15.30 Kickoffs: Rose's Leipzig easily dispatch Dortmund, Bayern draw yet again
Plenty of late goals and excitement during the 15:30 kickoffs on matchday six in the 2022/23 German Bundesliga. Despite a disappointing loss for Dortmund and another draw for Bayern, both the FCB and BVB remain part of a four-team-tie (on points) for first place in the table.
Following a big win over Mainz, Hoffenheim join Bayern, Dortmund, and Freiburg on twelve points at the top of the standings. Both Freiburg and 1. FC Union Berlin will get a chance to overtake tomorrow.
The much-hyped showdown between Edin Terzic's Borussia Dortmund and Marco Rse's RB Leipzig on Bundesliga matched six actually turned out to be a completely one-sided affair. Terzic's BVB failed to generate much in terms of a coherent attack on Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Arena. AS a result, they were blanked 3-0 by their hosts in a not-entirely competitive encounter.
Following a big win over Mainz, Hoffenheim join Bayern, Dortmund, and Freiburg on twelve points at the top of the standings. Both Freiburg and 1. FC Union Berlin will get a chance to overtake tomorrow.
The new RB trainer stuck with the back-four that former trainer Domenico Tedesco debuted in the Champions' League midweek. Two personnel changes saw Emil Forsberg and David Raum replace Marcel Halstenberg and André Silva. The Saxon hosts lined up in a 4-2-3-1. Terzic also used the 4-2-3-1 constellation. Personal deployments were exactly as many German football experts had predicted, with Julian Brandt and Marius Wolf serving on the wing.
One couldn't accuse the Westphalian guests of not coming out with early gusto. Terzic's team pressed high and, via some rapid flank rotations involving Wolf and Brandt, were able to get the ball into their opponents' area with some regularity. Quality final services for Anthony Modeste were nevertheless too inaccurate and Leipzig were able to open the scoring on their first legitimate chance of the game. Willi Orban finished off a Dominik Szoboszlai corner in the 6th for the 1-0.
After a brief momentum surge in favor of the hosts, the game then quickly and unpredictably settled into a midfield stalemate. Both teams kept it lively, yet couldn't really establish any rhythm through until the half-hour mark approached. Wolf came to the rescue for his team with a last ditch tackle in the 33rd. Timo Werner, finally through onside on a counterattack, had Szoboszlai set up before an open net net before Wolf intervened.
Leipzig grew in confidence as the half drew to a close. Dortmund, meanwhile, tanked severely in their basic ability to string together passes on the charge. A second goal felt as if it was forthcoming before the half-time whistle. The Saxons combined well outside the box and looked very dangerous on several Werner-led counters. The 2-0 would come on a Szoboszlai screaming in the 45th. The Hungarian simply opted to have a go from about 25 meters out. Alexander Meyer was powerfulness against the dipping and swerving finish.
It came as something of a surprise not to see Terzic make any changes at the half. Dortmund were unable to gain much traction in the same approach. The better chances beloved to Rose's crew. Nkunku and Werner weren't far off following some quality charges. Terzic finally introduced Giovannit Reyna at the hour mark. The young American was at least able to locate Modeste with a cross in the 63rd. The Frenchman just missed with a left-footed close-range effort.
Whilst Dortmund took more risks down the stretch, Leipzig simply capitalized on the extra amount of space their opponents accorded the. Relaxed and combining up the filed in an improvisational and gun fashion, the Saxons killed the game off in a rather leisurely fashion. Substitute Amadou Haidara finally added the third goal in the 84th. Werner did well in supplying the assist.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga's 15:30 kickoffs, it appeared as if Bayern were set to survive a scare from Stuttgart at the the Allianz. Chris Führich canceled out a first-half goal from French phenom Mathys Tel, whom Julian Nagelsmann favored with a start. Shortly after Führich scored the equalizer, however, Jamal Musial put the Bavarians back up 2-1 with a sumptuous solo dribble and finish inside the box.
Perhaps a little desperate not to draw their third league fixture in a row, the record champions pulled back in the interest of preserving their lead. Florian Müller also made a crucial save on Serge Gnabry late. The Swabians were allowed a way back into the match in injury time when Matthijs de Ligt fouled Serious Guirassy in the 89th. Stuttgart's enthusiastic new arrival confidently converted from the spot for the 2-2.
Hertha-Leverkusen also finished 2-2 after a pulsating match at the Olympiastadion. All four goals were scored in a crazy second half that featured four lead changes. Patrik Schick was finally able to convert after a shaky match to seal the draw in the final ten minutes. Hertha's much-discussed returnee Marco Richter again scored for his team in the second consecutive week.
In another affair that went down to the wire, VfL Wolfsburg were able to eke-out a 1-0 win over Frankfurt to give trainer Niko Kovac his first league win since taking charge of the club. Maxence Lacroix took advantage of an error from SGE keeper Kevin Trapp to nick what proved the game-winning goal. Frankfurt were able to create some danger near the end, but Kovac's Wolves finally got a chance to exhale.
Over at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim, TSG Hoffenheim were able to get back to winning ways with a a 4-1 defeat of Mainz. Bo Svensson's Rheinhessen were reduced to ten men in the 41st when Alexander Hack was sent off on a straight red. Andrej Kramaric actually missed the ensuing penalty, but redeemed himself with a fine goal shortly after the restart. Kramartic's teammates eventually piled on.