Bundesliga Matchday 13 Recap: Close calls, wonderful Woltemade, forgetful away days, and more.
Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga saw 32 goals shared across 9 games, meaning an average of 3.5 goals per game. Despite the high goals, many of the games were close run affairs and with them came a lot of talking points. These are your talking points and recap from matchday 13 in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Go Six Clear
Bayern Munich overcame FC Heidenheim 4-2 to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points. Though it seems like another standard Bayern victory, all is not how it sounds.
Bayern rested Jamal Musiala from their midweek duel with Bayer Leverkusen in the cup and it clearly showed that there was a creative spark missing from the first half.
After Dayot Upamecano gave Bayern the lead but then the Frenchman gifted the visitors their equaliser in the second half.
The 21-year-old made an immediate impact giving Bayern the lead. Leon Goretzka would then make it 3-1, before former Bayern player Niklas Dorsch provided a brief scare. Musiala would then make it 4-2.
This result showed that no matter how strong the opponent is, Bayern struggle without Musiala. This is obviously not sustainable as shown earlier on this season when Bayern struggled against Eintracht Frankfurt, Aston Villa and Barcelona.
Stuttgart Stun Union
The Friday night game between VfB Stuttgart and Union Berlin turned out to be a cracker and would set the tone for the rest of the matchday.
Union looked comfortable with two goals either side of half time to take a 0-2 lead after 50 minutes. However, a Nick Woltemade brace and a first Bundesliga goal from Atakan Karazor ensured a stunning comeback from the Swabians.
Union looked stunned following the equaliser and never really got going again. Having only conceded 11 goals prior to the game, the collapse was all the more surprising.
The winner for Stuttgart highlighted Union’s complete meltdown as goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow passed the ball to Karazor allowing him to finish with ease.
It’s a welcome win for Stuttgart and shows they still have that fighting spirit which has served them so well over the past 18 months. The win leaves them in 8th and just one point from 5th.
Flying Wolves
The Ralph Hasenhüttl renaissance is well and truly underway at VfL Wolfsburg. Their thrilling 4-3 victory over Mainz 05 sends them all the way into 5th and well within a shout for Europe next term.
With both sides on a five game unbeaten run going into this one, there was no wonder that forwards dominated the day.
Mainz went ahead early with a great move to set Paul Nebel away who finished into the far corner.
However, Wolfsburg found themselves level just six minutes later, Mohammed Amoura firing home after the keeper’s original stop. The goal was made by the brilliance of Tiago Tomás whose solo run near the touchline created the goal scoring chance in the first place.
Jonathan Burkardt then restored the visitor’s lead five minutes before the break and in doing so became the club’s joint all-time goalscorer in the Bundesliga.
Shortly after the break Amoura turned provided for Tomás whose deflected effort found its way into the net.
Back came Mainz once again with Nebel, which was his first top flight brace of his career and his third goal of the campaign.
Jonas Wind looked to at least salvage a point for Wolfsburg with seven minutes to go, but deep into stoppage time Wind went one better and headed home a freekick to ensure Wolfsburg took all three points.
Wolves unbeaten in six games now and inflict Mainz’s first away defeat since March.
Around The Grounds
RB Leipzig got back to winning ways with a comfortable 0-2 away victory at Holstein Kiel. Though the hosts had more of the ball and shots, they never really threatened Péter Gulácsi in the Saxon’s goal. The win keeps Leipzig in 4th.
Borussia Dortmund have now failed to win an away game from their opening five away fixtures having draw 1-1 in Mönchengladbach. In fact, BVB have taken just one point from a possible 15 from away fixtures so far. The only positive was that Jamie Gittens found the net again and continues to impress.
Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2-2 draw at home to a stubborn FC Augsburg side. A quiet day for Frankfurt’s forward despite the team dominating the ball for most of the game. Perhaps the draw is a little reminder that though Frankfurt are a fun watch, they’re the youngest team in the league and lacked experience when it comes to these types of games.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Werder Bremen at still winless Bochum (0-1), Bayer Leverkusen beat St. Pauli (2-1) and SC Freiburg played out a 1-1 draw with TSG Hoffenheim.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
