There were massive games down both ends of the Bundesliga in matchday 12. The top five are beginning to build a slight gap on the changing pack, however, the middle and bottom of the table is still very tight. Here are your winners and losers from matchday 12 in the Bundesliga.
Winners
Borussia Dortmund
Make no mistake, BVB’s 4-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach is huge. Not just in terms of their top four hopes but the overall mood at the club. Over the international break, there’s been a lot of talk over unrest and comments made or possibly not made by certain players in the dressing room. Edin Terzić’s side came from two goals down to head into the break 3-2. A rather remarkable opening 45, which perfectly sums up the Bundesliga this season. The second period saw both teams have their spells but it was BVB and Donyell Malen who wrapped things up in the 97th minute. A fun fact regarding this fixture: In the last 23 matches between these two, there has never been a draw. The win puts BVB into 4th and leaves Gladbach 11th.
VfL Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg are the pain in Leipzig’s season so far. Having recently knocked the two-time reigning champions out of the DFB Pokal, they followed it up with a 2-1 win on Saturday. The in-from Jonas Wind gave Wolves the lead just before the 10-minute mark and eventually assisted the winner in the second half after Leipzig drew level through fellow Denmark international Tussuf Poulsen. So far this season, Wind has netted 9 times and assisted twice in 12 Bundesliga games. Wolfsburg have just lasted a bit of consistency at times this season. You feel the run-in to the Christmas period will be crucial to them pushing for Europe or staying in the middle pack. Wolves’ next set of Bundesliga fixtures includes Bochum, Freiburg, Darmstadt, and Bayern Munich.
VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart picked up where they left off before the international break with another impressive 2-1 victory, this time against Eintracht Frankfurt. Summer recruit Deniz Undav netted twice in the first half to ensure that all three points went to The Swabians. It’s about time that we started taking Stuttgart seriously this season. Their tales are up, they have nothing to lose, and that’s the best place to be. For a team that were nearly relegated last season, Stuttgart have spent their summer spending wisely in all positions and are reaping the rewards. It was another seriously impressive win that keeps them in 3rd position on 27 points. Up next, Werder Bremen at home.
**Honourable winners include Bayer Leverkusen (they keep winning!), Bayern Munich, and Darmstadt).
Losers
TSG Hoffenheim
With the season Mainz 05 are having, you’d expect Hoffenheim to secure all three points when playing them at home. A win would have put Hoffenheim two points from 4th and one off 5th. However, they had to come from behind at the break to ensure that Mainz didn’t register only their second win this season. In truth, it was a game either team could have won and perhaps a draw was the fairest result. For Mainz, it’s a point in the right direction and for TSG, it’s an opportunity missed. It’s now three Bundesliga games without a win for Hoffenheim, with a trip to Gladbach up next.
SC Freiburg
In a similar case to Hoffenheim, Freiburg lost points in their pursuit to keep up with the top 6 after drawing 1-1 with Darmstadt. What’s more, Freiburg also had to come from behind after Darmstadt took the lead in the 18th minute through Mathias Honsak. The draw means it’s five games without a win for Christian Streich’s side, including a 3-1 loss to second division side, Paderborn. With Europa League commitments coming thick and fast, this is a very crucial time in the season for Freiburg. They could either galvanize themselves and give it a go or capitulate and surrender to a season in the middle of the table. I really do think it’s going to be either or. Up next, Olympiacos on Thursday and then back to Bundesliga action against Mainz on Sunday.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
