Leverkusen’s Title Defense Takes a Hit
BERLIN (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen’s bid to retain its Bundesliga title has suffered a significant setback. The team was held to a goalless draw against Wolfsburg on Saturday, allowing league leaders Bayern Munich to extend their lead to eight points. This gap is unprecedented at this stage of the season, with no team in Bundesliga history ever making up such a significant deficit to win the title. The contrast with last season was palpable, as Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký noted, “The gap has become far too big, unfortunately. That’s the difference from last season – the games that we’re drawing now, we won last year." The coach, Xabi Alonso, had made eight changes to the team that had secured a narrow victory over Cologne in the German Cup semifinals. Only Nordi Mukiele, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka retained their starting positions, with star player Florian Wirtz relegated to the substitutes’ bench and new signing Mario Hermoso making his debut.
Dortmund’s Struggles Continue
Borussia Dortmund’s consistent struggles have continued under new coach Niko Kovač, with the team suffering another disappointing defeat. They lost 2-1 at home to Stuttgart, marking their eighth league loss of the season. Kovač’s debut was marred by ill luck from the very start, even as his bag got stuck on the team bus. The game saw two players who had moved from Stuttgart to Dortmund in the summer playing roles in their ex-team’s goals. Defender Waldemar Anton inadvertently turned Chris Führich’s cross into his own net early in the second half, and former Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy’s error allowed Julian Chabot to score the second goal for Stuttgart in the 61st minute. Despite Alexander Nübel’s heroic effort to push Jamie Gittens’ deflected shot onto the crossbar, Dortmund’s misfortunes persisted. Julian Brandt managed to pull one back in the 81st minute, but his free kick in the final moments of the game went well over, symbolizing the team’s frustrating day. The match also saw Julian Ryerson receive a red card for his reaction to a foul, leading Kovač to comment, “Football is emotions, that’s why we go to the stadium. If it wasn’t like that, we’d go to the theater. There would probably be fewer emotions there.”
Ljubičić’s Dream Debut
Union Berlin’s new Croatian forward, Marin Ljubičić, made an immediate impact in his debut, contributing a goal and an assist in a 4-0 victory over Hoffenheim. This win not only marked the team’s biggest of the season but also broke a trend of scoring no more than two goals in a match. Union had failed to score in four of its last five games, making this performance all the more significant. The scoring began with Benedict Hollerbach’s goal, followed quickly by Ljubičić’s own strike just two minutes into his substitution. Andrej Ilić added a third goal, his first in the Bundesliga, and Ljubičić completed the rout by setting up Hollerbach for the final score. This performance is a promising sign for Union Berlin as they look to build momentum in the league.
Frankfurt’s Third Straight Draw
Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt’s hunt for consistency hit a snag as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach, their third consecutive draw. The match saw Michy Batshuayi and Elye Wahi both make their debuts for Frankfurt, with the signings intended to compensate for Omar Marmoush’s departure to Manchester City. Despite the new faces, it was Marmoush’s former partner, Hugo Ekitiké, who provided the equalizing goal in response to Tim Kleindienst’s 26th-minute opener for Gladbach. The draw, while not ideal, does highlight the team’s resilience and the potential of their new signings to make a difference in future matches.
Freiburg’s Solid Victory
Freiburg secured a 1-0 win over Heidenheim, maintaining their strong form in the league. The match was a testament to Freiburg’s defensive solidity and their ability to capitalize on their chances. While the scoreline may not be impressive, the clean sheet and the win are crucial for the team’s standings and morale. This victory keeps Freiburg in the race for European qualification and further strengthens their position in the top half of the table.
Mainz’s Stalemate with Augsburg
Mainz and Augsburg played out a goalless draw in their encounter, both teams seeming to lack the final touch to break the deadlock. Despite both sides creating opportunities, neither could convert them into goals. The draw means that both teams remain in the middle of the league table, neither gaining nor losing significant ground. This result underscores the competitive nature of mid-table Bundesliga matches, where the margin between winning and drawing can be incredibly slim. As the season progresses, both teams will need to find ways to turn these draws into victories to improve their standings.
