RB Leipzig – 1. FC Heidenheim 2:1 (2:1), Goals: 1:0 Lois Openda (29th, penalty kick), 2:0 Yussuf Poulsen (44th), 2:1 Benedikt Gimber (45th + 1st)
Lois Openda is a man for two worlds. Leipzig’s striker scored three goals this week – two against Pep Guardiola and one against Frank Schmidt, two successful coaches in their respective spheres. Against Schmidts Heidenheim, however, in addition to his goal to make it 1-0, Openda also took three points with him: he and Yussuf Poulsen ensured a well-deserved 2-0 lead, but then the game almost turned around: Benedikt Gimber scored the next goal after a corner (45+2.) and almost equalized in the 93rd minute.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – TSG Hoffenheim 2:1 (0:0), Goals: 1:0 Alassane Plea (58th, penalty kick), 1:1 Wout Weghorst (60th), 2:1 Nathan Ngoumou (80th)
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s season, which is difficult to interpret, continues. After a weak start, coach Gerardo Seoane’s team seemed to become more stable and stronger again, exciting new players like 21-year-old Rocco Reitz introduced themselves – but then BVB missed Borussia from the Lower Rhine at 2:4 (after 2:0- leadership) had a nice mood dampener last week.
Gladbach also took the lead this Saturday and, after a weak first half, they even scored with their first shot on goal against TSG. Ozan Kabak fouled Alassane Plea in the penalty area, who converted the penalty himself against the penalty killer Oliver Baumann. Almost in return, Wout Weghorst equalized again. So again the quick counterattack – but Gladbach’s great strength is their efficiency. Nathan Ngoumou made it 2-1 when the goal scoring statistics showed a clear 7:16 for Hoffenheim. Seoane can feel confirmed in his path.
VfL Bochum – VfL Wolfsburg 3:1 (2:1), Goals: 1:0 Patrick Osterhage (19th), 2:0 Bernardo (39th), 2:1 Mattias Svanberg (45th+1), 3:1 Christopher Antwi-Adjei (87.)
Thank God there is RB Leipzig… Niko Kovac may now think. Because the two victories in the cup and in the league against the Champions League participants from Saxony prevent the coach of the VW club from having to moderate a crisis. But wouldn’t he have to do it very slowly? Sure, there are more pleasant games than away from home in Bochum in shivering temperatures. The Ruhrpott-VfL is strong at home and is fighting relegation. Anyone who follows the Bundesliga knows that the journey to Castroper Straße is a difficult one, and Dortmund and Frankfurt also felt this. Nevertheless, the 1:3 is of course a setback given the ambitions of VfL from Lower Saxony; 16 points after 13 games are not enough, even if the position in the table somewhat obscures this.
Patrick Osterhage didn’t give Bochum an undeserved lead, it was a nice goal that was played out. Brazilian central defender Bernardo increased his score by converting a corner at the near post. Kovac, for whom discipline and order are important, may have been raging internally, especially at this goal. The fact that Mattias Svanberg scored the next goal shortly before the break (VfL goalkeeper Riemann hesitated when running out) gave Wolfsburg a boost, and the guests were clearly the more offensive team in the second half. But after a few saves from Riemann, a long shot from the goalkeeper led to the decisive 3-1 by Christopher Antwi-Adjei.