Gladbach confidently
©IMAGO
FC Bayern suffered their first defeat of this Bundesliga season. The record champions lost 1:2 (0:1) to 1. FSV Mainz 05 after a weak performance. South Korean Jae-sung Lee scored both goals for the zero-five team (41st/60th minute). In the final phase, the Munich team only managed to score a goal through Leroy Sané (87th).
Bayern’s lead over Bayer Leverkusen, now their first pursuer, has shrunk to four points due to the bankruptcy. On Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt could even get within three points with a win at RB Leipzig.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany warned that it was “always dangerous,” especially in the Mainz stadium. In the second round of the DFB Cup, Munich won 4-0. The coach was still right. Kompany had to do without several top performers on matchday 14 – including star striker Harry Kane, who was missing again after tearing his muscle fiber.
Bayer Leverkusen shortens the gap to FC Bayern
The early starters from Bayer Leverkusen took advantage of FC Bayern’s first slip-up and increased the pressure on the leaders from Munich. Thanks to a cool performance, coach Xabi Alonso’s always wide-awake team won their seventh competitive game in a row in a 2-0 (2-0) win against FC Augsburg and reduced the gap to the record champions in the table to just four points.
The patient and calm double winner from Leverkusen, who was notorious for his last-minute goals last season, has already scored seven times in the opening quarter of an hour this season. In the home game next Saturday against SC Freiburg, Bayer can move even closer to FC Bayern at the end of the year.
The Augsburgers are challenged in their last game of 2024 against newly promoted Kiel in order not to completely screw up the final spurt. However, they have to do without captain and defense chief Jeffrey Gouweleeuw because of his fifth yellow card. Martin Terrier in the 14th minute and national player Florian Wirtz (40th) robbed the Augsburg fans of hope of a surprise against the confident Champions League starter in front of 29,310 spectators at half time. Leverkusen will therefore remain without an away defeat in 2024 – the Munich team only managed that in 1986 and 2013.
Newly promoted Kiel was overwhelmed by the 1:4 defeat in Gladbach
After the fifth defeat in a row, staying in the league for Holstein Kiel is becoming a long way off. The promoted team, still without a win away from home, also lost 1:4 (1:3) at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday and is in a relegation zone with five points after 14 games.
The Gladbachers, on the other hand, are continuing on their way to a successful end to the year. For the first time under coach Gerardo Seoane, the team remained undefeated in their sixth home game in a row, winning five of them and making up ground in the table with 21 points.
In front of 52,210 spectators at Borussia Park, Tim Kleindienst (1st), Robin Hack (26th) and Alassane Pléa (43rd/79th) scored the goals for the hosts. Armin Gigovic (30th) scored for Kiel.
Bundesliga game at Union Berlin interrupted
When bottom team VfL Bochum drew 1-1 (1-1) at 1. FC Union Berlin, there was a scandal and a lengthy interruption shortly before the end. Bochum goalkeeper Patrick Drewes was hit by an object from the Union block. Drewes had to be brought off the field with support. The game was interrupted by referee Martin Petersen and both teams left the pitch.
When the game resumed, Drewes did not return to the field. Since Bochum were no longer allowed to make substitutions, striker Philipp Hofmann went into goal. After the restart, both teams stopped attacking and just passed the ball back and forth until the final whistle.