21st matchday
Berlin (dpa) – FC Bayern has submitted. After Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win against RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund has to step up if the Bundesliga is to remain a little tense. Spectacle is almost guaranteed in the western duel with Bayer Leverkusen.
spectator
Thomas Müller was thrilled that up to 10,000 fans were allowed into the Bundesliga stadiums again. “It was a good feeling. When the ball goes into the goal, the light flickers and the people are there. It’s worth working for these feelings,” said Müller after the 3-2 win against Leipzig on TV channel Sky. Despite the easing, those responsible are not yet satisfied. RB Leipzig wants to continue to sue against the restrictions, managing director Oliver Mintzlaff complained about “symbolic politics”. Mainz manager Christian Heidel also criticized: “Germany is a bit known for the fact that we let a lot of scaremongering prevail. I enjoy an atmosphere like in Spain, how easy it is to deal with there.”
cornerstone
National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer regrets the departure of defender Niklas Süle at the end of the season at FC Bayern Munich. “We are all annoyed that Niklas is going. We will miss him,” said the keeper and contradicted the statement by ex-boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who said that Süle had never really asserted himself: “I think that today I can say that he prevailed here and showed great performances.” Süle had not been able to agree on an extension of his expiring contract with the Munich team. “Of course, if you play together for so long, it’s a shame if a cornerstone like that falls away,” emphasized Neuer.
Worries about relegation I
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s lead over the threatened places continues to shrink. After the 1-1 draw in Bielefeld, there are only two points left to the relegation place, which VfL Wolfsburg currently occupies. No wonder Borussia wants to quickly put the fuss about the resignation of sports director Max Eberl behind them. “These are emotional days. Of course we miss him, but at some point we have to put the issue behind us. He’s gone, now we have to concentrate on the club and see that we get back on the road to success,” said national player Jonas Hofmann. That is also necessary, next week there will be a “key game” (coach Adi Hütter) against FC Augsburg.
Worries about relegation II
Only one point from the last six games – after only two years, VfB Stuttgart is threatened with going back to the 2nd Bundesliga. “The gap has grown. That made the task more difficult,” said sporting director Sven Mislintat, looking at 17th place. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo doesn’t have to worry yet. When asked whether VfB would continue on this path, Mislintat answered “correctly”. The coach interprets it similarly: “I feel the support of those responsible and I also feel that the boys are on board.”
goal guarantee
Anthony Modeste almost became weak shortly before the end of the transfer window. An “immoral offer” from Saudi Arabia almost made the French striker switch. In the end, Modeste stayed with 1. FC Köln. Luckily for the Rhinelanders: With goal number 14 of the season, the striker shoots FC to a 1-0 win over SC Freiburg and very close to the Champions League places.
goalless
Max Kruse is gone – and Union Berlin’s winning streak ends. At 0: 2 in Augsburg, the penetration power was missing. “There’s no point in discussing Max because Max is no longer here,” said coach Urs Fischer about the star striker, who recently moved to VfL Wolfsburg. “Nobody was missing. We didn’t reach our level of performance, which we had in the last few weeks,” said Berlin’s keeper Andreas Luthe on the Kruse debate.
gate factory
Spectacle is almost guaranteed in the showdown between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. An average of five goals per game in the last ten Bundesliga duels also increases Rose’s anticipation: “I’m expecting a top game. But we have to be careful that it doesn’t turn out to be too much of an exchange of blows.” To the chagrin of the football teacher, goalkeeper Erling Haaland will be absent in the duel between the best home team and the second-best away team. With the adductor problems still not completely gone, hopes of a speedy comeback for the Norwegian turned out to be wishful thinking.
Deployment guarantee
Trainer Florian Kohfeldt from VfL Wolfsburg has given his prominent newcomer Max Kruse a regular place guarantee before the home game against bottom SpVgg Greuther Fürth. “Max will definitely play. Right from the start,” said Kohfeldt before this important game. Wolfsburg urgently needs to score to leave the relegation rank.