There were several relegation six-pointers and top-of-the-table clashes during matchday 15 in the Bundesliga. Who gave themselves an early Christmas present, and who found themselves on the naughty list? Here are your winners and losers from matchday 15 in the Bundesliga.
Winners
Bayern Munich
Hailed as this weekend’s top spiel, Bayern vs VfB Stuttgart promised to be a potentially thrilling encounter. However, it was Bayern who once again showed their class as they brushed aside this season’s surprise package. The Bavarians got off to the best start possible when Leroy Sane unselfishly set up Harry Kane to tap home after just two minutes. In truth, it could have been a lot worse for Stuttgart as VAR saved them a further two goals before the interval. Bayern continued where they left off in the second half and soon doubled the lead through Kane once again, his 18th of the campaign. Bayern’s home campaign of 2023 was rounded off when Min-Jae Kim got his first in Bayern colours. The win leaves Bayern in 2nd, four points off 1st with one game-in-hand.
VfL Bochum
Another team rounding off their home campaign for the season in style was Bochum! Their 3-0 win over struggling Union Berlin was by no means a flook. Bochum were at the races for the first minute and always looked the more likely to score. Eventually, they found the opener in first-half stoppage time through Japanese international Takuma Asano. Perhaps eating one of the chocolate coins that were thrown onto the pitch gave that little bit of extra energy? Registering 22 shots in comparison to Union’s 9, it was no surprise that Bochum doubled their lead just before the hour mark. The perfect send-off was then completed on the 78th minute when Kevin Stöger cooly dispatched from the spot. The three points has Bochum in 13th with a six-point gap between themselves and relegation places.
RB Leipzig
When Leipzig were drawing 1-1 with TSG Hoffenheim at halftime on Sunday evening, it wasn’t exactly a memorable or partially entertaining game. However, Die Bullen’s went up a gear in the second half and earned a 3-1 win to further cement themselves in the top four. Fittingly, it was Emil Forsberg who came off the bench to make it 2-1 to the hosts. This was to be Forsberg’s last game for Leipzig as he’s set to join New York Red Bulls in January. The three points were then secured through Mohamed Simakan just four minutes later. With other results also going their way, Leipzig are now six points ahead of 5th and possibly looking at reducing the points difference from 1st.
Losers
Borussia Dortmund
BVB are yet to win a game in December and now find themselves in danger of being cut adrift from the top four. After their 1-1 draw in Augsburg on Saturday, Dortmund stay in 5th and five points off Stuttgart in 4th. It was quite an entertaining spectacle as Augsburg didn’t just sit back and defend. They themselves had strong periods in the game and had opportunities to re-take the lead. To put it into perspective, Augsburg had 20 shots in comparison to Dortmund’s 24. On a different day, one side gets the winner but this weekend, the points were shared and that’s probably a fair judgment. Augsburg extend their unbeaten home run whilst BVB are left scratching their heads once again. BVB conclude 2023 at home on Tuesday against strugglers Mainz 05. A must-win game for both club and coach.
SV Darmstadt
Despite a promising start to the season, Darmstadt are now without a win in 8 Bundesliga matches and find themselves bottom of the league on goal difference. This weekend’s loss to 10-men Wolfsburg only highlighted their current weaknesses. When the Wolves went a player down in the first half, you sensed this was a real opportunity for Darmstadt to get back to winning ways. As expected, they had the majority of possession but couldn’t convert that into a goal. The home side only registered 13 to Wolfsburg’s 11 shots, with only 4 on target. The difference between the two was highlighted when Lovro Majer scored the game’s only goal just after the hour mark to give Wolfsburg all three points. When the game offers you an opportunity like that, you have to take it. That’s something that Darmstadt haven’t done enough this season so far. They will be up against it in the rückrunde.
Union Berlin
You’d think Union’s 3-2 loss against Real Madrid in midweek would have given them the belief and confidence to go to Bochum and get a result. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Union were second-best all game and rightly lost the game by three goals. With just one win in the league since August, Union find themselves on 10 points and just outside the relegation play-off on goals scored. They do have a game-in-hand, but that is against Bayern away in January. The drop-off in form at Union has been nearly as remarkable as their rise to European greatness. However, I’m sure their fans will tell you this is keeping in check with the club’s history, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Union conclude their 2023 on Wednesday evening in a massive game against FC Köln who sit just below them in the table on the same points and goal difference.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
