SV Werder Bremen – 1. FC Heidenheim 1:2 (1:2), Goals: 0:1 Lennard Maloney (12th), 0:2 Jan-Niklas Beste (18th), 1:2 Romano Schmid (19th)
For the current SV Werder Bremen professionals, this was a game in which they already knew one thing: they would win and lose. They would win because they walked into a celebratory stadium and met a romantic crowd ready to love their players even more unconditionally than usual. SV Werder celebrated its 125th anniversary on Saturday, the entire stadium was bathed in green and white, and there were a lot of old heroes hidden in the middle. And that was also the reason why the current professionals would inevitably become losers: they would not be able to keep up with the skills of Diego, Ailton, Pizarro or Marco Bode.
The DFL computer had done Bremen no favors when it assigned them 1. FC Heidenheim for the anniversary game. The newcomer doesn’t have a big name, but at the same time he has a great talent as a spoilsport. The ironic fact that Heidenheim’s biggest spoilsport, Jan-Niklas Beste, once played for Werder was also not very celebratory. As always, the compact Heidenheimers tried to force corners, as always they succeeded several times – and as almost always, Beste aimed at the head of a teammate with millimeter precision: Maloney gave the guests an early lead (12th), after Werder’s stage (4th). had previously failed at the outside post of the empty goal. Even more bitter for Werder was the best 0:2 (18th), which was prepared by Dinkci, who was born in Bremen and was loaned to Heidenheim. Before the mood in the stands could change, Romano Schmid (19th) immediately scored the goal – with a header, at 1.68 meters tall.
The Bremen team now made a touching and sometimes very watchable effort to make the audience happy. As the game went on, the chances increased – while the guests, who were always ready to switch, came under more and more pressure. In the 77th minute, Borré hit the post, and Ducksch also narrowly missed twice (78th, 87th). Now the Heidenheimers completely switched to their professional killjoy football, they survived another goal from aluminum (Kownacki, 90+1) and a header from the advanced Bremen goalkeeper Zetterer (90+6). Bremen’s final power play certainly entertained the party audience – but in the end the result only gave the traveling fans from Heidenheim reason to celebrate. The promoted team has now been unbeaten in eight games.
1. FC Union Berlin – VfL Wolfsburg 1:0 (1:0), Goal: 1:0 Danilho Doekhi (45th + 26th)
A few minutes from the life of Bundesliga referee Matthias Jöllenbeck. He was assigned to the game between Union Berlin and Wolfsburg. When the well-known fan protests began in the 27th minute, he interrupted and discussed it with the teams. After a ten-minute break, Jöllenbeck whistles to start the game again, ten seconds later it’s over again because tennis balls are flying again. Jöllenbeck interrupts again, now the break is significantly longer, he sends both teams into the dressing room. But it continues, the game has now accumulated 35 minutes late, football is being played for five minutes when tennis balls start flying again. What does Jöllenbeck do? Call the captains to them, clear message: One more time and we’re breaking this off today. 27 minutes of stoppage time in the first half. Crisis management for advanced users.
But the last threat worked: no more objects flew onto the lawn. With the final whistle at 6:10 p.m. (!!) the players, but also Jöllenbeck, had made it. Football was also played, although Wolfsburg acted more pleasantly, but lost due to a goal from Union player Danilho Doekhi in the 71st minute. The goal was scored that afternoon, in the first half.
FC Augsburg – RB Leipzig 2:2 (1:1), Goals: 1:0 Phillip Tietz (35th), 1:1 Lois Openda (39th), 1:2 Benjamin Sesko (52nd), 2:2 Ermedin Demirovic (60th)
On Tuesday, RB Leipzig welcomes Real Madrid in the Champions League, but before that there was still work to do in a slightly smaller world, at FC Augsburg. It was a game whose dramaturgy could be guessed at by anyone who has recently watched a bit of the Bundesliga: Leipzig, with Xavi Simons, Olmo, Openda and Sesko on the offensive, had a difficult time against a courageous opponent a lawn that doesn’t look very regal in winter. Although the guests tried to bring their quality to the deep pitch, Augsburg held their own with their Demirovic football – with the kind of physical switching game that is exemplified in the qualities of the Bosnian striker.
So it wasn’t a big surprise that Augsburg survived Leipzig’s first chances from Olmo (18th) and Schlager (31st) and then took the lead through Tietz himself (35th) – after a Leipzig throw-in that FCA intercepted and went to used a quick counterattack. Vargas’ shot was deflected to the side by Gulacsi, who had returned to the goal, and Tietz finished. Although Leipzig remained a bit hesitant in the build-up game, the team’s individual quality was enough for two quick answers: First, Openda headed in Raum’s precise cross to make it 1-1 (39′); After the break, Sesko used an equally precise cross from Olmo, also with a header. But before RB could pick up the rhythm of a favorite, Augsburg countered with their Demirovic football: The captain completed a quick counterattack with a powerful shot into the corner to make it 2-2 (60th). Now a fast-paced game developed in which both teams flirted with the winning goal – the guests came closest, but Openda missed a VAR penalty that he had caused himself (81st).
Borussia Mönchengladbach – SV Darmstadt 98 0-0
After the dispensable cup trip to Saarland during the week, Mönchengladbach were able to show on a wonderfully dry pitch that they wanted to turn things around after four games without a win – and they didn’t manage to turn things around.
The first half followed a dramaturgy that every Borussia fan knows only too well: Gladbach had the ball, but mostly in safe areas. Darmstadt stood deep and defended in a disciplined manner, Jordan had the best chance for Mönchengladbach from ten meters. After the now obligatory tennis ball interruption and a 16-minute stoppage time, things got better from Borussia’s point of view after the break, the chances were numerous. Substitute Patrick Hermann would probably have made it 1-0 shortly before the end with a larger shoe size.
Then everything would have been fine, but this is the next disappointment for Borussia. 22 points and 13th place perfectly reflect the horror of this season.
Eintracht Frankfurt – VfL Bochum Goals: 1:1 (1:1), Goals: 1:0 Omar Marmoush (14th), 1:1 Moritz Broschinski (17th)
Some say that the entire Eintracht season is an ongoing experiment, but it was certainly the line-up of Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller against Bochum. Shortly before the game, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was injured and Jens Grahl took his place. Striker Sasa Kalajdzic was missing because he was looking forward to having new blood, but the other two winter signings, Donny van de Beek and Hugo Ekitiké, were on the bench. But not for long, after just 20 minutes Hugo Larsson was injured and van de Beek came on.
A sensible match plan was not possible and the game got off to a turbulent start. Omar Marmoush, probably the most accurate substitute striker in Europe, put Eintracht in the lead, Moritz Broschinski, a goalscorer for VfL a week ago, scored again, albeit with luck because his shot was deflected into an unstoppable arc. Shortly before the break it was Marmoush who could have scored again, but he fired over the goal from a good position.
After the restart, substitute Ekitiké, van de Beek and Ansgar Knauff had three great chances to take the lead in four minutes, all of which were missed from good positions. Eintracht will be very annoyed, especially because of this triumvirate of missed shots, and sixth place is cemented for now. VfL, on the other hand, is happy about an unplanned point and is fully on target with their daring plan to stay in the league again.