Bundesliga Roundup: Bayern draw with Union, Leverkusen lose points again
Bayer Leverkusen - Freiburg 2-3
Buoyed by their first win of the season last time out, the hosts were straight onto the front foot in the early going as they searched for an opening. Freiburg produced uncharacteristically sloppy defending to allow the hosts to take the lead. Missing several chances to clear the ball inside their area, the ball eventually dropped to Kerem Demirbay, who produced an acrobatic strike to finish from close range.
Gerardo Seaone’s men took complete control after taking the lead, and really ought to have pulled further ahead before the break. Jeremie Frimpong’s cross found Patrik Schick at the near post, but Mark Flekken was on hand to block the Czech international’s goal-bound shot. The electric Moussa Diaby was next to go close, as he burst into space down the right before firing a low shot that was brilliantly stopped by the Freiburg goalkeeper.
Christian Streich needed a response from his team after a poor first half display. Within three minutes of the restart, he got just that as the visitors levelled the contest. Vincenzo Grifo’s corner was met by a powerful Matthias Ginter header, which proved far too strong for Lukáš Hrádecký. Less than three minutes later, Freiburg sensationally took the lead. Edmond Tapsoba’s awful back-pass was intercepted by Woo-Yeong Jeong and he put the ball on a plate for Michael Gregoritsch to tap-in.
A triple change from Seoane made an immediate impact, as Bundesliga debutant Callum Hudson-Odoi came off the bench to deliver a beautiful cross that was nodded home by Schick to equalise. A topsy-turvy contest continued to thrill, as Freiburg retook the lead through Ritsu Doan, again tapping in at the back post after a corner was flicked on into his path.
Streich’s men held on for a hard-earned victory and now sit in the unfamiliar position on top of the Bundesliga, joining Borussia Dortmund as the only side to win four of their first five games this season. Meanwhile, a fourth defeat from five games piles pressure on Seoane’s Leverkusen, as they enter the UEFA Champions League in desperate need of a change of fortunes.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Matthias Ginter (Freiburg)
See all the stats from the match on Flashscore.
Bochum - Werder Bremen 0-2
While Werder may have been sporting their ‘salmon’ away kit, it was Bochum who were left feeling pink early on, with the visitors controlling possession and threatening the goal early on. Breaking in behind the defence, Marvin Ducksch looked to have rounded the Bochum goalkeeper, only for an outstretched Manuel Riemann leg to prevent the Bremen attacker from tapping home into an empty net.
Apart from a couple of Bochum flurries into the opposition half, it was all Werder in the opening 45 minutes. Niklas Schmidt’s driven free-kick had beaten goalkeeper Riemann, only for the post to deny the 24-year-old. A disappointing performance for Bochum, whose winless run showed no sign of ending during a below-par first half at the Ruhrstadion.
While the scores were level, Bochum remained in with a chance of sneaking the victory and with just ten minutes left on the clock, it looked as if the home side had snatched the lead. In the right place at the right time, Philipp Hofmann was on hand to bundle home from three yards out and send the Ruhrstadion into raptures, only for the game to be ruled out for a handball.
From dreamland to disappointment, Bochum’s hopes of a first point would be crushed by a late Füllkrug brace. Firstly converting with a diving header from six-yards out, the 29-year-old striker added a second from the spot in injury time to seal an impressive victory on the road.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Niclas Füllkrug (Werder Bremen)
See all the stats from the match on Flashscore.
Stuttgart - Schalke 1-1
Both sides entered the contest still searching for their first league win of the campaign, though Schalke were particularly bereft of confidence after conceding six or more goals in a Bundesliga game for only the second time in the 21st century last weekend.
Following that demoralising 6-1 defeat to Union Berlin, Die Königsblauen would have been desperate to start positively, but a poor touch from debutant Sepp van den Berg gifted Stuttgart the opener. Silas took advantage to steal possession off of the Liverpool loanee, before finding Chris Führich, who guided the ball home with the assistance of a Maya Yoshida deflection.
Führich’s first goal of the season could have caused Schalke heads to drop, but they showed great character to hit back within three minutes courtesy of a clinical strike from Simon Terodde, who latched onto Dominick Drexler's cute pass to fire the ball into the top corner. The momentum continued to seesaw in an entertaining first half, but ultimately neither side were able to put their noses in front before the interval.
While the first period was akin to a basketball game, the second half yielded fewer chances with the encounter on a knife-edge. As both sides were battling for control of the contest, Schalke received a boost in the 67th minute when Stuttgart were reduced to 10 men for the second straight game after Josha Vagnoman was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge.
Substitute Tom Krauß nearly benefitted from the numerical advantage, but the substitute was denied by the resilient Florian Müller before Pascal Stenzel’s last-ditch block denied Rodrigo Zalazar late on, ensuring both clubs have to continue their wait for the first league victory of the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart)
See all the stats from the match on Flashscore.
Union Berlin - Bayern Munich 1-1
Urs Fischer’s side had made a dream start to the Bundesliga season, and the confidence was clearly flowing as, against the run of play, they took the lead. Christopher Trimmel’s floated free-kick was perfectly placed for Sheraldo Becker to place his volley exquisitely into the corner, soundly beating a motionless Manuel Neuer. Despite the absence of regular strike partner Jordan Siebatcheu, the Suriname international continued his lightning start to the campaign, netting for the fifth time in as many Bundesliga games.
However, Bayern are champions for a reason, and were not dismayed by falling behind, equalising almost instantly. Jamal Musiala’s blocked shot fell to Joshua Kimmich on the inside right, and the German unleashed a glorious low, driven shot that flew through a sea of bodies to nestle in the bottom corner. The visitors were now in the ascendancy, controlling possession and creating the better chances. Leroy Sané spurned a big chance to put his side ahead before the break, as his effort was brilliantly denied by Frederik Rønnow.
Despite the introductions of Serge Gnabry and Thomas Müller, Bayern continued to struggle to translate their dominance into chances. In fact, Neuer was needed to keep his side on level terms, denying Jamie Leweling’s effort after he had picked Dayot Upamecano’s pocket in a dangerous area.
For a team that scored a league-record 13 goals from their first two road trips, Julian Nagelsmann’s men appeared strangely blunt in attack as the Rekordmeister surrendered the lead of the Bundesliga. Despite the disappointment of dropping points, Bayern remain the only top-flight team that Union are yet to beat, going winless in their last seven meetings with the holders.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin)
See all the stats from the match on Flashscore.
Wolfsburg - FC Koln 2-4
Wolfsburg’s failure to win any of their opening four fixtures meant this was their worst Bundesliga start since the 2001/02 season, so opening the scoring in the second minute was precisely what the nervous home crowd needed. Lukas Nmecha latched on to a threaded pass in the right channel and his angled shot was just enough to creep past Marvin Schwäbe’s outstretched leg into the far corner.
The home side failed to build on that lead despite some promising openings, and they were made to pay as the game was flipped on its head. Dejan Ljubičić levelled the game with a powerful effort before a comical own goal from Paulo Otávio gifted Cologne the lead. His attempt to clear a cross forced a fine save from his own goalkeeper, however, the ball bounced back off Otávio and agonisingly trundled over the line to make it 2-1. Wolfsburg desperately needed to make it to HT to give them a chance to reorganise, but a VAR review just before the break ended with Cologne being awarded a penalty, and Florian Kainz calmly slotted it home.
There was no noticeable reaction from the hosts immediately after the break, but their fragility at the back was highlighted ten minutes from time. Lukas Nmecha produced a fine finish to drag his team back into the game, however, Sargis Adamyan immediately restored the two-goal advantage for the visitors to suck the life out of the crowd and end the game as a contest.
Cologne look set for a European push after their unbeaten start to the season was extended, however, they have now gone seven away games without a clean sheet and that will need to improve if they are to sustain a European push. Wolfsburg appear to be in deep trouble and lacking confidence, so avoiding relegation may be their primary goal if this form continues.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lukas Nmecha (Wolfsburg)