Timo Werner shoots Bochum: BVB fails in Cologne, Union despite bankruptcy above

At half time, Borussia Dortmund is enthroned at the top of the Bundesliga.

Timo Werner shoots Bochum: BVB fails in Cologne, Union despite bankruptcy above

At half time, Borussia Dortmund is enthroned at the top of the Bundesliga. At the end of the game in Cologne, the mood is in the basement. BVB fails again, collects the second away bankruptcy in a row. Union Berlin conceded the first defeat of the season, but stayed up. The league is coming together.

1. FC Cologne - Borussia Dortmund 3: 2 (0: 1)

Borussia Dortmund missed the leap to the top of the Bundesliga before the top game against Bayern Munich. Coach Edin Terzic's team lost 2-3 (1-0) at 1. FC Köln and even fell behind the German record champions, who were tied on points, before the direct duel next Saturday.

Julian Brandt (31st) put the better guests in the first half ahead of the groundbreaking Champions League duel at FC Sevilla on Wednesday. Florian Kainz (53rd), ex-Dortmunder Steffen Tigges (56th) and Dejan Ljubicic (71st) turned the match around. The Dortmund 2: 3 through an own goal by Benno Schmitz (78th) came too late. For Cologne it was the first home win against BVB in almost seven years.

In front of 50,000 spectators, the focus was initially on returnee Anthony Modeste. The goalscorer, who switched to Dortmund in the summer, greeted all Cologne substitutes with a handshake shortly before kick-off, followed by a warm hug from coach Steffen Baumgart. However, the conciliatory scenes didn't stop the FC fans from whistling at Modeste every time he touched the ball.

In addition to Modeste, Terzic also ordered the second Cologne signing Salih Özcan into the starting eleven, while Mats Hummels and Marius Wolf were absent for a short time due to a cold. The BVB coach prescribed an offensive 4-1-2-3 system for his team, but there were no clear chances in the first 25 minutes.

The guests then got their first dangerous shot through Donyell Malen (27'), on the other side Kainz narrowly missed (29'). Dortmund then took over more and more command. The opening goal was preceded by a ball loss by FC central defender Timo Hübers. Substitute captain Jude Bellingham served Brandt, who kept his nerve in front of goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe.

The visitors failed to extend their lead until the break. The strong Karim Adeyemi found his champion in Schwäbe with a direct acceptance worth seeing (33rd) as well as Malen (40th). The hosts came out of the break with a lot more pressure. Ondrej Duda was blocked in dire need by Niklas Süle (47th), the shots by Linton Maina (47th) and Duda (51st) were still too harmless. Then Kainz pushed a cross from Maina over the line. Three minutes later, Tigges headed in a Kainz corner to take the lead.

BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl jumped up from the bench after falling behind and loudly cheered on the black and yellow. The wake-up call was heard. BVB launched furious attacks. The shots from Brandt and Bellingham didn't pose any problems for Schwäbe. On the other hand, substitute Florian Dietz only hit the inside post in front of the BVB goal (69th). Ljubicic did better.

Eintracht Frankfurt - Union Berlin 2: 0 (2: 0)

The surprise team from Union Berlin suffered their first setback in the Bundesliga, but remains at the top of the table. The team of coach Urs Fischer disappointed in the 0: 2 (0: 2) at Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt over long stretches, had to accept the first defeat of the season - but still greets from the top.

World Cup hero Mario Götze (12th) and Jesper Lindström (42nd) shot the strong Hessians into the top group - and ended Union's successful run at national level. Three days after Fischer's contract extension, the Köpenicker hardly developed, even after yellow-red against the strong Frankfurt Randal Kolo Muani (68th, repeated foul play).

With the extension with Fischer, Union had initially set another positive sign on Wednesday. In the first game with a new contract, the Swiss made two substitutions. Paul Jaeckel and Morten Thorsby joined the team after beating VfL Wolfsburg (2-0) before the break.

In front of 50,500 fans, however, the guests got off to the worst possible start. After a controlled start, the Berliners were caught cold, Götze completed Eintracht's first attack right away after preliminary work by Kolo Muani, who had previously left all opponents standing.

Union struggled with the deficit, the dreaded switching game hardly came to light - Fischer could not be satisfied. Coach Oliver Glasner's team made a good impression before the Champions League duel on Tuesday (9 p.m. / Prime Video) with Tottenham Hotspur, but missed the second goal through Luca Pellegrini (22nd).

Except for a long-range shot (28th) by Janik Haberer, Fischer's team was pale before the break and deservedly lagged behind. Frankfurt, on the other hand, kept coming up with something offensive: Pellegrini (36') first hit the crossbar before Lindström crowned a fantastic solo run with a two-goal lead.

Union became more active in the second half, but Fischer's eleven rarely got into dangerous situations due to the disciplined Frankfurt team. After one of the few good attacks, SGE goalkeeper Kevin Trapp saved against Haberer, Niko Gießelmann put the margin over it (55th).

Fischer reacted and brought on Sven Michel, Paul Seguin and Kevin Behrens for more offensive power in the closing stages. After Kolo Muani's dismissal, the guests drew hope again. Frankfurt always provided relief with counterattacks.

RB Leipzig - VfL Bochum 4: 0 (2: 0)

RB Leipzig's Sturm stars Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku thoroughly spoiled Thomas Letsch's debut as coach of bottom-placed VfL Bochum. The recently often scolded Werner and Nkunku shone in the well-deserved 4-0 (2-0) against an overwhelmed relegation candidate with a brace each. In addition to Werner (15th/53rd), who celebrated his goals 100 and 101 in the RB dress, Nkunku (23rd) first scored a penalty kick and in the 85th after a strong attack that sealed Bochum's seventh defeat of the season. Nkunku (64') even hit the post in the second half.

Bochum, who started badly historically and were still well served with the result, are still without a win with one point from eight games. For Letsch, who recently inherited the dismissed Thomas Reis, the road to staying up in this form will be a long one. On the other hand, Marco Rose, who replaced Domenico Tedesco at the beginning of September, celebrated his second win in four competitive games as RB coach and made amends for the 3-0 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach before the international break.

Letsch, who has been friends with Rose since their time together at Red Bull Salzburg, didn't let himself be looked at when it came to the line-up before the game - in the end he went for a 3-5-2 at the start. Debutant Jannes Horn and Jacek Goralski rotated in for Kevin Stöger and Philipp Hofmann. Bochum's five-man chain should be stable, but the hosts quickly found their gaps. After a great combination via Dominik Szoboszlai and Andre Silva, who Rose had recently certified as good training performance, Werner (6th) was completely free in front of the VfL goal and shot from 14 meters to the post. Silva (14th) aimed just wide from the edge of the penalty area before Werner did better. A rebound flew from Marcel Halstenberg directly into the barrel of the national striker, who executed calmly.

RB then ran again and again, Mohamed Simakan in particular was extremely active on the right side. Leipzig often played quickly into the depths, so that Bochum sometimes only knew how to help themselves with fouls. Horn (22nd) put Nkunku in the penalty area before the Frenchman converted the penalty safely. The guests managed almost no relief at the front and had to tremble at the back again and again. Szoboszlai (26th) tested Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann from an acute angle.

After the break, Letsch reacted to the weak first half with a three-way substitution - Stöger, Hofmann and Christopher Antwi-Adjei came on, but Leipzig scored. Somehow Werner pushed the ball over the line after Silva had failed at the post. Nkunku also put his second penalty kick on the aluminum a little later, but shortly before the final whistle he scored goal number two.

VfL Wolfsburg - VfB Stuttgart 3: 2 (2: 2)

Breathe a sigh of relief at Nico Kovac: Thanks to Yannick Gerhardt, VfL Wolfsburg won the wild basement duel against VfB Stuttgart and thus gave their coach, who had come under criticism, some peace of mind. After a passionate performance, the wolves won 3:2 (2:2) against the Swabians and celebrated their second win of the season. Omar Marmoush (23'), captain Maximilian Arnold (38') and Gerhardt (90') scored for Wolfsburg, the goals of Serhou Guirassy (22') and Konstantinos Mavropanos (45') were not enough for Stuttgart.

With eight points now, Wolfsburg overtook Stuttgart and improved in the table, so the discussions about Kovac should at least be postponed. Meanwhile, Stuttgart is still waiting for a win after 14 Bundesliga away games across the season.

"We have to make sure that we get the three points. That would be immensely important," Kovac said. But without their best striker Lukas Nmecha (knee problems) the home side presented themselves willing, but after the setbacks in the end they were often unlucky. So it fitted into the picture that Guirassy cleverly used Stuttgart's first chance to take the lead.

But Wolfsburg didn't collapse afterwards, but defended itself: 73 seconds later, Nmecha substitute Marmoush equalized after a fine combination against his former club. The Egyptian scored his first goal of the season from the edge of the box. Shortly thereafter, Arnold just tried it from around 25 meters: The national player's left-footed shot actually fluttered into the goal. However, VfB keeper Florian Müller cut a very bad figure in the scene.

The 24,125 spectators didn't see a high-class game, but it was quite entertaining. Because both teams made a lot of mistakes, it went back and forth. Mavropanos equalized again before the break because the Wolves defense collectively refused to work after a corner.

After that, both teams rested a bit at first, goal area scenes were suddenly scarce. However, Stuttgart's Silas Katompa Mvumpa hit the bar after a solo (57th). On the other side, Jakub Kaminski (74th) sniffed the lead. So it remained exciting until the end - and Gerhardt struck.

SC Freiburg - FSV Mainz 05 2: 1 (2: 0)

SC Freiburg remains on the road to success in the Bundesliga and has now been unbeaten in eight games in all competitions. Coach Christian Streich's team beat FSV Mainz 05 2-1 (2-0) on Saturday and celebrated their fifth win of the season in their eighth league game.

Michael Gregoritsch gave Freiburg an early lead (3rd). Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (37th) increased before the break. Aaron Martin only managed to get the goal back for Mainz. (52nd). Freiburg jumps into second place with 17 points, while Mainz is still in the middle of the table with eleven points.

Streich relied on the same starting eleven as in the goalless draw at TSG Hoffenheim before the international break. Jonathan Burkardt celebrated his comeback in the starting XI after recovering from injury in the Mainz team, who played in dark blue.

Freiburg started courageously and took the lead with the first attack of the game: Maximilian Eggestein lobbed the ball to the edge of the penalty area, where new signing Gregoritsch was ready. The Austrian took a moment and placed the ball in the top right corner of the Mainz goal (3'). After 15 minutes, Gregoritsch almost increased, but his shot from a free kick went over the bar. As a result, the hosts remained the more dangerous team. Gregoritsch, for the third, just missed after a shot from the turn (22nd).

Freiburg, who played in their usual 4-2-3-1 system, often gave the ball to Mainz. But the Rheinhessen, who are among the strongest away teams of the season, could hardly do anything with it and only caused problems with long-range shots from Anton Stach (15th) and Karim Onisiwo (25th) for some danger.

After Gregoritsch hit the crossbar, the ball landed at Kyereh, who only had to nod off with his head (37'). Only three minutes later, Gregoritsch failed again against the strong Robin Zentner (40th). After the change of sides, Mainz immediately sent a sign of life and scored the goal. Burkardt brought the ball sharply into the center, where Aaron only had to put his foot down (52').

Coach Bo Svensson's team now focused more on their good transition game and Burkardt had another good chance (64'). But Freiburg, who expect a mammoth program in the next few weeks, came through - again - Gregoritsch too to a good chance to score (68th).