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The Bundesliga made its return following the international break with Union Berlin securing a 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Ahead of the highly anticipated Der Klassiker this Saturday evening, several other matches took place earlier today.
Mainz hosted Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg faced off against RB Leipzig, Stuttgart took on Wolfsburg, Köln played against Augsburg, and Heidenheim matched up with Werder Bremen.
Here are the key takeaways from today’s action:
Bayer Leverkusen Find Their Groove:
While they eased off towards the end, Bayer Leverkusen demonstrated that the October international break was beneficial for them as they found their rhythm again.
In a thrilling 4-3 victory over Mainz, Leverkusen created seven significant chances and achieved a non-penalty expected goals (xG) of 2.71 (via FotMob). Under the guidance of Kasper Hjulmand, the team’s dynamics are finally coming together.
Alejandro Grimaldo led the charge with two goals, while Christian Kofane has made a noticeable impact in Patrik Schick’s absence, scoring three times in his last three outings. Despite initial doubts about his future, Jonas Hofmann appears to be rejuvenating his career at BayArena. The midfield duo of Aleix Garcia and Equi Fernandez also turned heads, and Martin Terrier returned from injury with a goal.
This performance was exactly what Leverkusen needed to reinforce their status as contenders for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga.
VfB Stuttgart Make a Comeback:
After an inconsistent start to the season, Stuttgart has also begun to find their footing in recent games, reminiscent of Leverkusen’s resurgence.
The partnership between Angelo Stiller and Chema Andres looks remarkably cohesive, creating the impression they have played together for years. (It’s worth noting that Chema is a substantial upgrade from Atakan Karazor.)
Notably, summer acquisitions Bilal El Khannouss and Tiago Tomas have impressed, with El Khannouss generating the most chances in the match (five) and tallied three goals alongside one assist in seven appearances since joining on loan from Leicester City. He’s quickly become a valuable asset for Stuttgart.
The tactical adjustments have also benefitted new signings Lorenzo Assignon and Maximilian Mittelstädt, who had previously missed out on the national team setup.
The impending return of Deniz Undav from injury is a further boost for Stuttgart as they rise to third in the Bundesliga standings, showing signs of getting back to their best.
A Surprising Relegation Struggle:
Following defeats to Leverkusen and Stuttgart, both Wolfsburg and Mainz find themselves entangled in a relegation battle alongside Heidenheim and Gladbach.
Mainz is grappling with the loss of Jonathan Burkardt, and juggling Conference League commitments alongside Bundesliga matches may be affecting their performance. Conversely, Wolfsburg is struggling to find their footing under coach Paul Simonis. Although Christian Eriksen made his first start for the club, it’s doubtful it will change their fortunes, and Simonis’ job may be under threat soon.
Heidenheim displayed resilience by coming back twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen, which means they’ve climbed off the bottom of the table.
That dubious distinction now belongs to Gladbach, who are yet to register a win this season and will face Bayern Munich next week. Currently, die Fohlen have gone 14 Bundesliga matches without a victory, inching closer to the 31-match winless record set by Tasmania Berlin in the 1965-66 season.
Other Highlights from the Bundesliga:
- Said El Mala scored for 1.FC Köln as they drew 1-1 with Augsburg. The 19-year-old has netted three goals and contributed one assist in just seven appearances, despite only one start and 245 minutes of Bundesliga action. As the DAZN commentator noted: “BELIEVE THE HYPE” [sic]
- Leipzig extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a 2-1 victory over Hamburg. The northern side put up a strong fight, demonstrating their potential to remain in the top tier.
GGFN | Jack Meenan