Without Serhou Guirassy – but with a top-performing Deniz Undav: VfB Stuttgart can win in the Bundesliga even without their top scorer. In the top duel against RB Leipzig, the possibly future DFB striker is turning up the heat. Werder Bremen and 1. FC Heidenheim also have reason to celebrate.
Werder Bremen – SC Freiburg 3:1 (1:1)
Self-confident, determined, successful: Werder Bremen took the tailwind of eventful days with Bayern’s victory and investor deal and added three valuable points against SC Freiburg. Coach Ole Werner’s team beat Breisgauer 3-1 (1-1) on the 19th matchday of the Bundesliga and moved into secure midfield.
National player Marvin Ducksch gave the hosts an early lead with a penalty kick according to video evidence (9th). After the break, the strong Justin Njinmah also annoyed Freiburg coach Christian Streich with his goal from distance (53′).
Argentinian newcomer Julian Malatini (90+3) scored the final goal on his Bundesliga debut shortly after coming on as a substitute. The guests had previously equalized from the spot through Vincenzo Grifo (28th), but still suffered their first defeat of the year.
The 1-0 win at Bayern Munich last Sunday reverberated loudly in the Hanseatic city and then the entry of a regional group of donors led by managing director Frank Baumann caused a lot of talk. After difficult years, those responsible for the club sense a spirit of optimism – and Werner’s team was able to fuel this recently.
With the self-confidence of five league games without defeat, the Green-Whites started well. Ducksch, who returned to the starting line-up after serving a yellow card suspension, repeatedly tried to use the fast Njinmah. The lead ultimately resulted from a cross run by Njinmah. Felix Agu went down after contact and referee Robert Hartmann decided on a penalty, according to the video images.
Shortly later, Streich took advantage of a short break in the game caused by fan protests to give his team a strong wake-up call in front of their own bench. That had an effect. Werder keeper Michael Zetterer was challenged for the first time after a header from Lucas Höler and saved his team from equalizing (19th).
The guests remained more active and continued to push forward. Noah Weißhaupt then outwitted Olivier Deman, who was a bit sleepy after a rebound, and took the second penalty of the game.
In the second half, Bremen started again with determination – Jens Stage shot just over from a distance (52nd). Streich saw the disaster coming and complained on the sideline before Njinmah took the measure from distance and scored. Bremen’s Leonardo Bittencourt (82nd) hit the crossbar of the Freiburg goal with a sensitive lob.
VfL Wolfsburg – 1. FC Cologne 1:1 (1:1)
First the referee knocked out, then at least a bit of hope for Timo Schultz: The new coach earned a 1-1 (1-1) draw with 1. FC Köln at VfL Wolfsburg in the fight against relegation. Faride Alidou (38th) initially gave the guests an undeserved lead, but Kevin Paredes (40th) was able to equalize again shortly afterwards.
Schultz thus missed the big liberation he had hoped for in his third game as FC coach, but the traditional club at least improved on the relegation rank and shortened the gap to Union Berlin to two points. At least a small glimmer of hope for the Cologne team before the difficult weeks ahead with games against Frankfurt, Hoffenheim, Bremen, Stuttgart – and then the derby against Leverkusen. On the other hand, the pressure on coach Niko Kovac is likely to continue to grow, the Wolves are only languishing in eleventh place – far too little for the demands of the factory club.
It was quite an intense game, but the scene of the game affected a referee: Because assistant referee Thorben Siewer was hit hard in the head by the ball, the match had to be interrupted for 15 minutes. The mishap happened to Max Finkgräfe from Cologne when he tried to clarify things. Siewer fell to the ground and was treated; paramedics held up blankets to protect him from view. The 36-year-old was then able to go into the catacombs alone, where he was further examined.
Nicolas Winter stepped in for Siewer, originally intended as fourth official. The stadium announcer therefore asked the “amateur referees” among the 24,525 spectators in the Volkswagen Arena to come forward to step in as fourth official. Tobias Krull, 32 years old, sporting director and goalkeeper at the regional league team MTV Gifhorn, finally took over the job. The game could start again.
After that, the Cologne team struck quickly, although important players Davie Selke (foot injury), Mark Uth (knee injury) and Luca Waldschmidt (fractured fibula) were missing. But Alidou headed it cleverly, although the FC defense probably celebrated a bit too long and was then disorganized. And so less than 120 seconds later, Paredes was able to complete a quick combination without any problems.
After the results of the last few weeks, it was clear to both teams that they weren’t necessarily full of self-confidence, a lot of things went wrong – but FC in particular really wanted to and gave everything. And so the spectators didn’t see a high-class, but at least exciting game in which Cologne’s Jan Thielmann put the ball just centimeters past the Wolfsburg goal in the final phase (82nd). On the other side it was even closer for Paredes, who hit the post (89th).
VfB Stuttgart – RB Leipzig 5:2 (2:1)
Led by three-packer Deniz Undav, VfB Stuttgart has impressively gotten back on track in the Bundesliga after their brief dip at the beginning of the year. After two recent defeats, the Swabians deservedly defeated cup winners RB Leipzig 5:2 (2:1) and celebrated an important success against a direct competitor in the fight for the Champions League places.
The outstanding Undav (30th, 56th and 75th), Enzo Millot (25th, hand penalty) and Jamie Leweling (48th) ensured VfB’s first win against Leipzig in the twelfth duel – and also made Serhou Guirassy forgotten. After four unsuccessful attempts, the Swabians won a game for the first time this season without their top striker, who was active in the Africa Cup.
RB has been waiting for success in the Bundesliga for four games now. Since the turn of the year, the Saxons, for whom Benjamin Sesko (32nd) and Lois Openda (55th) scored on Saturday, have suffered three defeats in three games. On Sunday, Leipzig could initially lose its Champions League place to Borussia Dortmund.
Both Leipzig and Stuttgart initially tried to remain true to themselves despite their recent failures. As usual, both teams attacked the opposing defensive lines aggressively and early – with manageable success. VfB in particular was able to break free again and again and counter-attack with speed.
And yet it was a standard situation that ultimately led to success. After a corner, Dan-Axel Zagadou’s header landed on Mohamed Simakan’s outstretched arm. Referee Sven Jablonski awarded a penalty after using VAR, which Millot safely converted.
Stuttgart was now finally setting the tone and gave Leipzig no room to relieve themselves. Before the score was 2-0, Anthony Rouault won the ball in the center circle and played Undav. The striker immediately got his failed pass back and hit the left corner with a nice direct pass.
In what was now a fast-paced game, it only took 114 seconds for the cheers of the 52,100 spectators to die down. After a corner from David Raum, Sesko scored out of nowhere for the previously completely harmless Leipzig team. The goal didn’t change this fact.
Stuttgart stayed in control in the second half and were immediately rewarded when Leweling restored the old distance. Despite their oppressive superiority and comfortable lead behind them, VfB was unable to shake off Leipzig.
Again RB managed to catch up out of nowhere, but again Stuttgart was very unimpressed – and responded immediately. After Undav’s second goal, VfB initially took things a little easier. The 27-year-old’s third goal brought the decision before the match winner was allowed off the pitch earlier to a standing ovation.
TSG Hoffenheim – 1. FC Heidenheim 1:1 (1:1)
1. FC Heidenheim has continued its successful streak and can slowly but surely plan for another season in the Bundesliga. The surprisingly strong promoted team drew 1-1 (1-1) at struggling TSG Hoffenheim. This means that FCH has been unbeaten for six games.
Eren Dinkci (29th) scored for Heidenheim (23 points), who are just behind TSG (25 points) in the table. The Kraichgauers have only gotten two points from the last five games. Against Heidenheim, TSG star Andrej Kramaric (45th + 7) scored with a hand penalty.
“Of course I realize that we haven’t scored as much as we wanted recently. That’s why the focus is on three points at home,” said TSG coach Pellegrino Matarazzo shortly before kick-off on Sky: “Heidenheim plays with a lot of intensity. They believe in their strength.”
In front of 20,120 spectators in the Sinsheim Arena, the hosts dominated the opening phase. The Hoffenheim team, who had to make do without the suspended Ozan Kabak, Dennis Geiger, Finn Ole Becker, Mergim Berisha, Marco John and Diadie Samassekou (Africa Cup), were initially unable to create any real scoring chances despite their superiority.
That changed in the 15th minute. The Dutchman Wout Weghorst was unable to take advantage of two good opportunities within a few seconds. On the other side, Dinkci caused danger for the first time shortly afterwards with a deflected shot (17th).
About ten minutes later, Dinkci did better. After a strong counterattack initiated by the goalscorer himself, the attacker scored his seventh goal of the season thanks to an assist from Jan Schöppner. Afterwards, Heidenheim’s second goal was in the air. Hoffenheim were visibly shocked by the deficit.
The hosts had FCH defender Benedikt Gimber to thank for the equalizer in stoppage time in the first half, which was no longer thought possible, thanks to FCH defender Benedikt Gimber, who elbowed the ball in his own penalty area. Referee Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden) needed the video evidence, Kramaric didn’t miss the chance from the spot.
At the beginning of the second half, Hoffenheim increased the number of hits. Things got tricky several times in the Heidenheim penalty area in the first few minutes. In the 49th minute, Maximilian Beier should have given TSG the lead, but FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller made a brilliant save. After this scene, Heidenheim came back into the game, which was completely open after an hour. Both teams wanted the win.