As the winter break fast approaches, all Bundesliga clubs are eager to collect as many points as possible. Matchday 14 saw six of the top seven play each other whilst there were basement battles down the relegation zone. Here are your winners and losers from matchday 14 in the Bundesliga.
Winners
Eintracht Frankfurt
If someone told you prior to Frankfurt’s game with Bayern Munich that they would run out 5-1 winners, then ask them for the lottery numbers this week! That’s right, Frankfurt inflicted Bayern’s first loss in the league in style last weekend. Dino Toppmöller’s side raced into a 3-0 lead just after the half-hour mark before Bayern pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. Despite only having 35% possession, Frankfurt continued their ruthlessness up front and scored another two times on the 50th and 60th minutes. It’s Frankfurt’s first win in five and moves them up to 7th. For Bayern, they stay second, four points adrift of top spot, but with a game in hand.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin have their first win under new head coach Nenad Bjelica and their first three points since August 26th! It was a much more dominant display against Borussia Mönchengladbach from Union, who had the lion’s share of possession in the first period and deservedly went 1-0 up going into halftime. This momentum continued in the second half as Union went 3-0 to the good. The last 20 minutes belonged to Gladbach who pulled one back, but it was too late. The win lifts Union into 15th on 10 points. In an exclusive interview with GGFN, Union striker Kevin Volland gave his thoughts on the club’s current situation.
FC Heidenheim
Heidenheim’s game with SV Darmstadt went under the radar for a good few last weekend, simply because of Frankfurt and other top spiels. However, this was an absolute cracker of a match between two clubs fighting it out to stay up this season. For example, there was a total of 36 shots, 14 on target, and 30 fouls committed. That should tell you what type of game this was. Ultimately, it was Heidenheim who ran out 3-2 winners. With the host leading 1-0 at the break, Darmstadt turned the game around in the second half and went 1-2 up on the hour mark. Heidenheim then scored twice in three minutes to turn the game around once again just ten minutes after conceding Darmstadt’s second. The win puts Heidenheim into 13th place on 14 points.
Losers
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 loss against RB Leipzig has only piled more pressure on head coach Edin Terzić. Despite having most of the possession, BVB were second-best throughout and lacked momentum. The early parts of the first half proved dramatic when Mats Hummels was sent off for talking Loïs Openda in a last-man situation. Leipzig would take the lead through a Ramy Bensebaini own goal. Leipzig continued to dominate the game until in Dortmund fashion, a Niklas Süle header equalised for Dortmund just before half-time. In the second half, Leipzig dominated the game and were rewarded in the 54th minute when Christoph Baumgartner gave them the lead. Leipzig thought they secured the victory in the 91st minute when Yussuf Poulsen scored a third, but Niclas Füllkrug set up a tense ending with a header two minutes later. BVB stay in 5th position, now four points adrift from the top four.
Bayern Munich
You can’t lose 5-1 and not find yourself in the losers section. Last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Frankfurt highlighted that Bayern aren’t invincible. They can’t just rely on their attacking prowess when their defence is there to be got at. It’s a position that Thomas Tuchel is eager to address in the January transfer window. As reported by GGFN on Monday morning, Bayern are willing to submit a club-record fee for a defender should Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo indicate his willingness to move this winter. Bayern are within a title challenge, make no mistake about it. They are currently four points off Bayer Leverkusen in top spot, albeit with a game in hand.
FC Köln & Mainz 05
That’s right, I’m putting both these clubs into one. Simply because their 0-0 draw on Sunday didn’t do much for their survival hopes but just confirmed that they’re in for a tough season and an important transfer window. Both sides had their moments but, in typical fashion, lacked that cutting edge, which is one of the reasons Köln and Mainz find themselves in 16th and 17th, respectively. Mainz have a massive game next matchday against Hidenheim whilst Köln travel to SC Freiburg.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
