Union overruns Hoffenheim
© Imago
Niko Kovac, as the new coach of Borussia Dortmund, put a false start. In the first game, BVB lost 1: 2 (0: 0) under the successor of Nuri Sahin against VfB Stuttgart. In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Dortmund stadium, the ex-Stuttgart Waldemar Anton (50th minute) with an own goal and Jeff Chabot (62nd) ensured the guests’ goals. Julian Brandt (81st) only managed the connection goal for Dortmund.
After three unbeaten games under interim coach Mike Tullberg, the defeat is a clear setback for BVB, which is still fighting for the destination of Champions League. Stuttgart is already six points in front of the Dortmunders (for the Bundesliga table) as fourth in the table.
Both teams showed up against each other in the 110th Bundesliga duel. The host had more possession of the ball, but seemed without ideas. For the first time, the BVB became significantly active in front of the guest goal by a double chance of Ramy Bensebaini after a corner (11th). On the other hand, Chabot headed a free kick flank from Angelo Stiller, but came out of the offside (18th). Jamie Gitten’s Alexander Nübel (22nd and 27th) checked twice from a distance. But at first no team created clearly played out goal chances.
But then the guests should have taken the lead. Deniz Undav was over -passing from Anton, but was expired by Emre Can in the penalty area shortly before the goal was finished (37th). This tremendous huge chance of the international was symbolically for the less determined Stuttgart appearance in round one. After moving into the DFB Cup semi-final with a 1-0 against FC Augsburg during the week, the Swabians initially seemed little determined.
“We don’t want to come from and trellis stand for a good start from Niko,” VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß said before the game at “Sky”. There was little to see in round one. After the change of sides, Dortmund initially started more determined. But Adeyemi clearly awarded the promising shooting position (49.). In direct return, it became bitter for the host: Anton falsified a cross from Chris Leaderly into his own goal.
A little later, Chabot expanded the Stuttgart lead when, after a non -consistently clarified corner, a cross from Jamie Leweling put the ball completely on the net. Against a well -stocked Stuttgart defensive, BVB struggled to get to the connection. Gittens (68.) failed again on Nübel, who steered his shot against the aluminum from a distance.
Brandt, who had hardly appeared in the game until then, finally made the connection goal. After a corner variant with large on the left, the offensive man turned a low shot. For more than one goal, it was enough for the host despite the heated final phase, in which Julian Rerson still flew off the square with yellow-red (89.), but not.
0-0 in Wolfsburg: Leverkusen loses connection to FC Bayern
A week before the top game against FC Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen lost the connection to the big rivals. The German champion only played 0-0 at VfL Wolfsburg and is now going to the leaders to the Bundesliga summit with a full gap of eight points next Saturday.
Before 28,198 spectators in the Volkswagen Arena, Leverkusen’s coach Xabi Alonso spent several top players with Florian Wirtz, Patrik Schick and Jeremie Frimpong. To eight out of eleven positions, the Spaniard changed his line-up compared to the Cup thriller against 1. FC Köln three days earlier.
The Wolfsburgers were more gripper and dangerous for a long time. And the only one who prevented an early Leverkusen deficit was the video referee: After a free kick flank from the half field, Konstantino’s coulierakis headed the ball into the goal in the seventh minute. But the video evidence showed that the 21 -year -old Greek was offside.
Bayer 04 subsequently had its best phase, but left the lead goal in a bizarre way: from just two meters, Nordi Mukiele headed the ball over the empty gate (22nd). The Frenchman himself was so surprised by his great opportunity that he was able to react too late after the shelter of Piero Hincapie and was therefore in reserve.
The Leverkusen game was still reserved and inhibited. VfL looked more alert and had the much better duel values in the first half. The goal shot statistics also spoke for the hosts. However, Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky did not make much effort to defuse the good opportunities of Maximilian Arnold (33.) and Tiago Tomas (42nd).
Union Berlin dismantled pursuer 1899 Hoffenheim
The 1. FC Union Berlin has ended up with an important success in the basement duel thanks to Benedict Hollerbach. The iron of coach Steffen Baumgart prevailed 4-0 (1-0) at the desolate with competitor TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. They distanced the Kraichgauer to six points in the table.
In the weak game in front of 20,023 spectators in the Sinsheim stadium, the outstanding Hollerbach scored his fifth and sixth season goal (24/87.). In addition, the Croatian newcomer Marin Ljubicic met only two minutes after his substitution (61st) and Andrej Ilic (73.).
The Berliners had previously lost six games abroad. The TSG team of chief coach Christian Ilzer only booked three wins in eleven home games and continues to hang deep in the relegation battle.
Doan on Grifo: Freiburg enlarges Heidenheimer worries
Led by winning goal scorer Vincenzo Grifo, SC Freiburg has increased the concerns of the relegation threatened 1. FC Heidenheim. The Breisgauer in the Baden-Württemberg state duel narrowly won 1-0 (1-0) and underpinned their ambitions in the fight for the European Cup places.
In a game that took up more and more speed after a tough first half, routiner Grifo scored the decisive goal for the Freiburg after half an hour. With 33 points you can continue to dream of returning to the European stage.
Opponent Heidenheim, on the other hand, has been waiting for a win for five games. Also because a shot from Omar Traoré bang on the post (54th minute). The team of coach Frank Schmidt even threatens the crash on a direct relegation zone on Sunday.
Hold series: zero number between Mainz and Augsburg
FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg have expanded their success series in the Bundesliga with a lean zero number. The Rheinhessen have been unbeaten in seven home games since mid-October, the Bavarian Swabians have not lost any league away game in this calendar year.
31,000 spectators saw a competitive game without a playful highlight. Due to the draw, Mainz fell back to seventh with 32 points. Augsburg remains in the middle of the table with 27 points.