FC Bayern jumps to the top of the Bundesliga table for at least one night. While Munich are struggling at Hertha, BVB overruns Bochumers who are indisposed early on. In Hoffenheim there is a serious injury, while Frankfurt still wins after a lightning deficit.
Led by magic foot Maximilian Arnold, VfL Wolfsburg has continued its upward trend. Coach Niko Kovac's team won 3-0 (1-0) at FSV Mainz 05, who had been superior for a long time, thanks to a rip-off performance and gained more self-confidence at the start of the last week before the long World Cup break. The strong captain Arnold (70th) recommended himself with a remarkable free kick goal from around 30 meters for the World Cup. Patrick Wimmer (33rd) scored the lead for the Wolves, who have been unbeaten in six Bundesliga games. Ridle Baku, who was born in Mainz, scored the final point (84th). Coach Bo Svensson's FSV conceded the next setback after the swatter at Bayern Munich (2: 6).
Driven by Anton Stach, who may have hopes of a World Cup nomination, Mainz initially did not let the Kovac team develop - but luck was lacking in the end. First VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels reacted strongly after a deflected shot by Dominik Kohr (27'), shortly afterwards Kohr hit the post again (29').
Mainz, who celebrated a 5-0 victory over 1. FC Köln in the last home game, seemed to have everything under control. The guest lead fell out of nowhere: after a corner by national player Arnold, Wimmer pushed the ball from the turn into the bottom corner at the first real VfL chance. It was only after the change of sides that Wolfsburg made the game a little more open with the lead in the back. Felix Nmecha (58th) hit the crossbar after preliminary work by his brother Lukas, who is also a World Cup option for national coach Hansi Flick, but Mainz continued to put in the greater effort.
Edimilison Fernandes (68th) missed the equalizer with a tight finish before Arnold struck on the other side. The free kick of the 28-year-old fluttered extremely, FSV goalkeeper Robin Zentner looked unhappy.
Led by youngster Youssoufa Moukoko, Borussia Dortmund continued to catch up. The 17-year-old scored twice in the 3-0 (3-0) win against VfL Bochum and was doing a lot of self-promotion five days before national coach Hansi Flick nominated the World Cup squad. With the third league win in a row, coach Edin Terzić's team improved to third place, at least temporarily, when captain Marco Reus returned. In addition to Moukoko (8th, 45th 2), Giovanni Reyna (12th, penalty kick) scored in the small district derby. For the overwhelmed Bochum it was the seventh defeat in the seventh away game this season.
There was a lot of applause even before the kick-off: After 23 years in office, BVB President Reinhard Rauball emotionally said goodbye on a large stage in front of 81,365 spectators. "It was a very, very great honor for me to have worked for Borussia Dortmund," said the visibly moved Rauball. The 75-year-old will not be running again at the AGM on November 20.
The mood continued on the lawn as well. Moukoko prevailed against Ivan Ordez and hammered the ball into the net at 85 kilometers per hour. Moukoko replaced Florian Wirtz as the youngest player in the Bundesliga to score ten goals. VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann did not cut a good figure. The same applied to the entire defense of the guests. Vasilios Lampropoulos awkwardly fouled Donyell Malen and Reyna converted the penalty coldly.
The hosts then switched to administration mode, Bochum had to digest the shock first. VfL, who had made it perfect for staying up in the league last season with a 4-3 win in Dortmund, had their best phase in the middle of the first half. Simon Zoller missed an overhead kick (25'), the supposed goal from Philipp Hofmann was conceded by the VAR because of an offside position (27').
In added time in the first half, Moukoko struck again. The U21 national player lobbed Riemann, who was far too far in front of his goal, from around 35 meters. Bochum almost got off to a flying start after the change of sides. But BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel deflected the shot of Jordi Osei-Tutu, who appeared free in front of him, to the post (46th). On the other side, Julian Brandt put a free kick just wide of the goal (56'), Moukoko also missed his third goal (57'). In the 67th minute, BVB captain Reus made his comeback after his ankle injury to applause from the BVB supporters.
RB Leipzig coped well with the shock of Timo Werner's injury and continued their winning streak thanks to top scorer Christopher Nkunku. The Saxons won 3-1 (1-0) at TSG Hoffenheim. This means that RB has not been defeated for eleven competitive games. Nkunku (17th and 57th) scored twice for Leipzig, who after eight unsuccessful attempts landed another away win in the league. There was also a goal from the no less strong Dani Olmo (69th). The TSG goal by Georginio Rutter (50th) did not change the Hoffenheim bankruptcy.
The 23,127 spectators in Sinsheim saw a game without highlights in the early stages. After 15 minutes, Hoffenheim midfielder Grischa Prömel had to be carried off the pitch with an obviously serious ankle injury. Just a few seconds later, Nkunku scored with a free kick, which is worth seeing. It was the Frenchman's tenth goal of the season.
Hoffenheim reacted offensively to the deficit. Croatian Vice World Champion Andrej Kramaric replaced Prömel. After a lapse by Josko Gvardiol, Rutter was unable to take advantage of the great opportunity to equalize (25'). On the other hand, Hoffenheim were lucky that a goal by Dani Olmo was disallowed due to a razor-thin offside position by assist provider Nkunku (32').
Even before these two scenes, the game had picked up speed. Goals were possible on both sides. The guests were a bit more dangerous. In added time in the first half, Marcel Halstenberg had the second RB goal on his feet (45.4). At the beginning of the second round, Leipzig became a bit more careless - the penalty followed immediately. After a cross from Angelino, who was loaned to Hoffenheim by RB, Rutter hit his head. The goal shook the guests awake. RB pushed for the lead again, Nkunku was back on the spot. The third Leipzig goal by Olmo was also deserved.
Bayern Munich regained the lead in the table when national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made his comeback. Coach Julian Nagelsmann's team also won their eighth competitive game in a row 3-2 (3-2) at Hertha BSC. The record champions pushed past Union Berlin for at least one night to take first place.
Jamal Musiala (12th) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (37th/38th) met for Bayern, who two weeks before the World Cup in Qatar (20 November to 18 December) again against national player Thomas Müller (muscular problems) had to do without. Captain Neuer had missed Bayern Munich's last seven competitive games due to a bruised shoulder joint and now had no chance of conceding. Choupo-Moting actually missed the ball with his second goal, but then accidentally hit it with his shin - and thus into the goal.
Dodi Lukebakio with a direct acceptance (40th) and Davie Selke with a converted penalty after video evidence (45th) were successful for the capital city club, which showed great morale after falling behind and never gave up. With 28 points, the series champion overtook the sensational team Union (26), but they can overtake them again with a win at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday (3:30 p.m. / DAZN and in the live ticker on ntv.de).
Bayern fright Lukebakio, who had already scored five goals against Munich, tested Neuer's recovered shoulder for the first time with a hard shot (4'). On the other hand, Bayern used their first chance coldly. After Hertha simply lost the ball, Sadio Mane put the ball on for whirlwind Musiala, who easily pushed in from ten meters. Even before the break, the Bavarian offensive machine was running really hot. After an attempt by Leon Goretzka, the ball landed at the feet of Choupo-Moting, who shot from close range. Then the Cameroon international, who also scored in the seventh competitive game in a row, poked the ball over the line again from the same position.
The game seemed decided, but Hertha answered promptly - and how. First Lukebakio defeated Neuer with a volley worth seeing, then Davie Selke sent the national keeper from the point into the wrong corner. The Olympic Stadium, which was sold out with 74,667 spectators, trembled. After the restart, the Nagelsmann team pushed for the fourth goal. After a mess in the hosts' penalty area, Agustin Rogel suddenly scored in his own goal, but the video assistant decided it was offside after a few minutes of viewing the pictures (57'). The siege continued, Hertha was waiting for a counterattack.
The "Euro-Adler" also fly in the league: Four days after the acclaimed knockout round in the Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt has continued to soar and has found its way back to success in the Bundesliga. Coach Oliver Glasner's team defied an early deficit at FC Augsburg and won 2-1 (1-1). Sebastian Rode (13th) and Ansgar Knauff (64th) turned the gap suffered by Mergim Berisha (1st) after just 31 seconds. Dei Eintracht thus cemented their place in the international ranks a week after the VAR drama against Borussia Dortmund. Augsburg had little to oppose the SBU, especially in the second half, and remained without a win for the sixth game in a row.
After the successful premier class intermezzo, Glasner himself said he was "excited to see how far we have come" - the first impression shouldn't be too long in coming. Berisha completed the first attack of the game to give Augsburg the lead. Due to FCA's aggressive pressing, Frankfurt initially had some trouble finding an answer and had to concentrate much more on not giving up the game in the first ten minutes. In a relief attack, Mario Götze then sent Eric Dina Ebimbe on the journey. Rode only had to push his low cross over the line.
The game calmed down afterwards, both teams slowed down a bit after the intense initial phase. While little worked out of the game, Frankfurt came twice dangerous after counterattacks by Djibril Sow (17th) and Dina Ebimbe (29th). Shortly before the break, Augsburg had the best chance to take the lead, but Ermedin Demirovic (42nd) failed from just a few meters at the strongly reacting Kevin Trapp in the Frankfurt goal.
After the break, Eintracht kept looking for a way forward and thus gained a slight overweight. After a corner from the left, Knauff, who came on as a substitute at half-time, got the ball from a half-left position - and with his direct acceptance caused a storm of jubilation in the well-preserved guest block.
