Bayern Munich opened up the Bundesliga matchday with a 3-0 win towards Werder Bremen. At present, Bayer Leverkusen drew 0-0 with Wolfsburg to place a giant dent within the title retention hopes, in Niko Kovac’s first recreation answerable for Borussia Dortmund noticed them lose 2-1 Stuttgart, Freiburg beat Heidenheim 1-0, Hoffenheim sunk in the direction of the relegation zone as they misplaced 4-0 to Union Berlin and Mainz drew 0-0 with Augsburg.
Here’s what we learnt:
Bayer Leverkusen take a large dent of their title hopes:
After going 120 minutes towards 1.FC Köln on Wednesday, in the present day’s recreation towards Wolfsburg appeared like an excellent larger problem than earlier than the midweek recreation.
Head coach Xabi Alonso made a number of adjustments, and it might have partially backfired, as Leverkusen struggled to have clear probabilities in entrance of purpose. Benching Florian Wirtz is sensible if there’s a participant who can change his output, which is partially what Emiliano Buendia was signed for. In this kind of recreation, he ought to have began whereas Wirtz was rested, as an alternative, Leverkusen lacked any creativity of their assault as Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella didn’t actually do so much and the midfield had Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich and Aleix Garcia in it, none of them a byword for creativity.
The draw signifies that Leverkusen at the moment are eight factors behind , if Leverkusen need any probability of retaining their title, they not solely must win this recreation however will virtually should be good for the remainder of the seasons.
Niko Kovac faces the fact of the Borussia Dortmund job:
Dortmund regarded so much higher on this recreation than they’d of their earlier video games, nevertheless, they shot themselves within the foot, which may be very on-brand for Dortmund in the mean time. This was proven in the very best means when former Stuttgart defender Waldemar Anton diverted a Chris Führich shot into his personal internet to provide the guests the lead. Issues didn’t get any higher for Dortmund when their defence..forgot how you can defend? When a recycled nook leaves Jeff Chabot large open to double Stuttgart’s lead.
Julian Brandt gave Dortmund a lifeline when his low drive effort, someway, discovered the again of the web. Nonetheless, Julian Ryerson would then be despatched off for a second yellow.
It is going to be a giant ask for Kovac to try to coach out these errors that the gamers maintain making as a result of as issues stand, that is the primary cause why Dortmund maintain shedding, the gamers are simply not that good.
The loss for Dortmund now means they’re having their worst run at residence since 2006, as they presently sit on 5 video games with no win.
All the cash on the planet can’t assist Hoffenheim:
In each switch home windows, Hoffenheim have spent a grand whole of €76m. With that cash, they’re the fourth largest spenders within the league, are fourth from backside and 4 factors away from the relegation locations, however to be trustworthy, they’re simply fairly dangerous.
That was highlighted in the present day after they misplaced 4-0 to Union Berlin. Because the finish of October, Union had solely gained one recreation. Which tells you every little thing you might want to know.
One thing clearly isn’t clicking both with the gamers and Christian Ilzer, or simply the gamers on the whole. Now can be a very good time to most likely sack Ilzer, however as a result of sum of money spent and the quantity of Sturm Graz alumni on the membership, this seems to be unlikely.
(I for one would welcome a Hoffenhiem sacrifice for a group that really fills their stadium)
GGFN | Jack Meenan