It was another enthralling weekend of Bundesliga action with results impacting both ends of the table.
Bochum 4-2 Bayern Munich
VFL Bochum produced one of the results of the season so far, defeating Bayern Munich 4-2, with all four Bochum goals coming in the first half with three in the space of six minutes.
Bayern had the chance to go 12 points clear at the top of the table and apply pressure to Borussia Dortmund ahead of their difficult looking trip to Union Berlin. The home side were hoping to improve after their last three games had failed to produce a win.
Despite a bright start by the hosts, events in Bochum unfolded as many would have expected as the Robert Lewandowski goal arrived after only eight minutes.
But Christopher Antwi-Adjei drew Bochum levelled five minutes later with his first goal for the club. Seven minutes before halftime, the hosts were in front. Dayot Upamecano’s handball was punished with the award of a penalty which was placed beyond Sven Ulreich by Jürgen Locadia in the 38th minute.
Ulreich, standing in for the injured Manuel Neuer, was then beaten twice in four minutes as Bochum two superb pieces of play. Christian Gamboa played a one-two with Patrick Osterhage before firing a right footed shot into the top left-hand corner. Gerrit Holtman was next up as he nutmegged the unfortunate Upamecano before curling his shot beyond the Bayern ‘keeper. It was a halftime lead Bochum deserved, with more attempts at goal (8-6) and shots on target (5-1) than the Champions – the first time Bayern had conceded four goals in a first half since 1975. A game the following season in 1976 would have been on the mind of some Bochum fans; their side had been 4-0 up against Bayern Munich that day only to finally lose 6-5.
The visitors applied the pressure for the remaining 40 minutes, but Bochum defended desperately – each block welcomed liked a goal by the home crowd. Lewandowski was twice denied before setting up a nervous final 15 minutes, his volley deflected past Michael Esser in the Bochum goal for his 26th of the season. The Poland striker’s free kick hit the crossbar, but Bayern ran out of time. A far more urgent second half performance saw 15 away attempts on goal, with just four on target.
Bochum celebrate a first win over Bayern since 2004 and are now six points from both 4th placed RB Leipzig and Augsburg in 16th. Bayern will expect to return to winning ways against Greuther Fürth next week but have potentially tricky games with Frankfurt and Leverkusen on the horizon, as they looked to hold onto their advantage at the top.
Union Berlin 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund knew they could reignite talk of a title race once again with a win in the Capital. Die Schwarzgelben – still missing the injured Erling Haaland – were aiming to reinstate the six-point deficit which was increased to nine points following last week’s collapse against Bayern Leverkusen.
Union have enjoyed success against Dortmund in Berlin, winning the previous two games they have hosted since promotion to the Bundesliga. However, there was to be no repeat, the guests going 2-0 up after just 25 minutes.
Marco Reus provided to be clinical, netting twice in seven minutes: his sixth and seventh goals of the season.
It was good work by Jude Bellingham that set up that third goal, his run and cut back eventually landing at Raphaël Guerreiro’s feet to finish from close range: the defender’s fourth goal of the season – the most of any defender in the league.
Union lost back-to-back games in the league for the first time this season and fall to 7th place, level on points with 4th placed RB Leipzig. Dortmund welcome Gladbach next, a side they have lost to in the last two league meetings.
Bayern Leverkusen 4-2 Stuttgart
Third-placed Leverkusen made it 14 goals in three games over visitors Stuttgart who are now winless in seven matches.
Stuttgart, who have only beaten Leverkusen once in 12 years, gave the hosts a scare as Tiago Tomás’s shot deflected onto the crossbar. Florian Wirtz had the ball in the net for Leverkusen, but his effort was ruled out for a clear offside.
Four minutes from half-time, Moussa Diaby ran at the Stuttgart defence with pace and was rewarded with a kind break of the ball to finish well past Florian Müller for the 22-year-old Frenchman’s fifth goal in three games.
Stuttgart equalised four minutes into the second half through Tiago Tomás, but the goal was created by a wonderful Orel Mangala turn and pass. It was a lead that lasted just three minutes thanks to Amine Adli’s angled header from 12 yards.
Leverkusen threatened to extend their lead as Stuttgart struggled to keep Diaby and Wirtz at bay, but the 18-year-old Wirtz finally made it 3-1, passing the ball into the bottom corner from 16-yards with five minutes to go. Stuttgart hit back again, Tomás making it 3-2 in the 88th minute, but a minute later Wirtz had turned provider for Patrik Schick’s 19th goal of the season. It rounded off a great performance by Wirtz, coming off the pitch with a goal, an assist, five key passes and creating two other chances.
Stuttgart remain four points adrift of safety in the relegation places with a tricky tie against Bochum up next. Leverkusen’s travels take them to Mainz next, where they will put the second-best attack in the league against the best defence in what should be an intriguing tie.
Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 Augsburg
Gladbach recorded a much-needed win to give some breathing space between themselves and the relegation places when 16th placed Augsburg visited. Augsburg were undefeated in their last three ties with Gladbach, but the hosts went ahead after half an hour thanks to Kouadio Koné’s header.
Jonas Hofmann suffered a head injury after being struck in the back of the head with the ball, but he recovered to double his side’s lead 26 seconds into the second half. Iago pulled one back for the visitors, but Ramy Bensebaini made it 3-1 in the 67th minute. Alfreð Finnbogason grabbed a goal back deep into stoppage time although it was not enough to spark a comeback.
Augsburg remain 16th whilst Gladbach look a more comfortable in four points ahead in 13th.
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Wolfsburg
Florian Kohlfeldt’s Wolfsburg side recorded another important win, this time over Frankfurt, to move them up to 12th in the league and ease the recent relegation concerns. Eintracht started well but ultimately lacked the clinical finish; 17 shots at goal but just three found the target. Martin Hinteregger had a game to forget as he contributed to both goals; his clumsy challenge was adjudged to be inside the penalty area by VAR, Max Kruse dispatched the penalty for 1-0 in the 28th minute. The game was decided in injury time when Hinteregger misjudged the flight of the ball to let Dodi Lukebakio in to finish at Kevin Trapp’s near post. The visitors looked comfortable in managing their opponent’s attacks and were untroubled by any of the ten corners they faced.
The win sees Die Wolfe up to 12th, four points behind Eintracht who have just one victory in their last five games.
Shakes and movers on MD2⃣2⃣. ⬆️⬇️
How’s it looking for your #Bundesliga team? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aCZ8I36ZvW
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) February 13, 2022
Elsewhere, Greuther Fürth secured a big win as they looked to improve their chances of survival this season, defeating Hertha Berlin 2-1 thanks to a Branimir Hrgota double. Linus Gechter pulled a goal back for Hertha with eight minutes to go. Fürth are now nine points from safety, whilst Hertha are just a point ahead of the relegation play-off place.
Alexander Hack had Mainz in front at Freiburg but Nils Petersen equalised within two minute of coming on as a second-half sub in a 1-1 draw between the two Europe chasing sides.
Hoffenheim are up to 5th following a 2-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld with Benjain Hübner and Georginio Rutter on target.
RB Leipzig scored two goals in three second-half minutes as they saw off Köln 3-1 on Friday night. Christopher Nkunku, Dani Olmo and Angeliño with the goals before Köln’s late consolation by Tim Lemperle.