Dortmund lacklustre and Leipzig all over the place as Muller scores the winner in his 250th game

Friday’s match day opener saw Dortmund host Ingolstadt at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund are struggling at the minute and this was another lacklustre performance from BVB. To be fair it was a real disappointing game with neither side showing too much class. The only shining light was in fact the only goal of the game; it came from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is carrying the side singlehandedly. Ingolstadt had a few chances to snatch a draw or even a win at the end but it was just not meant to be.

We then headed to Bremen as the side facing the drop host the high flying RB Leipzig, who themselves have been struggling with a bit of form. Leipzig look like a typical Football Manager player and when things start to go wrong, they chop and change their system. They went with a 343 to try and combat Bremen’s 532 system and they just didn’t look comfortable. It makes you wonder; why change a winning formula?

Leipzig started well and actually looked the most likely to score with chances from Werner and Forsberg. However it was Bremen who broke the deadlock and with a wonder strike from captain Zlatko Junuzovic. Another great goal and one that clearly had been worked on the training ground and due to the bobble, Grillitsch’s strike could have easily spooned off target; instead it flew into the top corner. Leipzig pushed on to try and get back into it, but at the death, Bremen struck for a third time thanks to Kainz, confirming a precious 3-0 win for Bremen.

Wolfsburg took on Darmstadt in a relegation battle and with the Wolves coming off a vital 1-0 win against Leipzig last week; they new another victory could really boost their chances of staying up. It was their main man, Mario Gomez who got the goal last week and he was at it again, not only did it confirm a second vital win but also a second clean sheet. Both could turn out important come the end of the season.

Köln vs Hertha Berlin, two sides fighting it out for a European spot, even more importantly a Champions League spot. The deadlock was broken from a cracking strike from Yuya Osako. The Billy Goats continued the pressure and their main man Anthony Modeste fired two very well taken goals before the break. Hertha pulled one back from the spot thanks to Ibisevic, but Modeste was there to complete his hat trick on the hour. Brooks managed to head another back for Hertha but it wasn’t enough, the final score, 4-2. That’s Hertha’s 6th straight defeat away from home.

Leverkusen’s woes continued as Hoffenheim scrapped away to take all 3 points thanks to the big man, Sandro Wagner. It wasn’t the prettiest goal of the weekend that’s for sure, but it was a vital one in Hoffenheim’s charge for Europe and one to stick the knife in for Leverkusen fans. Leverkusen are now 6 games without a win.

Augsburg took on Freiburg in a big game where undoubtedly, Augsburg needed the points more than Freiburg. Niederlechner broke the deadlock for the visitors on 30 minutes but it was cancelled out 8 minutes later by Konstantinos Stafylidis, his second goal in his last 3 games. Both sides couldn’t break each other down after that and things ended 1 each.

A goalless draw between Frankfurt and Hamburg hasn’t really done either side any favours, yes both will see it as a point shared, however, most sides in and around them picked up wins so both may well look back on this at the end of the season with a ‘what if’ thought. Especially as Hamburg should have had a penalty.

Schalke picked up only their second away win of the season at Mainz thanks to mask wearing Sead Kolasinac. It was a tidy finish from a well worked move, claiming 3 big points for Schalke and Mainz once again looking over their shoulders.

A historic game at Borussia Park as Gladbach took on the reigning champions, Bayern. It was a close game but it was settled thanks to Thomas Müller, who marked his 250th appearance for Bayern with a match winning goal. His season has been very quiet in comparison to previous years, I and many Bayern fans are hoping to see him rekindle his form from previous years. Big talking point after the game was Robben’s stroppy reaction to being substituted; he acted like a 7 year old and Ancelotti had stolen his favourite toy. Ribery and Boateng found the whole thing hilarious.

Bayern pull away to 13 points clear on RB Leipzig, surely they cannot lose this now, it’s just not in their mould. Schalke move up 3 places into 9th as they hope to turn around their fortunes. At the foot of the table, Darmstadt are pretty much gone and Ingolstadt could well be too. Wolfsburg and Bremen picked up massive wins that have taken them both on 29 points level with Augsburg and Mainz. With Wolfsburg and Bremen currently on form it’s looking more likely the Mainz and Augsburg could be the ones who are fighting it out to avoid the playoff spot, both sides in dreadful form and both lacking confidence.

With the international break coming up it will give most clubs a chance to work on things on the training ground. The Bundesliga returns on the 31/3/17.