Another weekend is almost over in the Bundesliga, and yet again we’ve had some sensational action from across the league; some delights, some disasters and a surprise or two in the mix.
When Saturday’s Bundesliga 2020 results rolled in, it was in Stuttgart where the shock waves reverberated, but there was also a struggle for Bayern in Berlin, while Red Bull continued to charge up the table.
Winners
VfB Stuttgart
Here at SBOTOP we said that Stuttgart was a dangerous customer, but nobody could have expected the manner in which Lucien Favre’s Borussia Dortmund was dismantled in their own home. Silas Wamangituka gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot, but when Gio Reyna quickly struck back for Die Schwarzgelben, a home win looked on the cards.
But Stuttgart hit their hosts with a second-half whirlwind, scoring four unanswered goals to run out 5-1 winners as Wamangituka completed his brace. It was the first time Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Stuttgart had won at the Signal Iduna Stadium in 12 attempts but it was BVB’s third home defeat in succession.
Stuttgart climb to seventh place, just two points behind Dortmund in fifth.
Red Bull Leipzig
Die Roten Bullen drew level with FC Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table, on 24 points, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen. Marcel Sabitzer gave them an early lead and Dani Olmo doubled the advantage before the break as Red Bull saw out a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Union Berlin did Red Bull a huge favour by holding Die Bayern to a 1-1 draw, the hosts led at the breakthrough Grischa Promel, but Robert Lewandowski scored his 13th goal of the season to give the champions a point.
Bayer Leverkusen could leapfrog both Red Bull and Bayern when they play at home to Hoffenheim on Sunday. The Bundesliga 2020 betting odds still back Die Bayern heavily, but this weekend belongs to Leipzig in the chase for the 2020/21 title.
Matteo Guendouzi
Former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has slotted into the Hertha Berlin side as a defensive midfielder but he showed just what he can do in the attacking third against Borussia Monchengladbach. When Vladimir Darida picked him out just outside the penalty area he rifled an unstoppable shot into the top right corner as Hertha shared the spoils with Die Fohlen in a 1-1 draw.
That will give Guendouzi more confidence, while also prompting Arsenal fans to wonder what they are missing as they struggle for points in the Premier League.
Losers
FSV Mainz
A home game against struggling FC Koln was an ideal opportunity for Mainz to improve their uncomfortable position and move up into the play-off spot in 16th. But despite having 60 per cent possession and 15 shots to Koln’s nine, they were wasteful in front of goal and paid the price.
Elvis Rexhbecaj gave Koln a lead early in the second half, and even when the visitors had Ondrej Duda sent off, Mainz couldn’t break down the ten men and they stay in the drop zone.
Ludwig Augustinsson
Werder Bremen had a tough enough task to get a result against high flying Red Bull but it became a whole lot more difficult when Bremen’s Ludwig Augustinsson handed their hosts a gift midway through the first half. The Swedish left back put in a clumsy challenge on Yussuf Poulsen to earn a yellow card and give Die Roten Bullen a penalty which Sabitzer gratefully converted.
Augustinsson has been an impressive performer for both Werder and his national team over the past three seasons, but this was a bad day at the office.
Erling Braut Haaland
There’s nothing worse than watching your team get annihilated from the sidelines. We fans have to suffer that fate from time to time but on Saturday, at the Signal Iduna Park, it was the turn of BVB striker Erling Braut Haaland.
The big Norwegian striker had to sit out Dortmund’s Champions League draw with Lazio with a hamstring injury and he’s going to be out until January. And with another transfer window around the corner there is the usual speculation surrounding Haaland’s future. The 20 year old was pursued by Manchester United in the summer, and he’s been in startling form again this season, netting 17 goals in 14 games, in all competitions, and he’s now reported to be on Manchester City’s radar.
But a release clause of £68m isn’t valid until summer 2020 and that strengthens BVB’s hand. They need their star striker back and firing in January.
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