Bayern Munich opened up matchday 15 of the Bundesliga, the ultimate one earlier than the winter break, with a 5-1 thumping of RB Leipzig.
The targets and surprises continued to stream on Saturday afternoon, Mainz regardless of being all the way down to 10 males beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1, St Pauli gained their first-ever recreation towards VfB Stuttgart 1-0, and there have been targets galore for Holstein Kiel who beat Augsburg 5-1 and Werder Bremen who beat Union Berlin 4-1. Whereas to spherical of the afternoon kick-offs, Borussia Mönchengladbach beat Hoffenheim 2-1.
Listed here are 3 issues we learnt:
The power of the Bundesliga midtable exhibits:
If Bayern Munich weren’t wanting so sturdy, this might be an all-time Bundesliga season. The hole between third and 11 is at present solely six factors whereas Bayern are 9 factors off of third in first. The power of the groups within the mid-table had been proven once more immediately as Mainz as soon as once more put in a powerful defensive efficiency, while additionally making the most of a number of errors to beat Frankfurt. Bremen additionally rose into the European locations immediately as they comfortably beat Union.
These groups have changed Stuttgart and Dortmund who’ve been victims of performances from the midtable sides. On prime of this, we have now additionally seen the resurgence of each Gladbach and Wolfsburg this season to shut the hole.
The fixed tripping up of the ‘larger’ sides has resulted in Bayern’s solely challenger being Bayer Leverkusen. Nonetheless, Bayern themselves are usually not vulnerable to this as they too dropped factors towards Mainz final weekend.
Eintracht Frankfurt hit the buffers:
Frankfurt ends the yr on a bitter observe. Not solely did they fail to utilize their dominance towards Mainz however they virtually gifted the 05ers the win attributable to a number of errors. Die Adler have additionally not gained because the starting of the month and ended the yr on a five-match winless run.
This manner has introduced Frankfurt again all the way down to earth (insert clipped fowl wings pun), while it has additionally at occasions proven their overreliance on the entrance two of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike. The winter break will give Frankfurt the possibility to regroup, probably make additional additions to their squad and proceed their hunt for Champions League soccer, which is a way more practical aim than being thrown within the combine with Bayern and Leverkusen for the title.
Werder Bremen are underrated:
As beforehand talked about, Bremen are usually not sixth within the desk and it has been a quiet rise underneath Ole Werner since they had been promoted again into the Bundesliga. Final season was a glimpse of it as they completed ninth, however now they finish the yr within the European locations. This season alone they’ve drawn with Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Dortmund displaying that underneath Werner they’ve developed right into a tough staff to beat and are additionally now not reliant on Marvin Ducksch as Marco Grüll, Mitchell Weiser and Jens Stage all chipped in with targets.
Why Bremen are underrated is tough to level out. Regardless of profitable the Bundesliga 20 years in the past, they lack the kind of ‘aura’ that Stuttgart carried with them final season as their soccer isn’t as free-flowing and enjoyable but it surely will get the job carried out and as Bremen are at present three locations forward of Stuttgart, it sort of makes every part I’ve simply mentioned redundant.
As it’s the vacation season, you may get another factor we learnt (however the title gained’t change as it’ll smash the continuity of the piece).
Holstein Kiel give themselves hope:
Did I the author write off Kiel final weekend, , sure I did. Do I now appear to be an fool, probably.
Probably the most shocking results of this weekend was Kiel’s 5-1 win towards Augsburg, primarily attributable to the truth that they had been main 4-1 at halftime. One of these end result will give probably the most Northern facet in Germany a much-needed enhance understanding that come the second half of the season they’ve the power to try to shut the hole on Heidenheim, Hoffenheim and St Pauli.
One factor is definite, Shuto Machino will probably be a Bundesliga participant subsequent season.
GGFN |