7Hl
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) November 26, 2017
#2: Borussia Monchengladbach
Bayern Munich’s unbeaten record under Jupp Heynckes’ this season, as well as nine straight wins, was finally halted by Borussia Monchengladbach. The home side pulled off an impressive 2-1 victory over the defending champions, who look well-equipped to add to their Bundesliga trophy cabinet despite the loss.
Despite only having 28 per cent of possession over the course of the match, as well as producing seven shots in total in contrast to Bayern’s 25, Monchengladbach took all three points to leave them in fourth place. Dieter Hecking’s team are now five points off Bayern, and level on points with Schalke in third.
Thorgan Hazard opened the scoring with a 39th minute penalty, before Matthias Ginter doubled the lead from close-range just before half-time. Bayern, who had hit the woodwork twice through Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski, pulled a goal back through Arturo Vidal in the 74th minute, but Munich could not make any further inroads after that.
Monchengladbach’s victory was also the first time that Bayern manager Heynckes had lost since 28 October 2012, stretching 30 games, after he re-joined the champions this season. It was a clinical performance with Monchengladbach converting their only two efforts on target.
#3 Hamburg
Hamburg made further steps away from the relegation zone with a comprehensive 3-0 win over seventh-place Hoffenheim at the Volksparkstadion. The win was Hamburg’s second successive victory as they move up to 13 points in 15th place, two points ahead of Freiburg in 16th and five ahead of Werder Bremen in 17th.
In search of their fourth win of the season, Hamburg took an early lead through Kevin Akpoguma’s own-goal in the sixth minute of the game. The home-side had further chances to extend their lead, with Bobby Wood firing against the woodwork, before goals from Filip Kostic and Gideon Jung in the final quarter of the game sealed the victory.
17 year old forward Jann-Fiete Arp was amongst the chances as Hamburg amassed 18 efforts on goal, five more than their higher-placed opponents.
In front of a crowd of 46,470, Hamburg’s well-deserved three points will give them plenty of confidence to climb the table, and away from the dreaded relegation places.