Hertha's knockout after 98 minutes: FC Bayern dismantled Werder in a six-minute frenzy

Werder Bremen can briefly annoy FC Bayern Munich on the 14th matchday of the Bundesliga, then everything happens very quickly: three goals within a few minutes decide the game in favor of the record champions.

Hertha's knockout after 98 minutes: FC Bayern dismantled Werder in a six-minute frenzy

Werder Bremen can briefly annoy FC Bayern Munich on the 14th matchday of the Bundesliga, then everything happens very quickly: three goals within a few minutes decide the game in favor of the record champions. Stuttgart wins in the table basement after almost 100 minutes, VfL Bochum scores important points.

After a show of goals by their national soccer players around the outstanding Serge Gnabry, FC Bayern is well on the way to going into the long World Cup break as number 1. National coach Hansi Flick should have had a lot of fun with the 6: 1 (4: 1) Munich against Werder Bremen thanks to the promising tournament form of his top performers. In addition to triple goal scorer Gnabry (22nd/28th/82nd minute), Jamal Musiala (6th), Leon Goretzka (26th) and substitute Mathys Tel (84th) caused a lot of cheering from the 75,000 spectators in the last Bayern home game of the year .

On the other hand, the assembly line shooter Eric Maxim Choup-Moting's goal ended when the attacker failed with a penalty kick from Bremen's goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka (18'). Anthony Jung (10th) scored the equalizer for the naively defending guests. The ninth competitive win in a row, with which the Munich team successfully defended their lead in the table, was never in danger.

A week and a half before the start of the World Cup, Bayern star Sadio Mané had to be replaced after 20 minutes. It was unclear how badly Africa's footballer of the year was injured. National player Leroy Sané came on for the Senegalese, who two days before Flick's World Cup nomination gained important competition practice and, among other things, hit the post (54th). The injured Thomas Müller followed the performance of his teammates in a good mood from the stands.

Even without their top scorer Niclas Füllkrug, who was injured in the back, the guests didn't hide and relied on early pressing - and were bitterly punished for this by the playful and ice-cold Bavarians. This also applies to the early lead for the favorite: After Jung lost the ball against Gnabry, the Munich team quickly countered into the opposing penalty area, where Mané initially missed, but Musiala used the rebound. The young star had already provided the important 1-0 lead against Hertha. After Mané had missed a good chance to make it 2-0 (9th), Werder hit back with his first good attack: After outstanding preliminary work from the lively Mitchell Weiser, Jung made up for his mistake before the 0-1 and scored the equalizer with a direct acceptance.

Bayern were just as unimpressed by this as by the missed penalty by Choupo-Moting or the injury-related substitution of Mane. On the contrary: The Munich team used the spaces that the offensive Bremen involuntarily gave them to score more goals before the break with two Gnabry and Goretzka. Substitute Sané fitted into the offensive vortex of the hosts without any problems adapting. In addition to the scorers Gnabry, Musiala and Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich was also a tireless driver.

The Bremen side missed Füllkrug with his power and presence as a passing station, his representative Oliver Burke remained largely pale. Marvin Ducksch wasn't able to put himself in the limelight either, and after a fatal back pass from Bayern central defender Dayot Upamecano in his own penalty area, the Werder attacker missed the great chance to make it 2-4 just before half-time whistle. In the second half, the Munich team took it much easier and saved a few strengths. They never lost control of the game, and the record champions continued to create chances.

VfB Stuttgart - Hertha BSC 2: 1 (1: 1)

The successful home series of VfB Stuttgart under the direction of interim coach Michael Wimmer continues thanks to a last-minute goal. In a duel between two neighbors in the table, the Baden-Württemberg team beat Hertha BSC 2-1 (1-1) thanks to a late goal by Konstantinos Mavropanos (90 minutes, 8 minutes). VfB took the early lead through Serhou Guirassy (4th minute). Dodi Lukebakio made the Berliners dream of at least one point for a long time (19th). But then Mavropanos struck from a Borna Sosa corner in added time. With the victory, the Stuttgarters leave the relegation place, Hertha's view goes further down.

Shortly before, VfB had to cope with a moment of shock: after a painful header duel with Ivan Sunjic, captain Wataru Endo was carried off the field after lengthy treatment. Both teams are still in the bottom third of the table with twelve points each. Since the release of ex-coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, the Stuttgart team has been able to win three games in their arena across all competitions. But what remained a problem under Wimmer was the vulnerability in the first quarter of an hour. VfB have already conceded eight goals in this period.

Not much was missing against Hertha and a ninth early goal would have been added. However, Lukebakio's failed scene was the only wobble in the early stages. And unlike in many previous games, this time VfB managed to strike themselves. After a pass from Tiago Tomás, who was involved in a goal in the third game in a row, Guirassy appeared in front of Hertha keeper Oliver Christensen and scored. Both teams met in an intense game at eye level.

Guest coach Sandro Schwarz, who made no changes compared to the 2: 3 win against FC Bayern Munich, had also predicted such a game. And his team took advantage of one of the few opportunities. Because Silas missed the 2-0, Lukebakio equalized. Borna Sosa lost sight of crosser Jonjoe Kenny and Waldemar Anton the scorer. Hertha almost turned the game around before the break. Defender Hiroki Ito, who was one of three fresh players in the starting XI, saved Lucas Tousart's header off the line.

Wimmer's plan to take the fans with him and play forward with force worked for a long time. "That's how I imagine our football to be," said the 42-year-old, whose future will be decided during the World Cup break. However, Silas and Tiago Tomás rarely used the speed advantages against the Hertha defense. Nevertheless, it was still enough to win - because Mavropanos hit his head at the last second.

VfL Bochum - Borussia Monchengladbach 2: 1 (2: 0)

With courage, offensive power and passion, VfL Bochum's oldest Bundesliga squad defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach and scored valuable three points against relegation. Coach Thomas Letsch's team deservedly defeated the favorites from the Rhineland 2-1 (2-0). Christopher Antwi-Adjei in the seventh minute and Philipp Hofmann (12th) scored the goals in front of 25,900 spectators in the atmospheric Ruhrstadion for the hosts, who celebrated their third home win in a row under Letsch - and their third win this season overall.

Borussia remains without a win away from home in this Bundesliga season. The Gladbachers, who were very weak for long stretches of the game and only managed to get the goal back from Alassane Pléa (62nd), are stuck in mid-table under coach Daniel Farke with 19 points after 14 games. Bochum is penultimate with ten points, but has contact with the saving ranks.

The Bochum fans celebrated even before the game, but the reason goes back a long time: Participation in the UEFA Cup 25 years ago. The VfL supporters, who are usually not used to success this season, didn't have to wait long for their first goal celebrations with seven points from 13 games. After a pass from Simon Zoller, Antwi-Adjei only had one left in front of him: Gladbach's third goalkeeper, Jan Olschowsky. The 20-year-old had to play because after regular keeper Yann Sommer, his replacement Tobias Sippel was injured. And his competitive professional debut could not have taken a worse course. Antwi-Adjei scored, it was not offside either, as the video control confirmed.

But that's not all about the oldies from the pot: With an average of 31.3 years, VfL sent the oldest eleven in its Bundesliga history onto the pitch. Bochum pushed and pushed and, in a highly dominant early phase, scored their second goal just five minutes later - after only eleven goals in 13 times 90 minutes plus injury time. Gladbach's central defender Nico Elvedi made a devastating back pass towards Olschowsky. He didn't get the ball, but VfL professional Hofmann did, effortlessly pushing it in to make it 2-0. The fans could keep partying.

Bochum couldn't keep up the pressure, and they didn't have to. The guests from Gladbach were pretty harmless anyway. There was little sign of an upturn after the 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart last Friday after four games without a win. The first chance: In stoppage time in the first half. Ramy Bensebaini's header clearly missed Bochum's goal. VfL went into the dressing room with applause. "It doesn't get any better than that," said VfL legend and football school director Dariusz Wosz during the break on the Sky broadcaster.

And they continued like that after the change of sides, the Bochum team. The advanced defender Ivan Ordets only hit the post with his header. The Gladbachers, on the other hand, hardly allowed themselves to develop an orderly and creative play from the defense, but then made a serious mistake deep in their own half when Jonas Hofmann put Kevin Stöger under pressure and he shot the ball at the Gladbacher. The rebound landed Marcus Thuram, who hung up Plea again. And then, following a corner, Bensebaini rose and headed the ball into the goal. The Gladbachers who traveled with them cheered too early: offside after video evidence.