19 goals in 5 games
©IMAGO
Despite clear superiority and being outnumbered for around 70 minutes, Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a bitter home defeat against FSV Mainz 05 at the end of the year. In the 1:3 (0:2) in the Rhine-Main derby, Frankfurt’s substitute goalkeeper Kauã Santos became the unlucky one for the Hessians, who were third in the Bundesliga table, with a slapstick own goal (16th minute) and other serious mistakes go for winter break.
For Mainz, who had to play outnumbered for a long time after Nadiem Amiri (21′) was sent off early, Paul Nebel (27/58′) also scored a brace in front of 58,000 spectators. The Rheinhessen, who had recently defeated Borussia Dortmund and leaders Bayern Munich, have now moved up to two points on their rivals with 25 points. Rasmus Kristensen’s goal (75th) wasn’t enough for Frankfurt.
In addition to defender Tuta (calf), regular goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was also out for the home team at short notice with a bad cold. “Nothing worked for him,” reported Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller before kick-off. Santos moved between the posts for Trapp. The 21-year-old Brazilian had a very weak day in his fifth Bundesliga appearance.
Santos took the surprising lead in Mainz himself. In an effort to build up the game in an orderly manner, he initially passed the ball to Ellyes Skhiri, who was positioned 20 meters in front of his own goal. His back pass failed under pressure and sailed like an arc over the Frankfurt substitute goalkeeper. Santos’ attempt to save the ball went wrong when he pushed the ball onto the crossbar, but then used his hand to send the rebound into his own net.
The Brazilian also looked unhappy when he conceded the second goal. Nebel simply took a shot from about 20 meters and caught the Eintracht goalkeeper off guard. Eintracht captain Robin Koch deflected the ball slightly. At this point, Mainz were already decimated after Amiri was shown a red card by referee Florian Badstübner for a serious foul on Skhiri.
Although Frankfurt dominated the game when they had the majority, they acted too awkwardly in front of the opponent’s goal and carelessly missed the few good chances. There was also some bad luck when Kristensen headed the crossbar. Santos initiated Mainz’s third goal with a catastrophic bad pass. Nebel thanked him for the pre-Christmas present. In the final phase, Zentner secured the victory for the guests with several saves.
VfB Stuttgart makes a mistake at the end of the year: defeat against FC St. Pauli
VfB Stuttgart says goodbye to the winter break with a nasty surprise. After winning four competitive games in a row, the Champions League participants lost 0-1 (0-1) against promoted team FC St. Pauli in the last game before Christmas.
The Swabians thus missed the victory that coach Sebastian Hoeneß had hoped for as an “outstanding” conclusion at the end of a remarkable year with the runner-up and long-awaited premier class evenings. Stuttgart will start the new year in a midfield position. With a win they would have moved into the top four of the Bundesliga.
FC St. Pauli winters above the relegation places. Striker Johannes Eggestein spoiled the hosts’ afternoon in front of 60,000 spectators and shot the Kiezkickers to an important success in the lower table region in the 21st minute. It was a successful return to his Swabian homeland for coach Alexander Blessin. Even though Eggestein missed a penalty at the beginning of the second half and missed the possible 2-0 (53rd).
Holstein Kiel in the Christmas rush: Torfestival against FC Augsburg
With an exhilarating goal festival and three goals in seven minutes, Holstein Kiel stopped its negative streak and said goodbye to the winter break with its own Bundesliga record. Thanks to an impressive first half, the newcomer won 5:1 (4:1) against FC Augsburg, but remains in a relegation zone despite the biggest win in the elite league. Kiel recently suffered five defeats in a row.
Before the turn of the year, the spectacle is a glimmer of hope for the club. The KSV now has eight points in the table and has initially reduced the gap to the relegation zone to two points. On Sunday, Kiel’s direct competitors Bochum and Heidenheim will compete against each other. Augsburg is still waiting for its first away win this season.
The early Augsburg goal by Alexis Claude-Maurice (5th minute) equalized Kiel’s Lasse Rosenboom (12th). Kiel then scored three times in seven minutes: Phil Harres scored twice (32nd/35th), the strong Shuto Machino, who prepared two goals, made it 4-1 (39th) – and ensured the final score in added time ( 90.+1).
For the first time in 1009 days: Gladbach wins twice in a row
Borussia Mönchengladbach has ended a lull that lasted almost three years and exacerbated the sporting concerns at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. With the 2-1 (1-0) in Sinsheim, Borussia managed two Bundesliga wins in a row for the first time since March 2022.
New signing Philipp Sander (23rd minute) and striker Alassane Pléa (61st) scored the goals for Gerardo Seoane’s team in front of 28,923 spectators. The Gladbachers go into the winter break with 24 points and are even sniffing out a place in the European Cup after their well-deserved success at TSG.
Andrej Kramaric had equalized in the meantime (58th/foul penalty). Since Gladbach last won two Bundesliga games in a row, 1,009 days have passed and two coaches have left before Seoane.
Victory against Union: Werder dreams of Europe
Werder Bremen goes into the winter break as a hot European Cup contender. The Green-Whites won 4-1 (3-1) at home against 1. FC Union Berlin at the end of the year and can happily celebrate Christmas with 25 points after 15 Bundesliga games.
Berliners, on the other hand, are in a deep crisis. Coach Bo Svensson’s team hasn’t won any of the last eight Bundesliga games and is only slightly clear of the relegation zone thanks to the good start to the season.
In front of 42,100 spectators in the sold-out Weserstadion, Marco Grüll put Werder in the lead with a brace (13th/17th minute). After András Schäfer’s goal (23′), Mitchell Weiser (45′) made it 3-1 for Bremen shortly before half-time. Jens Stage (86th) made everything clear shortly before the end.