Bundesliga Roundup, Matchday 23
The 23rd round of matches in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season showcased thrilling games and impressive performances. Here’s a summary of the weekend’s matches.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Mainz
Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 win over Mainz extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 8 points. Xabi Alonso’s team also made history by setting a new German record with their 33rd consecutive unbeaten game. The match started with both teams showing strong attacking intent, but Leverkusen took the lead early on through Granit Xhaka’s goal. Mainz’s hopes were further dashed when Jessic Ngankam was red-carded late in the game, leaving them with 10 players and unable to secure their first away Bundesliga win since April. Leverkusen’s victory gives them a comfortable lead in the title race.
Werder Bremen 1-1 Darmstadt
Darmstadt’s winless streak in the Bundesliga has now reached 16 games after they tied 1-1 with Werder Bremen. They are facing a daunting 12-point gap to safety that seems to be increasing every week. Werder Bremen started strong and had a great opportunity early on, but Romano Schmid missed a chance to score from Justin Njinmah’s cross. Darmstadt seemed to have finally caught a break when Tim Skarke scored from close range, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.
In a twist of fate, Skarke thought he had scored the winning goal in stoppage time, only for VAR to intervene again and rule a handball in the build-up. This led to both teams settling for a point, which didn’t benefit either side. Werder Bremen missed a chance to close the gap on the top six, while Darmstadt remains at the bottom of the table.
Union Berlin 2-2 Heidenheim
Heidenheim maintained their unbeaten streak on the road in the Bundesliga, securing a draw against Union Berlin in the German capital after falling behind. Both teams solidified their positions in the middle of the table, but neither could produce the quality needed to secure a victory, disappointing the fans in the packed stadium. Despite Union Berlin’s frustration at losing the lead, their unbeaten run stretched to four matches, leaving them three points behind Heidenheim in the top half of the table.
Stuttgart 1-1 Cologne
Eric Martel secured a surprising Bundesliga point for Cologne by preventing a loss against Stuttgart, marking only the fourth time in 11 league matches that they have avoided defeat against their opponents. Despite hopes for a late goal from Guirassy, who had a close attempt from the six-yard box in the final minutes, Guirassy was unable to score as Schwäbe made another save. In the end, Cologne emerged as the more satisfied team, as they disrupted Stuttgart’s Champions League aspirations and also put an end to their perfect league record against the teams at the bottom of the table.
Monchengladbach 5-2 Bochum
Borussia Monchengladbach put an end to a streak of five winless matches in the Bundesliga, with two draws and three losses, by comfortably beating VfL Bochum 5-2 in an exciting game at Borussia-Park. This victory helped Die Fohlen move away from the relegation zone, creating an eight-point gap between them and the relegation play-off spot. On the other hand, Bochum, who had recently defeated the reigning champions, faced a reality check as they suffered only their second loss in seven Bundesliga games, with two wins and three draws, dropping to 15th place.
Bayern Munich 2-1 RB Leipzig
Harry Kane scored a late goal in the 91st minute to help Bayern Munich break a three-game losing streak by defeating RB Leipzig 2-1 at the Allianz Arena. This victory kept them within eight points of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Thomas Tuchel made a crucial substitution, bringing on Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, whose assist led to Kane’s decisive goal. The home crowd erupted as Kane’s goal secured a much-needed win, ending a three-match head-to-head losing streak.
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Wolfsburg
Omar Marmoush scored a last-minute goal for Eintracht Frankfurt to prevent VfL Wolfsburg from securing their third consecutive victory at Deutsche Bank Park. This goal also kept Frankfurt’s hopes alive of finishing in a European position at the end of the Bundesliga season. Despite Wolfsburg’s strong performance, Frankfurt did not deserve more than a draw. However, Marmoush remained composed and scored a crucial equalizer when it seemed like Frankfurt had run out of ideas. Eintracht still faces challenges, as they have now gone six games without a win in all competitions as they chase a spot in Europe.
Dortmund 2-3 Hoffenheim
Maximilian Beier scored two goals to help Hoffenheim secure a remarkable 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on the road, ending the home team’s 10-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Despite Edin Terzić’s team’s efforts to find an equalizer, Hoffenheim’s determined performance allowed them to hold on for the win, marking their first victory since December and their first win against Dortmund since June 2020. While Dortmund remains in fourth place, the triumph propels Hoffenheim to seventh place and within four points of the top six.
Augsburg 2-1 Freiburg
Augsburg improved their chances of avoiding relegation by coming from behind to beat Freiburg 2-1 at WWK Arena, ending a streak of 10 winless head-to-head matches against their opponents. Augsburg secured a crucial victory in their fight to remain in the top division of German football. On the other hand, Freiburg’s aspirations of catching up to sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a setback as they tasted defeat in a head-to-head match for the first time since September 2018.
