Bundesliga: Bayern wins wild game against Heidenheim, Guirassy shoots Stuttgart to victory against BVB

Enlarge image

Outstanding goalscoring threat: Harry Kane celebrates his brace with Dayot Upamecano

Photo: Matthias Schrader / AP

The big loser of the 11th Bundesliga matchday is Borussia Dortmund: BVB deservedly lost 1-2 (1-1) at neighbours VfB Stuttgart, while FC Bayern Munich won 4-2 (2-0) against brave Heidenheim and are now already eight points ahead of their rivals from Dortmund.

FC Augsburg and TSG Hoffenheim (1-1) shared the points, as did SV Darmstadt 98 and Mainz 05 (0-0).

After half an hour, VfB Stuttgart could have led by two or three goals in their home game against Borussia Dortmund: former VfB keeper Gregor Kobel saved a penalty from Chris Führich after he had caused the penalty himself with a foul on Deniz Undav (11'). It was Stuttgart's third penalty miss in a row. Enzo Millot (20') and Jamie Leweling (23') missed further great chances.

However, the efficiency was lacking without top scorer Serhou Guirassy, who had at least returned to the squad as a bench player after several weeks out injured. BVB took the lead with their first attack: Julian Ryerson crossed flat, former Dortmund player Dan-Axel Zagadou kicked the ball past and Niclas Füllkrug only had to slide in at the far post (36').

The goal did not change the balance of power. Stuttgart attacked, Dortmund defended, but from the 28th minute already without Mats Hummels, who had to be substituted for Ramy Bensebaini due to injury. Shortly before the break, Undav broke through the BVB defence for the first time and scored a well-deserved equaliser (42'), and Undav's header in stoppage time (45'+5') was stopped on the line by the outstanding Kobel with difficulty.

After the change of sides, the picture was the same. However, the game only tipped in Stuttgart's favour after the substitution of Guirassy (67th), who scored his 15th goal of the season on his comeback: Kobel fouled again, this time it was Silas who fell. Stuttgart's top striker confidently converted the penalty kick (83').

In the previous season, Füllkrug (then Werder Bremen) and Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) shared the title of Bundesliga's top scorer with 16 goals each. After eleven matchdays, Bayern Munich's star striker Harry Kane has already surpassed last year's best strikers: The Englishman scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season against newly promoted Heidenheim.

For the opening goal, Kane stood with his back to goal, but knew where to aim even without eye contact and scored from the turn (14'). Shortly before the break, he increased the lead with a header from a corner kick (44th), both times Leroy Sané provided the assist.

2:0, 2:2, 4:2

After the break, however, Bayern's victory was once again in jeopardy: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, freshly substituted for Thomas Müller, lost the ball and Tim Kleindienst successfully completed the counterattack (67'). Then Kim Min-jae played a bad misplaced pass, Jan-Niklas Beste converted the involuntary assist to equalise (70').

The underdogs seemed close to the point, but Bayern proved to be merciless: Kevin Müller fended off an attempt by Choupo-Moting in the Heidenheim goal, and he was powerless against substitute Raphaël Guerreiro's follow-up shot (78'). After Mathys Tel's cross, Choupo-Moting also scored his goal (85').

If Hoffenheim, led by top scorer Maximilian Beier, play away from home, they will pick up points – at least that's what the law says this season, TSG is the only team in the league still unbeaten away from home. The series continued in Augsburg as well. Wout Weghorst opened the scoring for Hoffenheim in the 23rd minute, with a free header from Marius Bülter's cross. Augsburg equalised with a strong individual performance, captain Ermedin Demirović beat three opponents on the left edge of the penalty area and flicked the ball into the goal, which was slightly deflected (53').

Then the game was interrupted for about six minutes, a fan had to be treated in the stands. Previously, a firecracker had exploded loudly.

Augsburg came closer to victory as a result, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann brought his right arm up quickly enough against a long-range shot by Demirović (81st), Niklas Dorsch aimed too high (84th).

In the basement duel between newly promoted Darmstadt and Mainz, the focus was primarily on the coaches at the beginning. Ovid Hajou was on the sidelines for Darmstadt, replacing Torsten Lieberknecht, who is taking a break for personal reasons. A week after Bo Svensson's resignation, Jan Siewert was back on the Mainz bench – still on an interim basis, but he could also take over permanently, having led the team to a surprising success against RB Leipzig in the opener.

It was Mainz again who had the first big chance of the game through Leandro Barreiro, whose shot from 19 meters was only centimetres short. In the closing stages, however, it was Darmstadt who created chances and put Mainz keeper Robin Zentner to the test (88th/90th).

Otherwise, the game remained uneventful – a defensive success from Darmstadt's point of view, the team has conceded the most goals in the league with 32 goals. With the points shared, both teams remain at the bottom of the table. Darmstadt is ranked 15th in the table. currently above the line, but can still be overtaken by 1. FC Köln or Union Berlin.

CEV/AST