Freiburg 0-0 Hamburg

Both of these teams will look on this freezing night with disappointment, as the draw did not suit either of the teams’ ambitions. Freiburg were largely disappointing and had no chances of note to convert. Hamburg were the better team, but it was far from a good performance from the visitors with Bobby Wood and Jann-Fiete Arp restricted up top. Hamburg earned their first away clean sheet but needed more if they meant to stay clear of the danger zone.

Werder Bremen 1-0 Stuttgart

(Kruse 45′)

Werder Bremen and Max Kruse continued to build off of the 4-0 win over Hannover and a good performance in a 2-0 loss to Leipzig. Florian Kohfeldt’s side started slowly, with a Takuma Asano missing the target early on for Stuttgart. Max Kruse, who netted a hat-trick in the aforementioned 4-0 thrashing of Hannover, scored from a free-kick on the stroke of half-time to put the Green-Whites up.

Werder sought to secure the win, which would become their second consecutive one at home, but had a Fin Bartels’ goal turned over after a VAR review. Thomas Delaney surged through the defence and forced a smart save out of Ron-Robert Zieler before Holger Badstuber did the same of Jiri Pavlenka at the other end with a wickedly struck volley. Ultimately, Werder Bremen secured the much-needed three points and left Stuttgart without a Bundesliga away win in 14 matches.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Hannover 96

(Vidal 17′, Coman 67′, Lewandowski pen. 87′ – Benschop 35′)

The Bavarians returned to winning ways following their defeat against Monchengladbach. The hosts struck first through Arturo Vidal, who’s scored in three consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time in his career. Vidal met a sublime cross delivered by Thomas Muller, who was back into the first eleven after a seven game absence. His header missed the boot of Lewandowski and the Hannover goalkeeper before going into the back of the net.

Hannover were, in a peculiar series of events, award a penalty after Lewandowski had a goal ruled out with a VAR review. Niclas Fullkrug put away the penalty kick, but the referee demanded a retake after encroachment and the next attempt was saved. Hannover still got their goal, as Charlison Benschop headed in from a corner. Bayern wrapped up their fifth straight home win under still contract-less Jupp Heynckes with goals from Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski. Muller, again, provided the assist for Coman’s goal. A good touch and a well-struck finish preceded a Lewandowski penalty, which made him the first Bayern player to score in seven straight home matches from the start of the season.

Mainz 1-3 Augsburg

(Holtmann 85′ – Gregoritsch 22′, Finnbogason pen. 43′, 86′)

Mainz were quickest out of the blocks and nearly had the lead within ten minutes but Danny Latza’s volley came back off the post. The hosts kept searching for the opener, but Augsburg were the ones who got it. Philipp Max assisted his seventh of the season as Michael Gregoritsch finish clinically, as Augsburg have done so often this campaign, into the top corner. A foul on Gregoritsch allowed Alfred Finnbogason to score his seventh, soon to be complemented with an eighth, goal of the season – a record for the Iceland international. Two changes at the half for Mainz were not enough. They drew within one goal, only for Finnbogason to score his second of the game within a minute to secure the win for Augsburg.

Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

(Volland 30′ – Yarmolenko 73′)

Bayer Leverkusen were firing on all cylinder from the get-go at the Bay Arena, with Kai Havertz hitting the crossbar early on before in-form striker Kevin Volland broke the deadlock. An embarrassing error allowed Volland to sprint half the length of the pitch, round Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki and tuck it away for the lead. Volland is the highest scoring German in the Bundesliga, with nine goals this season. Dortmund received a helping hand when Wendell was sent off before half-time.

Dortmund, desperate to make their extra man count, dominated possession in the second period but Leverkusen, led by Jonathan Tah, stayed firm against the black and yellow attack. Volland nearly extended their lead, but was denied this time when one-on-one with Burki. The miss proved to be costly as Andriy Yarmolenko bagged an equalizer for Dortmund moments later. There was not to be a dramatic ending and both teams settled for a draw. Leverkusen are on the longest undefeated run in the league (nine matches), while Dortmund have earned only three of their last twenty-one possible.

Hoffenheim 4-0 RB Leipzig

(Amiri 13′, Gnabry 52′, 62′, Uth 87′)

Hoffenheim notched up their first win in nearly a month in emphatic fashion as Serge Gnabry scored from 40-odd metres out. Hoffenheim out played Leipzig at their own counter-attacking game, as Nadiem Amiri scored early on before Rupp had a goal ruled out for offside. Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl brought off two defenders at half-time in search of Leipzig’s fourth comeback win, which seemed all the more possible consider Hoffenheim had let a lead slip five times. Alas, the second half belonged to Hoffenheim as well, with Gnabry scoring after a long ball from Kevin Akpoguma. Gnabry produced a moment of brilliance later, lobbing Peter Gulacsi from near the halfway line before Mark Uth rubbed salt on the wounds of Leipzig with a fourth late on.

Schalke 2-2 Koln

(Burgstaller 36′, Harit 72′ – Guirassy 50′, 77′ pen)

Although Schalke were substantial favourites to win, especially considering Koln have yet to win this year, they made it hard for themselves. Schalke lacked ruthlessness, but still took lead through Guido Burgstaller, set up by Daniel Caligiuri. Cologne came out of the dressing room for the second half with optimism, treating Schalke to the receiving end of a fightback. Sehrou Guirassy powered one home after a free kick before Amine Harit restored Schalke’s lead. Guirassy popped up again, this time from the spot following a Benjamin Stambouli handball, to give the Billy Goats a share of the points.

Hertha Berlin 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

(Selke 15′ – Wolf 26′, Boateng 80′)

The hosts had a rapid start, with Vedad Ibisevic’s effort within a minute deflected wide before Davie Selke bagged the opener, his first Bundesliga goal for Hertha at the Olympiastadion. Marius Wolf equalised around 10 minutes later, blasting the ball into the top of the net. The second half was not as open as the first; it was a combative 45 minutes, which needed Berlin-born Kevin-Prince Boateng’s talent to settle it and leave Frankfurt on level with Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg.

Wolfsburg 3-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach

(Malli 4′, Didavi 25′, Guilavogui 71′)

Red-hot Yunus Malli scored with the game’s first shot on target just four minutes in and provided an assist as well. Mario Gomez picked out Mailli from the right for him to put it away at the back post. Malli turned the provider for a delightful Daniel Didavi chip for the Wolves to extend their lead to two. Gladbach recovered and played better as the half progressed, having two goals ruled out for offside in the process. The visitors picked up right where the left off before the interval but found it hard to create clear opening against a defence led by German-born American John Brooks. Josuha Guilavogui scored via a deflection from long range to alleviate any fears of a Gladbach comeback and move Wolfsburg up to fourth.