23rd matchday
Berlin (dpa) – Saturday in the Bundesliga was dominated by the relegation battle in many stadiums. Only one of the basement clubs won. Today the top teams in the league intervene – Borussia Dortmund in particular has a lot to make up for.
Bitter
VfB Stuttgart was so close to three very important points. The Swabians were leading against VfL Bochum until injury time, then a foul, a whistle and a penalty. The game ended 1:1. “It sucks and it hurts. We have to win this game because we’ve been able to win the game several times,” said VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo on pay TV channel Sky. “We didn’t take our chances and the goal we conceded at the end hurts a lot.” The gap to FC Augsburg and the relegation place was reduced only minimally to three points.
premier class
With two goals in just four minutes, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim has climbed to a place in the Champions League, at least for the time being. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’ team was 1-0 down at VfL Wolfsburg – and still won 2-1. “It was a difficult game,” said substitute goalscorer Jacob Bruun Larsen. “You could see that Wolfsburg have a good team. We fought and believed in ourselves, I’m very happy that I was able to make a difference after coming on.” TSG could be pushed back from fourth place on Sunday. for now.
Big points
This is how the relegation battle works. With the 1-0 win against 1. FC Union Berlin, Arminia Bielefeld increased the gap to the relegation place by three points. “Winning at home is always the nicest thing. The fact that it was only our second home win sounds wild at first. But there were a lot of draws, the performances were always there,” said goal scorer Patrick Wimmer. Union coach Urs Fischer was disappointed: “At the moment he doesn’t want to cross the line and once again we don’t look good when we concede.”
joker
Who else? In the previous week at 1: 3 at RB Leipzig, Anthony Modeste, who was ill, was sorely missed. On Saturday against Eintracht Frankfurt, the goalscorer from 1. FC Köln came on as a substitute half an hour before the end – and secured FC a 1-0 win with his 15th goal of the season. “Madness,” said Mark Uth. “We work hard and he ends up making things. We’re glad we have him.” Cologne initially climbed to sixth place.
scorer
Nils Petersen did what he always does – only much earlier. The 33-year-old striker was in the starting XI for the first time this season in the 2-1 win at FC Augsburg. Already in the fourth minute he scored the lead, usually he is successful as a (record) joker. “I know I had a few injuries and the others did well too,” said the SC professional about his role. “We’re in a good place in the table and it’s always difficult for the backup players. But when you play, it’s good when you come up with arguments.”
zugzwang
Not winning two competitive games in a row, a rare experience for FC Bayern Munich. A win on Sunday (3.30 p.m. / DAZN) against bottom Greuther Fürth is mandatory so that the six-point lead over pursuer Borussia Dortmund does not melt any further – and at best is expanded again. “The mood is appropriate for the fact that we didn’t win twice,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann and demanded: “Bayern Munich have to be broadcast”.
Because BVB is under even more pressure. The criticism of the team and coach Marco Rose after the bitter 4-2 in the Europa League against Glasgow Rangers is loud. A win is needed against Rose’s ex-club Borussia Mönchengladbach (5:30 p.m. / DAZN). Another defeat in the 100th league game of the two traditional clubs would be the next blow. A success like the 1-0 win in the first leg would also be important for Gladbach coach Adi Hütter given the more than mixed season so far.
Meanwhile, Hertha BSC (7.30 p.m. / DAZN) at home against RB Leipzig is hoping for a surprise like the 3-2 win against Dortmund in December.