FC Bayern Munich – Borussia Mönchengladbach 3:1 (1:1), Goals: 0:1 Nico Elvedi (35th), 1:1 Aleksandar Pavlovic (45th), 2:1 Harry Kane (70th), 3:1 Matthijs de Ligt (86th)
Thomas Tuchel had positioned himself on the pitch and spoke without hoarseness, that was the good news for FC Bayern. A hearty February cough like he had during the week doesn’t knock him down, which is why he was able to explain to Sky why Noussair Mazraoui, who had just flown in from the Africa Cup, was in the starting line-up against Gladbach. “Nouz came back in good spirits,” said Tuchel, describing his nomination. “He is familiar with the processes, he knows where we want to protect and where we want to attack.”
The Moroccan’s routine was the decisive factor, he played Sacha Boey instead of Sacha Boey (who came on in the 62nd minute), and because Tuchel already remembered routines, he promptly ordered Thomas Müller onto the field from the start. Müller? Wasn’t he converted into a part-time worker a long time ago? And so the bad news for the Munich team: Müller, of all people, played a leading role when Bayern fell behind against their feared opponents. Although the Gladbachers initially stood as low as the Fröttmaning afternoon sun, they dared to move further and further forward after two missed big chances from Leroy Sané.
And because they were already there, Nico Elvedi grabbed a pass from Manuel Neuer intended for the hesitant Müller, played a one-two with colleague Jordan and pushed in to make it 0-1 (35th). It was a goal like a fun kick in the English Garden, the Bayern defense was so astonishingly incorporeal in this scene. But despite all the slack, Tuchel’s men have now acquired a certain stubbornness. They responded with vehemence and followed the coach’s plan against this treacherous lurking opponent.
The motto is that the ball has to circulate, mostly outwards and usually with dynamism. The Leverkusen team had drilled how not to do it against Borussia the previous week, when they simply missed scoring goals when the score was 0-0. Not so for the record champions: Müller once again became the focus when he combined with Sané with a through pass to Aleksandar Pavlovic – and he made it 1-1 from close range (45th). Nevertheless, it was still a grueling game for the Munich team because Gladbach acted with courage and tried a lot up front. When the guests were asked at the back, goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas made a catching error when Goretzka’s arc flashed, and Harry Kane headed the rebound to score his 24th goal of the season (70th).
Also involved again: Thomas Müller, who had decisively disturbed Gladbach’s keeper – and was then replaced. From the bench he was able to celebrate the 3-1 win thanks to a header from de Ligt. In the end, Müller played a decisive role in ringing in his own anniversary: it was his 500th competitive win as a professional footballer and a vital success for Bayern ahead of the top duel in Leverkusen next week.
SV Darmstadt 98 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0:2 (0:1), Goals: 0:1 and 0:2 Nathan Tella (33rd, 52nd)
Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tealla were the best at Leverkusen.
(Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)
Some really believed that the crisis was creeping up on the famous Leverkusen team slowly and meanly from behind. Didn’t they win twice in stoppage time? Didn’t they play almost a thousand passes against Gladbach and still not score? Yes, yes, the Leverkusen team, when things get serious, then…
Nothing there, this team led by Xabi Alonso is a different Leverkusen and that was also evident in the away game in Darmstadt, which was generally considered unpleasant. Without numerous regular players but with the new striker Borja Iglesias, Frimpong’s replacement Nathan Tella scored twice. Florian Wirtz had too much space twice before and you really shouldn’t give him that if you aren’t interested in conceding a goal. Lid on, mandatory task completed. Next week comes FC Bayern – and with it the ultimate test of whether this Leverkusen really has nothing to do with the old Leverkusen.
SC Freiburg – VfB Stuttgart 1:3 (1:2), Goals: 0:1 Deniz Undav (3rd), 0:2 Chris Führich (7th), 1:2 Lukas Kübler (45th + 11th), 1:3 Maximilian Mittelstädt (74.)
“It’s good that we already have so many points.” This is how Christian Streich commented on the 1:3 at Werder Bremen a week ago. Anyone who had doubts about the Freiburg coach’s expertise was proven wrong after just three minutes in the game against VfB Stuttgart this Saturday: Waldemar Anton cut through the Freiburg back four with a sharp, flat pass like a cheesecake with a sharp knife, Deniz Undav took the ball with him and made it 1.0. Just four minutes and Chris Führich’s 2-0 later, Streich’s first unpleasant memories of the first leg must have popped up, when his boys were beaten 5-0 in Stuttgart.
The red card for Merlin Röhrl, after video evidence and a long interruption, also brought the hosts a minority – there was nothing left to say for Freiburg. At least the Swabians allowed their opponents to join in again: goalkeeper Alexander Nübel strayed through the penalty area after a corner from Vincenzo Grifo, and Lukas Kübler headed the ball home in the eleventh (!) minute of stoppage time. After the substitution, the Breisgauers got involved honorably before Maximilian Mittelstädt made the decision 3-1 after a one-two with the strong Undav.
FSV Mainz 05 – SV Werder Bremen 0:1 (0:1), Goal: 0:1 Marvin Ducksch (2nd)
What does a team do that is notoriously harmless up front and therefore treated itself to two new offensive players during the winter sales? That’s right – let them both play immediately. Nadiem Amiri (came from Leverkusen) and Jessic Ngankam (came from Frankfurt) have only been in Mainz since Wednesday and Thursday respectively. There can’t have been much time to get to know each other and train, but as I said: the need is great.
And it stays big. Also against Bremen and also with the two new players, the FSV plays the well-known Mainz song with the refrain: “They play well towards the goal, but they can’t get the ball into the goal.” SV Werder also took the lead early on, one Mainz player shot at the other in their own defense, the ball landed at Marvin Ducksch, who scored his ninth goal of the season with a shot on the move. Coach Ole Werner’s team was secure as a result – that was enough to keep Mainz’s limited offensive under control. And Bremen? Lost for the last time on matchday 13 (!), now has three wins in a row. Everything would have to go wrong for Werder to have anything to do with relegation.
VfL Bochum – FC Augsburg 1:1 (1:0), Goals: 1:0 Moritz Broschinski (33rd), 1:1 Ermedin Demirovic (90th + 1, hand penalty)
You couldn’t expect too much finesse from this duel between two teams who are racing each other in a race to get as much distance from the relegation zone as quickly as possible. Accordingly, the kicking was usually unsightly: both teams fought, but were particularly unimaginative and limited offensively. Until Augsburg’s defense decided to crank up the game a little: After a short corner, several defenders missed the opportunity to clear, which Bochum’s Moritz Broschinski punished with a fine side kick and the 1-0. The goal was not only worth seeing, it also increased the guests’ motivation to score one themselves.
The Augsburg team appeared correspondingly committed after the change, but Bochum missed their best chance for the second goal when Matus Bero was completely free and failed by Augsburg keeper Finn Dahmen. The Swabians’ commitment was rewarded shortly before the end. First Arne Maier, who came on as a substitute ten minutes before the shot, hit the post, then the arm of a defender: Augsburg’s captain Ermedin Demirovic converted the penalty to make it 1-1 shortly before the final whistle – so it remains a snail race.