Bayern lead Bundesliga after Leipzig and Dortmund stumble

Lewandowski scored his 10 goal of the season
Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his 10th goal of the season in 6 games. Credits: Getty Images

The action was back this weekend in the German topflight with good news for Bayern Munich supporters. The Bavarians recovered the lead of the Bundesliga, after Leipzig being defeated against Schalke 04.

Meanwhile, for the second matchday in a row, Borussia Dortmund where unable to win their match. On other news, Freiburg continues glued to the top places and Wolfsburg is now the only team, besides Bayern, who is undefeated in the Bundesliga table.

Paderborn makes Bayern sweat for a win

It seemed like an easy victory for Bayern Munich since they were going to play against bottom side Paderborn. The recently promoted side has struggled in the Bundesliga so far, having just 1 point in 5 games.

Besides some struggle to keep the ball possession in the early minutes, with many misplaced passes, Bayern opened the deadlock after the first quarter of the game. Coutinho made a pinpoint pass for Serge Gnabry to leap into the net.

The same partnership would be efficient in the beginning of the second half, for Bayern’s second goal. Gnabry with the assist and Coutinho scoring his second goal for the Bavarians, his first from open play.

Paderborn would hit one for themselves a bit after, substitute Kai Proger with the finish. Curiously enough, besides not having a single victory, Paderborn has scored in every Bundesliga game so far.

Kai Proger was close to hitting the equalizer for Paderborn, but the ball deflected away from Neuer’s left post. Bayern would relieve the pressure with the 3rd goal, scored by the only man missing on the scoresheet: Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker has now 10 goals in 6 games.

However, Paderborn wasn’t dead yet and they proved it with fullback Jamilu Collins shooting a long-range effort, that surprised Manuel Neuer. In the end, they are still bottom, but their performance against the giants of Bayern Munich can make Paderborn fans hopeful of getting out of the danger zone soon.

Bayern is now back where they always belonged, in the top of Bundesliga. Next is a trip to London, to face Tottenham in the Champions League this Tuesday.

Leipzig lose the lead after losing at home

An almost perfect start of the season made RB Leipzig supporters dream of achieving the Bundesliga title for the first time. After 4 wins and a draw against Bayern, things were looking good. However, they have taken a blow in their first defeat, at home, over Schalke 04.

Schalke surprised the hosts with an opening goal after half an hour on the clock, by center back Salif Sane. The 1,96m Senegalese defender put the visitors ahead after a corner kick. Before halftime, Schalke doubled their lead, with Amine Harit scoring from the penalty spot, his 4th goal of the season.

It became a nightmare for the leaders, Leipzig when after 10 minutes into the second half, Matondo put the 3rd on the sheet. The 19-year-old Welsh striker, scored on his debut for the German team, after an assist from Harit.

A blunder from Alexander Nubel gave Leipzig one consolation goal, after an attempt from Forsberg. 1-3 and Leipzig drop into the 2nd place. They are tied in points with Schalke, Freiburg, Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen.   

Another 2-2 draw for Borussia Dortmund

Same fate and result for Borussia Dortmund, in another 2-2 tie, after last week’s draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. Now they hosted Werder Bremen in the Signal Iduna Park and the result was exactly the same.

A breathtaking sequence of events in the first 10 minutes, saw one goal for each side. First, it was Milot Rashica, firing the visitors in front. The Kosovo international answered to an assist from Davy Klaasen.

However, just two minutes later, Gotze would score the equalizer, heading a lobbed ball from Piszczek.

Nearly the break time, Marco Reus put the Yellow Wall in front. Another header, from a Thorgan Hazard cross. Bremen would rise up again in the 57 minutes, with Marco Friedl finishing after confusing defense chaos during a corner kick.

Despite a couple of attempts, the score would suffer no more alterations. Dortmund lost an opportunity to get closer to the top 6, after Leipzig’s slip and they are now 8th. Werder Bremen is 11th.

Freiburg keeps good form and is now 3rd

After 6 matchdays, no one would expect Freiburg to be one of the teams holding on among the leaders. Last season they finished in 13th, closer to the relegation zone than to European places. This season though, they have 4 wins, 1 lost and 1 draw in 6 matches, which puts them tied in points with Leipzig, with the same goal difference.

This time they headed to Dusseldorf, to face the local team and were trailing behind, when Rouwen Hennings scored for the hosts. Just 3 minutes later, Freiburg would equalize, by Jonathan Schmid.

The goal that would give Freiburg the 3 points would come in the last 10 minutes. Luca Waldschmidt scored his 3rd, in 6 games, after an assist from Haberer.

This result buries Fortuna Dusseldorf in the 14th place.

Away wins for Leverkusen and Monchengladbach

Tied with Freiburg, Leipzig and Schalke are Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach. The two sides had away trips this weekend and they won their matches for the same score: 0-3.

Leverkusen visited Augsburg and the hosts were the ones scoring first but on the wrong net. Niederlechner, who had scored in the last two matches, scored again… but an own goal.

The visitors would triple the advantage in the second half, but only in the later minutes. Kevin Volland would strike first and Kai Havertz with his second of the season set the victory for Bayer.

Let’s see if Leverkusen keeps the form when they face Serie A table champions, Juventus, this Tuesday evening, in Champions League group stages.

Borussia Monchengladbach visited Hoffenheim and they also scored 3. Alassane Plea opened the score, with an assist from Marcus Thuram.

Gladbach’s summer signing continued to prove his worth, scoring the second of the match later on. This is Marcus Thuram 3rd of the season, after his brace in last weekend’s match.

The last one would come from Florian Neuhaus, with the midfielder being assisted by Plea. 0-3 win for Gladbach, before they travel to Istambul for Europa League group stages this Thursday.

Wolfsburg keeps the undefeated status

They might not be in the top 6 yet, but Wolfsburg has still no losses in the current Bundesliga campaign. 3 wins and 3 draws, with 12 points reached, makes them the only team, besides Bayern Munich, who has not lost a match yet.

Besides, they have just suffered 4 goals in all matches so far, the least amount of goals conceded in the league. This weekend they added 3 points to their record, as they traveled to face Mainz 05 and came out with a 0-1 win.

The single goal was scored in the early minutes of the game. Marcel Tisserand, defender and international for DR Congo, was the scorer.

Wolfsburg did not have an easy game, with Mainz pressuring during all the match. Tisserand would block a shot on the line, which would undoubtedly grant him the man of the match award.

Wins for Hertha and Eintracht Frankfurt

In a weekend where no home team got the 3 points, Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt triumphed in their away trips too.

In the game that opened the Bundesliga matchday, on Friday, newcomers Union Berlin hosted Eintracht Frankfurt and they were expecting to get at least a point. However, Frankfurt’s Summer signings proved effective and the new partnership scored both goals.

First, it was Dutch striker Bas Dost, signed from Sporting CP this Summer. Then Andre Silva scored for the second week in a row, after Sow’s assist. Anthony Ujah scored the only goal for Union Berlin, but it wasn’t enough. Match ended 1-2.

Hertha, meanwhile, thumped Koln 0-4, with Dilrosun scoring first. A straight red card for Jorge Mere left Koln playing with 10 men and the Berliners took advantage.

Ibisevic scored a brace in the 58 and 62 minutes and Dedryck Boyata would complete the scoreline. 0-4 and Koln are now only 2 points away from the bottom-placed Paderborn. Hertha climbs to 10th.

Bundesliga schedule continues next weekend, with a promising Bayer Leverkusen vs Leipzig, two teams tied on points.

About Jorge Costa 140 Articles
Jorge Costa is a freelance journalist, with a Masters Degree in Journalism and Communication, through the University of Coimbra, Portugal. He specializes in sports and soccer in particular.

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