Kimmich's nearly champion goal
The opening game of the 28th round of the Bundesliga between Dortmund Borussia and Bayern could not be called a match for the championship. The leaders of the four-point reserve came to visit the second team of the standings. In case of victory, the Munich team could go seven points ahead, which six rounds before the end of the season would be a very solid lead.
The Dortmund team did not change their composition after defeating Wolfsburg and even released Mats Hummels, who suffered an Achilles injury in that game. In “Bavaria”, however, there was one substitution - Serge Gnabry took to the field instead of Ivan Perisic. The gate of Munich was habitually occupied by Manuel Neuer, for whom this match was the 400th in the Bundesliga. Since his debut for Schalke in the 2006/07 season, no one has played so many games in the German Championship.
Already in the first minute, Neuer nearly ruined his anniversary when he knocked the ball right on Erling Holland. The Norwegian was ready to draw the 11th goal in the 11th match of the Bundesliga, but Jerome Boateng on time rescued the goalkeeper of the “Bavaria”. No matter how hard the 19-year-old striker tried, he had no other similar moments in the first half. Not everything went well with the main scorer of the guests Robert Lewandowski, who in the last six matches against his former team scored 12 goals.
Bayern strongly pressed the home team, and almost any player could distinguish themselves in its composition. Two minutes before the break, defender Josua Kimmich did it. He supported the next offensive of his team and “parachuted” threw the ball behind Roman Burki. A wonderful goal allowed Bayern to score. Borussia had to take two replacements during the break to try to change the situation.
However, entering the field of Jadon Sancho and Emre Jan did not give the desired effect. Holand remained the most dangerous in the Dortmund team, but even because of his injury he did not finish the game until the final whistle. Bayern brought the match to victory and won against Borussia for the third time in a row with a total score of 10: 0. Munich's mentor Hans-Dieter Flick managed to repeat the record of Josep Guardiola, who won 15 of his 18 first matches in the Bundesliga led by Bayern. His wards became even closer to the eighth consecutive victory in the German championship, as even their two defeats in the six remaining matches will not allow Dortmund to rise to first place.
The defeat of Bayer and the defender double
The main sensation on Tuesday struck Leverkusen. The local Bayer, having won the first two after the break of the match with a total score of 7: 2, was unexpectedly defeated by Wolfsburg. The guests won with a score of 4: 1, although in the previous eight matches with Bayer they only managed to win and tied twice.
The hosts rather passively started the meeting, and their main star Kai Havits, who scored two doubles in two previous matches, had only one dangerous moment after the corner. Guests were even less likely to score in the first half, but they were more fortunate - in the 43rd minute, Marin Pongračić turned Maximilian Arnold's free-kick from the free kick into his debut goal in the Bundesliga.
After the break, Wolfsburg quite unexpectedly seized the initiative and showed very substantial football. Mostly the guests tried to earn standards and try their luck at them, but they also managed to score from the game. Within 11 minutes in the middle of the second half, three more goals flew into Bayer goal, and Pongrachich managed to take a double. Arnold and Renato Steffen, who twice assisted the Croat, also distinguished themselves.
Leverkusenz could not avoid defeat. Khavets was noted for one inaccurate blow, and Julian Baumgartlinger who came out during the break only managed to reduce the difference in the score to three goals. The seven-match unbeaten run of Bayer was interrupted by the well-deserved victory of Wolfsburg, which was entrenched in sixth place in the standings.
Gladbach's Missed Chance
Misfire Bayer could not take full advantage of the Mönchengladbach Borussia, which is fighting the Leverkusenians for a place in the Champions League. In her match with the Bremen fighting for survival, a goalless draw was recorded.
Bremen can be proud of such a result. The home team for the first time this season escaped a goal in the second match in a row. They had to defend themselves in an acute shortage of players, many of whom heal injuries. At times, Werder Bremen even outplayed a more ambitious opponent and ended the match with more pleasant statistics on shots on target - seven against five. Of the favorites, the Bremen remained to play only with Bayern, so that they could keep their residence in the Bundesliga.
But the Gladbach team missed a chance to get around not only Bayer, but also Leipzig, who in the 28th round will have to meet with Hertha. Wards Marco Rose scored four points in the last three matches and showed the worst start after the resumption of the season among the teams of the first five.
Six goals in Frankfurt and Shvolov saves
Eintracht and Freiburg held the most productive match of the game of the day. The meeting ended with the score 3: 3, and its main character was the goalkeeper of the guests Alexander Shvolov, without whom his team could be five points behind the European cups zone.
The Frankfurt players were determined to stop a series of five defeats in a row, but were the first to miss in the 28th minute after a strike by Vincenzo Griffo. The hosts quickly answered with a goal by Andre Silva, but could not develop success because of Shvolov. The German goalkeeper spent one of the best matches in his career and made 13 saves.
Freiburg field players tried to keep up with their goalkeeper and scored two goals in a row in the middle of the second half. But the home team did not want to lose in such a match. Dahiti Kamada and Timothy Chandler got a draw for Eintracht, which allowed a little break away from the relegation zone.