Union loses significantly in Bochum
Borussia Dortmund is still struggling in the Bundesliga. In the 1-1 draw against FC Augsburg on Saturday, coach Edin Terzic’s team remained without a win for the third time in a row and is in danger of losing touch with the Champions League ranks. On the other hand, 1. FC Union Berlin with new coach Nenad Bjelica had to accept a setback: they lost 3-0 to VfL Bochum, rivals in the fight to stay in the league. Mainz 05 and Darmstadt 98, who remain at the bottom of the table with nine points, each lost 0-1 at home against 1. FC Heidenheim and VfL Wolfsburg, respectively, who were outnumbered for almost 70 minutes. Coach Niko Kovac should breathe a sigh of relief. The match day was accompanied by violent fan protests against the German Football League’s investor deal.
1-1 in Augsburg: BVB pale again in the Bundesliga
After the powerful performance in the Champions League against Kylian Mbappé & Co., Borussia Dortmund was again in largely sobering Bundesliga form. Coach Terzic’s team couldn’t get past a 1-1 draw at FC Augsburg and, despite great chances in the thrilling final minutes, missed an escape from their crisis mode. After just one win from seven games in the German elite class, Dortmund can tick off their dream goal of the championship, currently ten points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who can pull away further on Sunday.
The Augsburgers, who had been more determined for a long time, at least fought for a courage point a week after their first defeat under coach Jess Thorup. At the end of the year they have to play against the strong VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday. Dortmund will be confronted with the championship they lost on the last matchday of last season against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Tuesday. After a rustic running duel with Nico Schlotterbeck, captain Ermedin Demirovic gave Augsburg the lead in the 23rd minute. His eighth goal of the season in front of 30,660 fans in the sold-out WWK Arena also withstood the scrutiny of the video referee.
Long-time runner Donyell Malen (35th) equalized after a one-two with Niclas Füllkrug, but missed the tangible decision several times (64th, 86th, 88th). Shortly before the end, Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen (88th) quickly directed a side-footed kick from Füllkrug onto the post.
Setback for Union Berlin: clear defeat at VfL Bochum
1. FC Union Berlin made a terrible mistake in the relegation battle against VfL Bochum. Coach Nenad Bjelica’s team deservedly lost to the Revierklub 0:3 (0:1). Instead of continuing the slight upward trend and overtaking their direct rivals in the fight to stay in the league with a win, the Köpenickers are now six points behind VfL.
In front of 25,300 fans in the Ruhr Stadium, Union was almost never able to match the performance of the 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach the previous week. Four days after the Champions League farewell against Real Madrid (2:3), the surprise team from the previous season appeared harmless at the front and vulnerable at the back.
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Takuma Asano (45th + 5th), Gonçalo Paciência (54th) and Kevin Stöger (78th / penalty) scored the goals for the highly superior hosts. Bochum remained unbeaten in their fourth home game in a row and moved slightly clear of the relegation zone.
VfL Wolfsburg and NIko Kovac breathe a sigh of relief after victory at Darmstadt 98
Coach Niko Kovac can breathe a sigh of relief at VfL Wolfsburg. His team landed a lucky and lackluster 1-0 (0-0) win at SV Darmstadt 98 and won for the first time after three defeats in all competitions. Lovro Majer scored the goal in the 63rd minute. However, in front of 16,900 fans at the Böllenfalltor, the Lower Saxony team had little to think of against the weakened newcomer. In addition, Maxence Lacroix saw red for an emergency brake after less than half an hour. It was his fifth expulsion since moving to the Bundesliga and the last five red or yellow-red cards for the “Wolves” all came from the Frenchman, according to “Opta”.
After only one win from the last eight league games, the former European Cup candidate can go into the last game of the year against FC Bayern on Wednesday a little more courageously. Darmstadt, bottom of the table, has been without a three-pointer for eight games.
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Mainz 05 remains in the relegation zone after defeat against 1.FC Heidenheim
1. FSV Mainz 05 has once again missed a breakthrough in the relegation battle. The Rheinhessen lost against 1. FC Heidenheim 0:1 (0:1) and have now been without a win for five games. In front of 27,200 fans, Marvin Pieringer scored the winning goal in the 12th minute for the promoted team, which moved up to twelfth place in the table with 17 points.
The Mainz team, who haven’t scored a goal in 321 minutes, are still in a relegation spot with nine points and have to play at Borussia Dortmund at the end of the year next Tuesday.
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