Bundesliga roundup: Top two drop points as Werner leads Leipzig in Augsburg thriller
Bayern Munich 1 Hoffenheim 1
Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich failed to bounce back from midweek European disappointment, surrendering their two-point lead atop the Bundesliga table after being pegged back by Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena.
Having suffered a demoralising 3-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Manchester City earlier in the week, Bayern were evidently keen to move on swiftly.
With 17 minutes on the clock, the defending German champions made their early superiority count when Kingsley Coman dragged a shot towards Benjamin Pavard, who adjusted his feet to poke beyond Oliver Baumann.
The hosts remained on top, and smart interplay between Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry allowed the latter to arrow an effort narrowly wide of the far post as the hosts continued to turn the screw heading into the break.
Hoffenheim fans had very little to cheer for in the first half, but their side remained in the contest, almost finding an improbable equaliser through Pavel Kaderabek’s outstretched boot at the far post.
That chance against the run of play proved to be a catalyst for further Kraichgauer attacks, but Bayern responded with renewed offensive impetus of their own.
Nevertheless, the hosts’ precarious lead disappeared with less than 20 minutes to play when Andrej Kramaric’s free-kick grazed the fingertips of Yann Sommer on its way in off the post.
An instant response from Pavard looked like it had restored Die Rekordmeister’s lead, but to Hoffenheim’s delight, the goal was ruled out for offside.
A lack of cutting edge, possibly exacerbated by Sadio Mane’s absence, ultimately cost Tuchel’s side as they suffered a blip in their quest for a record-extending 11th consecutive German title.
Despite ending a three-game winning streak, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side are now four points clear of the drop zone thanks to Stuttgart’s dramatic draw to title-chasing Borussia Dortmund.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich)
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Koln 1 Mainz 1
Mainz extended their undefeated Bundesliga streak to nine games - the longest unbeaten run in the top-flight - after drawing 1-1 with Koln at the RheinEnergieStadion, keeping their hopes of a top-six finish very much alive towards the business end of the season.
Beloved Koln mascot goat was seen feeling uneasy in the opening minutes, toppling a stand with his majestic horns to scratch an itch, perhaps foreshadowing Koln’s downfall.
Ludovic Ajorque proved to be the thorn that drew first blood, capping a brilliant Mainz move by beating his marker and tapping a poacher’s finish past Marvin Schwabe.
Having lost only once in their previous 15 matches when netting the opener, the momentum evidently stood with Mainz.
The Billy Goats proved headstrong though, eager to avoid falling back into a losing streak after their 3-1 victory over Augsburg in the previous round.
Mounting a fightback, Kingsley Schindler, Eric Martel, and Davie Selke all came close to drawing level, but saw their respective chances go shy of the woodwork on each occasion as Mainz gaffer Bo Svensson breathed a sigh of relief at the half-time whistle.
However, it didn’t take long after the restart for the RheinEnergieStadion to be buzzing. Capitalising on a swift tiki-taka move, Dejan Ljubicic superbly latched onto a first-time effort and drove the ball into the bottom corner to equalise proceedings.
The leveller pitched both sides back to square one, as they tussled one another for midfield bragging rights in a bid to grab the potential winner.
With 20 minutes to go, Koln’s Linton Maina missed a golden opportunity, sending his one-on-one shot wide of the post after being narrowed down by keeper Robin Zentner.
Neither side managed to outdo the other as the final minutes dawned, with a draw perhaps the most justified outcome.
The stalemate means Die Nullfunfer still ride on a high, eyeing a European finish, whereas Steffan Baumgart will be satisfied after seeing his Koln side come out unscathed as they edge towards safety, away from the drop zone
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jonas Hector (Koln)
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RB Leipzig 3 Augsburg 2
Timo Werner netted a sensational brace as his RB Leipzig side charged to a 3-2 win against Augsburg, sending them into the Bundesliga top three with what was a fourth consecutive home victory against Die Fuggerstadter.
Having been sucked closer into a relegation battle and with a woeful record in which they have never won at the Red Bull Arena, Augsburg were determined to snatch an early advantage, and perhaps inspired by Mainz’s unlikely 3-0 win in Leipzig’s last game here, they did just that.
With less than five minutes gone, Iago found enough space on the left to play a low cross into the vicinity of Dion Drena Beljo. Before the Croatian could blink, Arne Maier had come steaming in to take it off his toe and smash past Janis Blaswich.
With memories fresh in the mind of October’s heroic comeback from three goals down in the reverse fixture, Marco Rose was unwilling to let his side leave a response so late this time, and they equalised just minutes later.
Werner was allowed to speed down the right side, and his quality ball into the box was squeezed past Tomas Koubek into the near post by Kevin Kampl.
And it wasn’t long before Werner inscribed his own name on the scoresheet, with a sweeping shot burying Benjamin Henrichs’ cross into the bottom corner.
With one goal already under his belt, Werner showed shades of Thierry Henry as he produced a stunning third for Leipzig.
Kampl floated a high ball to the German international who, 25 yards out and with the defenders between him and the goal, flicked the ball up and volleyed sensationally into the far corner.
Content with their two-goal advantage, Die Roten Bullen slowed down the pace of play and kept their opponents quiet well into the second half.
There was time for Augsburg to force a nervy end to the match, as Leipzig failed to clear their lines, allowing Ruben Vargas to catch Blaswich off guard and find the near post.
The visitors immediately committed players forward, but they were unable to snatch a crucial equaliser. A
ugsburg will need to be wary of being dragged further into the mire at the bottom of the Bundesliga table as they face fellow strugglers Stuttgart next weekend, while three consecutive wins in all competitions for Leipzig will have them looking forward to potential league and cup success.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
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Stuttgart 3 Borussia Dortmund 3
Silas Katompa Mvumpa scored a 97th minute equaliser as Borussia Dortmund squandered the lead in a breathtaking 3-3 draw at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Die Schwarzgelben’s failure to secure a fifth consecutive victory in the fixture saw them miss the chance to move level on points with Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit.
A 3-2 victory over Bochum last week looked to have breathed fresh life into Stuttgart’s survival effort, but a disastrous first half put an end to their momentum here. It could’ve all been so different for the Swabians, too, as Josha Vagnoman spurned an early chance before his cross was inches away from being turned into his own net by Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.
Perhaps what separates the men from the boys in the Bundesliga is a killer instinct, and Edin Terzic’s men were showing their bite as they clinically punished Stuttgart’s wastefulness to cruise into a two-goal lead before the break.
The opener was created by the in-form Donyell Malen, who beat a man on the right before his low cross was rifled in off the underside of the bar by Sebastien Haller.
Not content with his role as a provider, Malen stepped up to net the second, using his strength to hold off challenges before slamming home to score for a fourth consecutive league match.
A miserable half went from bad to worse for the hosts when centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent off after being booked twice in the space of five minutes.
The former Arsenal man inexcusably tripped Malen while already on a yellow card to receive his marching order, leaving Sebastian Hoeness’ men with a mountain to climb after the restart.
Stuttgart thought they’d plotted a route back into the contest through Serhou Guirassy, who delightfully chipped Gregor Kobel to reduce the arrears, only to be denied by the tightest of offside decision after a VAR review.
After that scare, Dortmund attempted to neutralise the game, and were inches away from pulling further ahead through Marco Reus, but his free-kick was deflected against the bar.
It was a crucial intervention, as Stuttgart went up the other end and got one back through Tanguy Coulibaly, who hit the target via a deflection just four minutes after being introduced.
Panic had set in amongst the Dortmund ranks, and their slender lead nearly vanished when Vagnonam was allowed a free header, but his effort sailed over the bar. He’d make no such mistake with his next chance, as sloppy defending from the visitors allowed Vagnoman to rifle home an unlikely equaliser.
The Swabians’ heroic effort would go unrewarded though, as Dan-Axel Zagadou’s block dropped at the feet of Giovanni Reyna to slam home what looked the winner, until Silas stunned the home crowd with a second equaliser, seven minutes into stoppage time to dent Dortmund’s title hopes after an all-time Bundesliga classic.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)