Round 10 of Bundesliga action left us with breathtaking drama to cling to before the international break.
There were thrilling games, uninspiring draws, and several talking points to discuss as we await the return of club football.
One of the most shocking results came at MEWA Arena, where FSV. Mainz put Borussia Dortmund to the sword with a resounding 3-1 win.
BVB have been massively underwhelming this season, but Borussia Dortmund tickets remain a sought-after commodity on Seatsnet.com and will remain so when club football returns.
For now, let’s take you through the Bundesliga grounds to recap what went down over the weekend in the German top flight.
Freiburg held by Union Berlin
Union Berlin (6th) and Freiburg (5th) are flying high in the Bundesliga, punching above their weight. On Friday, Freiburg travelled to Stadion An der Alten Forsterei with a chance to add to the one-point gap between them and Union.
They had the perfect chance to claim all three points when influential captain Vincenzo Grifo stepped up to take a penalty won by tricky winger Eren Dinkci following an ill-thought pull by Rani Khedira.
The usually precise Grifo looked bereft of confidence when he stepped up to play the spot-kick, and his effort was saved, just like his last attempt against St. Pauli.
Union man Janik Haberer could have made the veteran rue his mistake, but Noah Atobolu tipped over his fierce drive to earn Bo Svensson’s side a point. Union remain unbeaten at home, and Freiburg must consider practising penalties, having missed their last five spot-kicks.
Werder Bremen claim hard-fought win over Holstein Kiel
Saturday action kicked off with Werder Bremen playing host to newly-promoted Holstein Kiel. Interestingly, Werder manager Ole Werner learned the ropes during his eight-year stay with the visitors. He also played for them, adding an exciting kick to the game.
However, Werner’s side ran out 2-1 winners, claiming their fourth victory in the Bundesliga this season and the first at home. Substitute Oliver Burke headed in a sublime winner in the 89th minute to seal the three points.
Kiel fought hard and made life difficult for the hosts, with Michael Zetterer making a triple save to keep his side in the game before Romano Schmid smacked a last-gasp effort against the bar.
Some might even argue Kiel were the better side as Phil Harres equalised Jens Stage’s opener, but the Werder bench was the difference, powering them to the three points.
Bayer Leverkusen stutter against Bochum
Koji Miyoshi netted an 89th-minute goal to snag a point for VfL Bochum against Bayer Leverkusen at the Vonovia-Ruhrstadion.
Patrick Schick replaced Victor Boniface in the XI after his abysmal performance versus Stuttgart in the league and his tame Champions League outing against Liverpool.
The Czech Republic striker gave Die Werkself the lead in the 18th, but Leverkusen failed to convert the opportunities that came their way. Bochum fought back in the second half and claimed a deserved goal to condemn the champions to a fifth draw in their last six league outings.
Bochum remain at the foot of the table, still seeking a first win, but this result will more than encourage new coach Dieter Hecking as they bid for survival.
Mainz put Dortmund to the sword
Borussia Dortmund continue to look listless under Nuri Sahin. BVB stumbled to a 3-1 loss against Mainz 05, leaving them in seventh place on the league log with five wins from ten (D1, L4) – not good enough.
Dortmund defender Emre Can received red for an amateur tackle, and Mainz made the advantage count, taking the lead through Lee Jae-sung before Serhou Guirassy equalised from the spot.
The 05ers didn’t let Dortmund dream as Jonathan Burkadt crashed in a goal before half-time, and Paul Nebel ensured the win. BVB are yet to win an away game in the Bundesliga
BVB will try to right their wrongs when they lock horns with Freiburg on November 23, and fans can get Dortmund tickets from seatsnet.com – the best ticket marketplace – to see if Sahin can turn this tide.
Bayern beat spirited St. Pauli 1-0
Bayern Munich continued to steam towards their 33rd Meisterschale with a 1-0 win over newcomers St. Pauli. The victory sent them five points clear at the top as they look to recover their crown.
A thunderbolt from Jamal Musiala proved the difference, although the record champions will regret not scoring more than once. They had excellent chances but squandered them.
St. Pauli were solid for most of the day before being overpowered by the sheer quality within the Bayern ranks.
The newcomers sit in 16th place and will back themselves to escape relegation after this promising performance against Die Rekordmeister. They travel to Borussia Monchengladbach next.
This was Bayern’s fifth win on the trot since the humiliating loss to Barcelona, and they have not conceded. Have they turned a corner? Only time will tell.
Leizpig held to goalless draw By Gladbach
For the first time, a Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach ended in a goalless draw. However, as expected, there were fireworks.
Leipzig put visiting goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas to work multiple times but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Tim Kleindienst missed a significant opportunity for the visitors, who have accumulated four points from their last two matches. His partner in crime, Franck Honorat, struck the frame of the goal with a vicious hit.
This result leaves Leipzig in second place in the standings, five points behind Bayern, but they remain unbeaten at home in the top flight this season.
Gladbach, on the other hand, sit in ninth place. They put in a shift defensively to shut out Die Roten Bullen and capitalised on their weaknesses to great effect but have to make do with just a point.
Augsburg and Hoffenheim play a 0-0 draw
TSG Hoffenheim played out a frustrating draw against Augsburg. Die Kraichgauer find themselves closer to the bottom of the log with just two league wins from their opening ten games. The result was the last straw and cost head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo his job.
Augsburg were markedly better on the day, with TSG looking tactically bankrupt. Hoffenheim had goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to thank for keeping them in the game despite Augsburg creating several exciting openings.
The hosts were bolstered by their strong home record, having collected 10 of their 11 points this season at the WWK Arena, including a recent victory over Borussia Dortmund. However, they could not find a way past Hoffenheim. They remain 13th on the league table.
Frankfurt stun Stuttgart to continue excellent start
Eintracht Frankfurt narrowly defeated Stuttgart 3-2 in an exhilarating Bundesliga match at the MHPArena to continue their record-breaking start to the season.
Hugo Ekitike’s header put Frankfurt ahead just before half-time. Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demerovic had rattled the crossbar and missed a penalty moments before.
The visitors extended their lead through Nathaniel Brown and a free-kick from Omar Marmoush, who starred with an assist and his third free-kick goal in as many games.
Stuttgart dominated possession and fought back as Josha Vagnoman scored in the 87th minute, and Nick Woltemade added another in the 90th. Chris Fuhrich’s dramatic 98th-minute equaliser was ruled out by VAR for offside.
Despite late pressure, Frankfurt held on to stay third, leaving Die Schwaber in 11th. The loss ends Stuttgart’s record of 16 games unbeaten at home.
Wolfsburg edge Heidenheim to take three points
Wolfsburg claimed a 3-1 away win over Heidenheim in an enthralling Bundesliga match-up. Yannick Gerhardt opened the scoring with a long-range strike in the third minute that goalkeeper Kevin Muller should have saved.
Bence Dardai doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, scoring from a chaotic corner, becoming Wolfsburg’s youngest Bundesliga scorer.
Heidenheim’s Marvin Pieringer revived hopes in the 64th minute with an acrobatic goal. The hosts pushed for an equaliser, but Wolfsburg’s goalkeeper Kamil Grabara’s double save preserved their lead.
Substitute Tiago Tomas sealed the victory in the 90th minute, weaving past defenders and finishing coolly. Despite Heidenheim’s valiant efforts, Wolfsburg’s efficiency and tactical substitutions proved decisive in their victory.
The Wolves are up to 12th with 12 points, two points and two places above Heidenheim.
