Bundesliga Roundup, Matchday 27
The 27th set of matches in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season showcased thrilling games and notable displays of skill. Here is a summary of the weekend’s matches.
Werder Bremen 0-2 Wolfsburg
Ralph Hasenhüttl secured his first victory as Wolfsburg’s manager with a tense 2-0 win over Werder Bremen, breaking a streak of three consecutive Bundesliga losses and 11 matches without a win for the team. However, just like in the first half when a player was sent off, Wolfsburg also had a player dismissed late in the game, as goalscorer Lacroix received a red card for fouling Christian Groß. Despite this setback, Wolfsburg managed to seal the victory with a late goal from Majer, who skillfully chipped the ball into the net, helping to alleviate concerns about relegation.
RB Leipzig 0-0 Mainz
RB Leipzig was held to a goalless draw by FSV Mainz at the RB Arena. The Red Bulls managed to secure their fourth consecutive clean sheet at home, a feat they hadn’t achieved since December 2018. Olmo came close to scoring the winning goal, but ultimately, RB Leipzig seemed to struggle to find a breakthrough as the match neared its end. Mainz also had a chance to snatch victory late in the game, but Barreiro missed a golden opportunity to score. Despite this, Mainz earned a respectable point, maintaining a solid start under Henriksen, although they are still searching for their first away league win of the season.
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Union Berlin
Eintracht Frankfurt maintained their unbeaten streak at home to seven league games with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. The draw is particularly significant for Union Berlin, who have lost the most away games in the league this season, as it helps them stay nine points clear of relegation. Meanwhile, Frankfurt sits comfortably in sixth place, five points ahead of seventh-placed Augsburg.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Hoffenheim
Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive season by scoring two late goals in the 88th and 91st minute to secure a 2-1 comeback victory against Hoffenheim. This win extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 39 games, with 34 wins and 5 draws, across all competitions. Despite having over 30 shots on goal, Leverkusen faced challenges with poor finishing and an outstanding performance by Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Baumann. However, Leverkusen persisted in attacking and eventually found success with a goal from Robert Andrich in the 88th minute and another from Patrik Schick in stoppage time. This victory, their 23rd in 27 league games, brings them closer to potentially winning their first-ever Bundesliga title.
Monchengladbach 0-3 Freiburg
SC Freiburg, a team vying for qualification in the UEFA Europa Conference League, secured their second win in nine Bundesliga games with a convincing 3-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. This win, their first away victory in a head-to-head match against Mönchengladbach since December 2021, boosts their chances of participating in a third consecutive European campaign, especially if Bayer 04 Leverkusen wins the DFB-Pokal and an additional qualification spot opens up.
Bayern Munich 0-2 Dortmund
Bayern Munich’s chances of winning the Bundesliga title for the 12th consecutive season are now in serious jeopardy after a 2-0 loss at home to Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund, who broke an 11-game winless streak against Bayern, secured a significant victory. Despite a disallowed goal for Kane in the 90th minute, Dortmund emerged victorious, marking their fourth consecutive league win and positioning them well for UEFA Champions League qualification. Leverkusen’s late win on the same day added to Bayern’s disappointment, widening the gap to 13 points with only seven matches left, signaling the likely end of their dominance in the German top flight.
Augsburg 1-1 FC Cologne
Augsburg’s streak of four consecutive victories was halted with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Cologne, who are fighting against relegation in the Bundesliga. Rubén Vargas made a strong effort to secure a win for Augsburg, but was thwarted by Schwäbe in the box towards the end of the match, forcing the hosts to settle for a single point. The outcome resulted in Augsburg moving up to seventh place, surpassing Freiburg, but they remain five points away from the European qualification spots. On the other hand, Cologne inched one point closer to safety but extended their winless streak to seven games, with four draws and three losses.
Stuttgart 3-3 Heidenheim
Stuttgart managed to secure a draw in the final moments of the game after giving up a two-goal advantage to FC Heidenheim. The 3-3 result extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches and kept them in contention for second place. Initially seen as a consolation goal, it turned out to be a crucial moment as Heidenheim quickly scored two goals to turn the game around. Kleindienst scored both goals, first converting a precise cross from Beste and then heading in a pass from Eren Dinkçi to take the lead. Despite a red card for Dovedan, Heidenheim held on until the last kick of the game when Undav scored to salvage a point for Stuttgart.
Bochum 2-2 Darmstadt
Darmstadt managed to come back from a two-goal deficit to secure a draw in their match against Bochum, despite still not having won a game in their last 20 league matches, with 7 draws and 13 losses. Riemann, the goalkeeper for Bochum, may not be pleased with his performance as he allowed Vilhelmsson’s powerful shot to slip past his weak hands at the near post. He may also question his defense, especially when Gjasula had a clear chance in the penalty area from a corner kick but directed his header straight at the goalkeeper. The match ended in a draw that neither team will be particularly happy with.
