After BVB submitted on Friday, FC Bayern very convincingly restored the gap at the top of the table in the Bundesliga. Robert Lewandowski towers over with a milestone. Wolfsburg stops the series of defeats against Hertha. Union, Leipzig and Mainz achieve important victories.
1. FC Cologne – FC Bayern Munich 0: 4 (0: 2)
In the hunt for the tenth championship title in a row, Bayern Munich didn’t let the in-form 1. FC Köln slow them down. Led by three-time goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team deservedly won 4-0 (2-0) against the Rhinelanders and maintained their cushion of six points at the top of the table over pursuers Borussia Dortmund, who had presented the evening before.
Lewandowski (9th, 63rd, 74th) with his goals 21 to 23 this season and Corentin Tolisso (25th) scored for the record champions, who also scored at least one goal in the 66th Bundesliga game in a row and thus set a record. Munich had also maintained the old record of 65 games with their own goal – across seasons from 2011/12 to 2013/14. In total, he has now scored 300 Bundesliga goals in his career.
In front of only 750 admitted spectators, FC also had chances, but unlike the last time they didn’t use them consistently and thus conceded their ninth defeat in a row against Bayern. Nevertheless, Cologne remains on target with 28 points. The guests, who lost at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach at the start of the second half of the season, made it clear from the start that they didn’t want to allow themselves any more slip-ups. After Cologne lost the ball, Munich switched quickly, Thomas Müller served Lewandowski, who converted easily in front of Marvin Schwäbe. The guests now controlled the game, Tolisso scored after a one-two with Müller to make it 2-0. A little later, Müller missed the chance to score the next goal (28th).
In the middle of this urge phase, Mark Uth (31st) scored the supposed goal after a strong individual performance, but it didn’t count because of an offside position. Shortly before the break, Manuel Neuer, who was back in the Bayern goal after surviving the corona infection, had to survive another tricky situation. A shot by Ondrej Duda (45+1) just missed the target. Unlike against Gladbach, Bayern coach Nagelsmann was able to fall back on significantly more professionals. Leroy Sané, Dayot Upamecano, Omar Richards and Tanguy Nianzou, who were recently isolated, were available again. Marcel Sabitzer defended on the left as a substitute for Alphonso Davies, who is out indefinitely due to “mild myocarditis”.
Shortly after his substitution (61st), Sané striker Lewandowski played the third Bayern goal in an exemplary manner. Munich was now pushing for the decision, but FC didn’t admit defeat either. Dejan Ljubicic had the goal on his feet, but failed at Neuer (69th). A little later, Lewandowski did better on the other side: again after a nice pass from Sane.
FC Union Berlin – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 2: 1 (1: 1)
TSG Hoffenheim’s winning streak has come to an end. The previous surprise team of the season conceded a defeat after seven unbeaten games with the 1: 2 (1: 1) at home strong FC Union Berlin. The Berliners, who have only lost once in the past 26 games in the Alte Försterei, drew level with the Kraichgauers on points (31).
Attackers Andreas Voglsammer (22nd) and Grischa Prömel (73rd) scored the goals for Union. Hoffenheim took the lead with an own goal from Union defender Timo Baumgartl (17th). The game in the Alte Försterei took place in front of 3,000 fans because Berlin takes a different approach when it comes to spectator regulations. For Union, it was also a successful dress rehearsal for the prestigious round of 16 in the DFB Cup next Wednesday at city rivals Hertha BSC.
Both teams initially presented themselves with many mistakes, the ball often bounced and the passes rarely arrived. Hoffenheim were the first to catch themselves and did not take the lead undeservedly: on the right attacking side, the nimble Ihlas Bebou ran past the Union defender Robin Knoche, and Baumgartl headed his sharp cross into his own goal. The Berliners shook themselves briefly – and immediately pushed for the equalizer. That was achieved just five minutes later, even though goalscorer Voglsammer was a bit lucky with his header following a cross from Bastian Oczipka: the ball bounced off the crossbar onto the upper body of TSG keeper Oliver Baumann and from there into the goal.
The Hoffenheim team played the technically better football, the Unioners countered with running and tackling strength. Neither team was able to develop a noticeable overweight, every goal chance had to be worked hard. At Union, the absence of Awoniyi was clearly noticeable, the Nigerian’s dynamism was missing in the last third. After a little over an hour, Union coach Urs Fischer brought on the fast Sheraldo Becker for the weak Levin Öztunali, and the Dutchman brought more momentum into the offensive game. Becker initially had a great chance with a header in the 71st minute and a little later Prömel made it 2-1.
VfB Stuttgart – RB Leipzig 0: 2 (0: 1)
RB Leipzig has ended its misery away from home after more than nine months. Last season’s runners-up won 2-0 (1-0) at VfB Stuttgart, who were threatened with relegation, and continued their race towards a place in the European Cup with their third win under coach Domenico Tedesco. For VfB, who have only won one of their last six games, things are getting more and more dangerous in the relegation battle.
Goalscorer Andre Silva gave the guests the lead in the eleventh minute with a hand penalty. Christopher Nkunku made it 2-0 with his ninth goal of the season (70′). Leipzig could also thank their extremely strong goalkeeper Peter Gulasci, who prevented the equalizer several times. Most recently, RB won an away game 280 days ago on April 10, 2021 in a 4-1 win in Bremen in the Bundesliga. VfB remained without a goal for the fourth game in a row.
Tedesco, who was on the RB bench for the fifth time, had to change his starting lineup just before kick-off. Dominik Szoboszlai complained about muscular problems during the warm-up, Yussuf Poulsen started for him. RB put the change away well, but Leipzig needed the help of VfB to make it 1-0. A cross from Nkunku was parried by Konstantinos Mavropanos with his hand. Referee Daniel Schlager, who had stepped in at short notice for the injured Patrick Ittrich, didn’t hesitate for a second. Silva finished confidently.
As a result, Leipzig withdrew and largely left the events to VfB. Despite their best efforts, the team coached by Pellegrino Matarazzo initially lacked the ideas and power to pose a serious threat to the compact guests. Only shortly before the break did VfB become more determined without Borna Sosa (back problems): Hiroki Ito and Wataru Endo failed with their shots at Gulasci. After the change, Leipzig became a little more active again and had a double chance through Poulsen. But VfB followed suit. RB captain Gulasci again prevented the equalizer with class saves against Sasa Kalajdzic (55th), Orel Mangala (63rd) and Waldemar Anton (67th). An exemplary counterattack finally made it 0:2.
VfL Wolfsburg – Hertha BSC 0:0
Liberation missed, but free fall stopped: VfL Wolfsburg have scored a point in the Bundesliga for the first time in 56 days. After the last six league bankruptcies in a row, coach Florian Kohfeldt’s team fought back 0-0 in the crisis duel against Hertha BSC. The wolves even sniffed at victory, but missed good chances, especially in the first half.
After the point, Kohfeldt can at least breathe a little. The current place in the table doesn’t even come close to meeting the requirements of the factory club and the performance against Hertha left a lot to be desired overall, but at least the frightening series of defeats has come to an end. The very pale Hertha remains one rank ahead of Wolfsburg.
FSV Mainz 05 – VfL Bochum 1:0 (0:0)
Thanks to a dream comeback from Jeremiah St. Juste, FSV Mainz 05 has overcome its small low and keeps the European Cup places in sight. Coach Bo Svensson’s team defeated promoted VfL Bochum 1-0 (0-0) after two defeats in a row and has been unbeaten in six home games.
The celebrated player for the 05ers was defender St. Juste, who, after recovering from a shoulder injury and missing eleven league games, was back in the starting XI and scored directly (48′). In the 32nd minute, FSV goalkeeper Robin Zentner also parried a weak penalty kick from former Mainz player Sebastian Polter.
The Rheinhessen (27 points) thus extended their lead over Bochum (23) to four points. FSV coach Bo Svensson is suspended in Fürth next Saturday after a yellow card (88th). As early as Tuesday (8.45 p.m. / Sky), VfL has the chance to take revenge on the 05ers in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup on Castroper Straße.