SC Freiburg – Arminia Bielefeld 2: 2 (1: 0), Gates: 1: 0 Janik Haberer (6th), 2: 0 Woo-Yeong Jeong (46th), 2: 1 Masaya Okugawa (60th), 2: 2 Bryan Lasme (87th)
Happy is someone who has two Schlotterbecks in their squad, like SC Freiburg. While Nico Schlotterbeck started the year (like regular goalkeeper Mark Flekken) with Corona, Christian Streich could be reassured: He still had Keven Schlotterbeck available for the defense. In general, the SC coach seemed deeply relaxed in view of the quarantine dominance: “We hardly discussed it,” he said, “then we’ll just play with other players.” For example with the often underestimated Cleverle Janik Haberer, who underpinned Freiburg’s strength after corner kicks with a volley goal early on.
Speaking of walls: Streich’s surprise men are on the top because they have their bodies with them on the pitch as standard. How practical such a body is was shown for half a period in many duels against Bielefeld: the Armines sometimes simply bounced off Freiburg’s closets. That resulted in a game of rough edges – and a curious twist. Because after Christian Günter’s cross Woo-Yeong Jeong even increased to 2-0 with a head. But then Freiburg suddenly lost all of their physicality and, of all things, substitute goalkeeper Benjamin Uphoff became the symbol of the break-in: First he let Masaya Okugawa’s mysterious flutter ball pass to make it 2-1, then a cross from Bryan Lasme found its way past him into the near corner. 2: 2 so, Freiburg slipped into fourth place. Weren’t there too few Schlotterbecks this time?
Bayer 04 Leverkusen – 1. FC Union Berlin 2: 2 (1: 1), Goals: 1-0 Patrik Schick (38th), 1: 1 Grischa Prömel (45th), 1: 2 Grischa Prömel (50th), 2: 2 Jonathan Tah (84th)
How lonely did Lukas Hradecky feel? First Christopher Trimmel shot – Hradecky parried. Kevin Behrens headed the rebound – Hradecky parried. Then Grisha Prömel shot – and then he was in. Nobody from the Leverkusen defense came to the aid of the poor Finn. He looked even more puzzled shortly after the break, when Prömel stuck his foot in after a Kruse shot – and suddenly Union was leading in a game in which, from Leverkusen’s point of view, they are never allowed to lead. Exactly two scoring chances were on the report sheet up until then, both were possible.
Lukas Hradecky tried everything but couldn’t prevent the goal in the second margin from Grisha Prömel (left).
(Photo: Revierfoto via www.imago-images.de/imago images / Revierfoto)
Patrik Schick had previously scored his 17th goal of the season, Leverkusen made the game dominant and given various opportunities, both before and after the break Andreas Luthe proved what an excellent goalkeeper he is. But the longer the game lasted, the more Union increased. Kruse hit the crossbar in the 78th minute, Bastian Oczipka hit the post in stoppage time. Leverkusen jumped the defeat off the shovel because Jonathan Tah found a way past Luthe with his header.
RB Leipzig – FSV Mainz 05 4: 1, (1: 0), Goals: 1-0 André Silva (21st, hand penalty), 2-0 Dominik Szoboszlai (47th), 2-1 Jae-sung Lee (57th), 3-1 Christopher Nkunku (58th), 4-1 André Silva (61.)
It went under a bit that after FC Bayern RB Leipzig is the hardest-hit team in the Bundesliga. Nine players were canceled due to Corona, injuries and the Africa Cup, the striker consisted of Yussuf Poulsen (long injured) and André Silva (just released from quarantine). Against the strong Mainz team it’s even more uncomfortable and what’s the best thing that can happen to you in such a situation? Right, an early hand penalty combined with an early red card. Alexander Hack deliberately cleared a shot by Silva with his elbow, followed by a dismissal and penalty, which the Portuguese pocketed himself.
Happy: André Silva celebrates with Kevin Kampl.
(Photo: Cathrin Mueller / Getty Images)
Then the VAR looked at Dominik Szoboszlai’s hairsprays before the 2-0 and found that he no longer touched the ball in front of a suspected Silva offside position. Lee’s follow-up goal created exactly one minute of tension, but substitute Christopher Nkunku and again Silva ensured the final score only four minutes after the Mainz sign of life.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth – VfB Stuttgart 0: 0 (0: 0)
“Everyone is dying to play a monster second half of the season,” said Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic, who was in the starting line-up for the comeback after his shoulder surgery. In the end, the start against Fürth turned out to be a game without any major highlights, in which you could see the table for both of them. The home side needed a few minutes to find their own game, but as the game progressed they showed more risk on the offensive – and came to the first big chance of the game: Branimir Hrgota failed with a header to goalkeeper Florian Müller, which he only against his direction of movement should have set (22.). On the other side, Stuttgart appeared dangerous for the first time when Kalajdzic started an overhead kick from ten meters, but placed it too centered on the goal (26th).
A balanced encounter developed in which Stuttgart had problems creating clear chances. Instead, Hrgota had the lead again at the beginning of the second half, but Anton was able to clear it in time after a sloppy move by Mangala (54th). It was emblematic that VfB had the best chance in the game with a deflected cross, which Burchert was just able to parry before Meyerhöfer blocked Endo (79th). Shortly before the end, Stuttgart had another chance to take the lead, but Beyaz only shot from the spin to the outside netting (89th). The match ended with a well-deserved point win for the Fürth team, who have now been unbeaten in three games, whereas the point for VfB is likely to be too little in view of the table situation.
TSG Hoffenheim – FC Augsburg 3: 1 (2: 1), Gates: 0: 1 Michael Gregoritsch (5th), 1: 1 Ihlas Bebou (38th), 2: 1 Ihlas Bebou (44th), 3: 1 David room (90th + 3)
13 million euros plus possible bonus payments, that is such an extraordinary transfer volume for Augsburg that one seriously asks oneself: Which emir discovered his Swabian heart there? The club recently invested in an 18-year-old American attacker named Ricardo Pepi. He looks a bit like Kevin Kuranyi’s baby brother and he’s supposed to be quite a stunner. He began his Bundesliga adventure on the bench, but with the best view of the leadership of his club: A headed goal from Michael Gregoritsch, who was allowed to head so freely after a corner as never before in his life as a striker.
Ricardo Pepi after coming off the bench.
(Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
On the other hand, this also applied to Ilhas Bebou, who turned everything around in a lively game within a few moments. Twice the Togolese held out his foot, twice the FCA looked on in amazement. After 60 minutes, Pepi also celebrated his debut, but the man from Dallas, in contrast to David Raum (who made it 3-1), couldn’t manage anything extraordinary. Conclusion: Augsburg remains Augsburg and Hoffenheim is still at the forefront, you should get used to it slowly.