Bundesliga Review: Matchday 4

So, the weekend before the international break and the Bundesliga left us with some more exhilarating entertainment before it had a rest, so without further ado, let's have a look!

TUESDAY: Freiburg 1-1 Bayern

Bayern took on Freiburg knowing that their hosts hadn't beaten them for seventeen long years and were strong favourites to win this one as well. On Saturday Bayern had also set a new club record of twenty-eight game unbeaten, and had Dortmund (31) and Hamburg's (36) records set in their sights to surpass.  However, Freiburg came out firing and looking dangerous as they went close early on, only for Bayern's so called "second eleven" to take the lead in the thirty-fourth minute. Another slick passing move from Guardiola's men saw Xherdan Shaqiri take a touch then rifle home a half-volley past Oliver Baumann, making up for his shocking miss in the Bavarian Derby.

In the second half, Bayern were denied through a combination of Baumann, last ditch defending and sheer luck, their lack of clinical finishing was made to pay as Freiburg found an equaliser. Not necessarily deserved on their second half performance, but their grafting came to fruition as Nicolas Hoefer pounced as he poked home to give Freiburg the draw. Despite the disappointment Bayern went on to lift the Supercup come Friday, with a 5-4 penalty win over Chelsea after a cracking game that finished 2-2 and saw new European footballer of the year Franck Ribery showcase why he was selected the award.

SATURDAY: Gladbach 4-1 Bremen

Sadly not the most exciting game to start off with, best shown by the first two shots of the game for Bremen being closer to the half way line than the goal line. A niggly and bitty game, with both sides failing to create a full clear cut chance to work either keeper, it wasn't until a fantastic long ball set Juan Arango free down the left as from just inside the box, he sent a fierce drive past the on rushing Melitiz to give his side a deserved lead on the lion-share of the play. 

The second period produced some excellent entertainment, as just eight minutes in, Melitiz failed to push a shot far enough wide and Raffael tapped in to give the home side breathing space. However, straight after Bremen had two reasonable penalty appeals turned down, and it took an amazing save from ter-Stegen to keep the Gladbach sheet clean. This seemed to really open up the game as it went to and fro. Bremen continued their pressure and got their reward as a flick on hit the helpless Nordtveit who could only react to turn the ball into his own net to give the Northerners hope. This was soon dashed as Gladbach's exciting front four combined to leave Max Kruse an almost open net to place the ball home. It was to get worse for the away side, as Kruse robbed Werder of the ball, slipped in Patrick Herrmann who rounded the keeper and slotted home for his first goal in sixteen games and it finished that way in a very convincing win for the home side.

Hamburg 4-0 Braunschweig

Two sides at the foot of the table went head to head as Hamburg celebrated fifty years in the Bundesliga and they weren't to be disappointed as star man Rafa Van der Vaart gave the an early lead as he rifled home from inside the box giving the dis-paring Davari no chance. As if it couldn't get any better, poor defending from Dogan and equally good strength from Max Beister  good play by Beister meant that he could slide in Jacques Zoua to make it two-nil with his first league goal. They continued the pressure with Zoua and co. having further chances to extend the lead, but it stayed that way until half-time.

Hamburg continued their dominance as Bruanschweig found it hard to get a real foot-hold in the game. Chance after chance fell their way, but it wasn't until Hakan Calhanoglu got the ball, beat one, beat two and then shot on the angle only for Divari to let the ball slip underneath himself and into the net. He wasn't finished and neither were Hamburg, a free-kick on the edge of the box saw that man Calhanoglu to smash home into the top corner to make it four, a fantastic result for Fink's under-pressure side.

Nuremburg 0-1 Augsburg

Augsburg fresh from their impressive win over Stuttgart last week started the brightest, with Holzhauser looking dangerous and only a combination of luck and Schaefer kept them from opening the scoring. The game then evened out, with the teams looking dangerous from set pieces and both having good chances, but the best of those were falling to the away side and they still failed to find a way past the impressive Schaefer.

The second half started in much the same vein as the first, with both sides finding it hard to come by any clear cut chances, both keepers were rarely tested to their limits. The game just couldn't find that spark to get it started, and a frustrated Pinola picked up a red card for two bookable offences. Then, the game got it's goal, Holzhauser smakced the post, number 7 couldn't tap home and then the ball fell to Vogt and he needed a deflection of the dis-paring dive of a Nuremburg defender to give them the lead. Never the less, Nuremburg couldn't recover and it was left to Schaefer to spare their blushes until the final whistle, another vital win for Augsburg as they look to keep this run of form going.

Hannover 4-1 Mainz

Mainz great run came to an abrupt end, but.. You can't keep a good man down can you? Straight away Nicolai Mueller capitalised on a poor, poor clearance from Sané. Pospech played him in, and as cool as you like slotted past Zieler to give him his fifth goal of the campaign in just the twelfth minute. The game then evened up, as neither side were able to edge past the other. That was the case until a corner found Mame Diouf's head and he was able to get it just over the line as Pospech cleared, sparking furious protests from the away side's players, but the goal stood. This gave the home side the ascendancy as they pressed for a second, and they didn't wait long to make it count. Great work from Lars Stindl down the line meant he went past three to chip in for Artur Sobiech as he gave 'die Roten' the lead.

Tuchel's Mainz seemed to be missing that something they'd shown in their three previous games and Mueller wasn't getting the ball to help them out, and it was only a matter of time before Hannover hit them on the counter. That materialised as Didier Ya Konan then fired home a wonderful goal from twenty yards out leaving Mueller in goal diving helpless to his left-hand corner, a special striker from the Ivorian on the half volley, and they continued to ramp home their advantage as Andreassen slipped in new signing Edgar Prib who thundered a shot in at Mueller's near post to seal a fantastic result as Hannover look to push towards Europe.

Wolfsburg 2-0 Hertha

Hertha's fine return to the Bundesliga was ended by the ravaging wolves, who dominated the game. Diego had a few early chances, with a half volley zipping past the post. Then Ramos headed the ball down into the ground and just over Benaglio's goal. Then, coming up to the half, the wolves were clinical as a wayward Naldo shot fell to Ivica Olic who slid in well to tap past the hapless Kraft. Shortly after, the home side were awarded a penalty, Diego winning it, dusting himself off and converting.

More of the same after the restart as the ever impressive Koo crossed as Diego headed wise of an open net straight off the restart. The rest of the game was less exciting, as chances were few and far between, as both Benaglio and Kraft watched on largely untroubled for the second half. Hecking's side closed out the game very well as they continue their impressive home form and start to the season.

SUNDAY: Stuttgart 4-1 Hoffenheim

Bernd Schneider's run as Suttgart's new coach got off to an excellent start as they took on the team with the most goals so far, Hoffenheim, and he got the perfect start from his team. As a quickly taken Maxim free-kick made it's way into the box, Antonio Ruediger was on hand to pounce and give his side the lead after just ten minutes. They didn't wait long to press home the advantage, as Modeste missed an excellent chance, Stuttgart countered, won a corner and Mazim found Mr.Reliable, Vevad Ibisevic, to head home their second. The entertain wasn't over though, as Hoffenheim replied through Volland, his shot deflecting off of Ruediger and over Ulreich, just seconds later another goal! Koen Casteels came and got nowhere near the ball, meaning Maxim had the simple task of passing the ball into the net. There was a massive moment of controversy, as Volland chipped Ulreich, but the goal was disallowed due to the softest of pushes, Hoffenheim understandably apoplectic. 

The second half started off in the same vein as the first, as Ibisevic round the on rushing Casteels to make it four-one as Schneider's men continued to dominate. The continued pressure paid off as the magnificent Maxim cut in from the left, glided past Vestergaard and then sent a beautiful curling shot into the top corner. Stuttgart fans were in wonderland, and if they hadn't hit cloud nine yet, they were getting ever closer in goal terms. Casteels misjudged again and that left the Bosnian an open goal to head into for his hat-trick. Stuttgart had many further chances to add to their tally, but Roberto Firmino added a late consolation for the away side, however Schneider will not complain one bit after this result.

Frankfurt 1-2 Dortmund
Both teams with good early chances, with Weidenfeller and Trapp having to make good saves from Inui and Lewandowski respectively. Kuba was then denied by Trapp, but soon after he turned provider, driving through Frankfurt's midfield before slipping in Henrik Mkhitaryan to delightfully slide home his first Dortmund goal. Schmelzer had to be alert to deny new signing Kadlec with an important tackle, Klopp was his usual animated self on the touch-line as Frankfurt began to come into the game more and more. So much so, that they equalised through new signing Kadlec, his first goal for Frankfurt. Schmelzer let Aigner run free and his header hit the post and rebounded to the Czech international and he tucked it away. 

Frankfurt started the second half much the stronger, forcing a string of corners but failed to really test Weidenfeller. Dortmund, as we know are dangerous on the counter, and despite Frankfurt tracking Mkhitaryan the whole way across the box, the Armenian wriggled free and curled a beautiful shot into Trapp's right hand corner. Frankfurt were not disheartened and they continued to attack, with Anderson going inches from levelling the score as he hit the post. The game continued to be an even affair, with Dortmund typically dangerous counter attacking and Frankfurt looked threatening from set-pieces. Unfortunately for the hosts, Dortmund remained incredibly resilient and as Mhkitaryan kept Dortmund's 100% record intact.

Bundesliga Review: Matchday 3

Could Schalke finally kick-start their season? Would Goetze play? Could Nicolai Mueller keep his fine run of form going? These were just some of questions that were being batted around, and in this review of an exhilarating, enthralling and entertaining matchday three review I'll do my best to answer those, but first we'll start with table-toppers Borussia Dortmund.

FRIDAY: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Werder Bremen
Dortmund took on Bremen at a sold old Westfalenstadion on a beautiful Friday evening as they tried to maintain their place at the top, but they too faced a Bremen side who also had a 100% record after the first two matchdays, all be it two one-nil wins against Augsburg and Eintracht Braunschweig, and very lucky wins at that. This was a game dominated by the home side, as Dortmund pressed to get an early advantage, but a combination of brave Bremen defending and goalkeeping from Melitiz kept them at bay. Reus was orchestrating the play as he went close multiple times, but no-one went as close as Kuba, who thundered a shot off of the underside of the bar only to bounce harmlessly away. Bremen, after being camped in their half for fourty-five minutes happened to release Arnautovic who flashed a drive just wide of Weidenfeller's right hand post, the first real sign of intent from the Northerners.

The second half began much as the first did, with more Dortmund dominance, but this time they got the goal they deserved. A slick passing move from BVB split the Werder defence wide open and this let Aubameyang square for Lewandowski to tap home his second goal of the season. After this, Bremen came into the game slightly more, but without really troubling Weidenfeller, and it wasn't until the introduction of Franco di Santo that they had their first proper shot on target, as the Argentine produced a fine save from Weidenfeller after a rasping shot almost crept into the top corner. They kept calm and recorded their third win in three, the last time they cord their third win in three, the last time they did this, they ended up champions. Dutt's  Bremen can hold their heads high, as last season under Schaff this could have been a cricket score.

SATURDAY: Hoffenheim 3-3 Freiburg
Well, what more can you say about this game? Six goals, a penalty, three red cards and almost everything else you could want from a Bundesliga game. The game started off with Sorg fouling Elyounoussi and Salihovic converting the resulting penalty. Only for him to slap a Freiburg player and get sent of, and this is just the start. Just 4 minutes later, Sorg struck a blocked free-kick from twenty-five yards out, and with the aid of a Roberto Firmino deflection flew past Casteels and it was one-one. The came continued, to and fro, until Volland controlled a lobbed pass he had no right to and sent a delicious chip over Baumann's head and into the top corner. However, yet again Freiburg levelled almost immediately after a scramble in the box, the ball fell to Karim Guede who poked home to make it two-two. The game was an absolute marvel, but after picking up two bookings in a minute, Francis Coquelin would play no further part, despite the second being very harsh.

Into the second half and the madness continued, but their was nothing mad about Sebastien Freis goal that put Freiburg ahead, as he expertly volleyed home from the edge of the box, straight into the top corner with the side of his foot to give the away side a two-three lead. Yet again, that lead didn't last long, as a slip in midfield let Thomas Strobl run free and slap a shot from 20 yards into Baumann's top corner. No more goals, but another sending off, as Admir Mehmedi got a late early bath as he was given his marching orders in the ninetieth minute. A game that will surely be remembered as one of the Bundesliga classics was Freiburg's first point of the season after a slow start, but Hoffenheim look rejuvenated and look to be far from the relegation battle they found themselves in last season. 

Bayern 2-0 Nuremberg
Both Goetze and Thiago started for Bayern who could afford to leave Mueller and Kroos on the bench ahead of the Bavarian derby, which for the first half at least, was an evenly contested affair. The game began with Bayern finding it more difficult than normal to get past a compact Nuremburg defence, but the constant threat of Ribery and Robben was enough to keep everyone on their toes. The first real chance of game fell to the away side, as former Dortmund man Daniel Ginzcek rattled Manuel Neuer's bar with the ball nearly crossing the line. This seemed to be the wake up Bayern needed, and they got a dubious penalty after Per Nilsson and Arjen Robben went shoulder to shoulder, with the latter taking a tumble in a nothing challenge. Up stepped Daniel Alaba who saw his penalty saved by Manuel Schaefer, only his second penalty save for Nuremburg.

The second half brought more Bayern dominance, as the away side spent most of their half there. Mandzukic and co. toiled away, but Schaefer constantly kept them at bay. It was only when Mueller and Kroos came on for Goetze and Thiago, almost straight away Bayern looked more fluid, with a Lahm cross finding Ribery who hammered home a header to give Muenchen the lead in the sixty-ninth minute. They then set about making the game safe, and it was Robben who went on a mazy run, beating one, two, three and then nutmegging the impressive Schaefer to make it two-nil and give Bayern the game. With that win Bayern set a new club record of twenty-eight games without defeat and by scoring, they have now gone fourty games without drawing a blank. However, some bad news came on the Sunday when new signing Thiago was ruled out for seven weeks with injury.

Leverkusen 4-2 Gladbach
Leverkusen went into the game aiming to keep pace at the top and also trying to equal a club record eighth win in a row. It was Mr.Reliable Stefan Keissling who opened the scoring for Bayer from the penalty spot after twenty-three minutes, renown for opening the scoring twelve times last year, he's already done it twice this season. Also, a high point for Keissling was that it was his hundredth Bundesliga goal for Leverkusen. It wasn't long after until Leverkusen doubled their lead, Sidney Sam who seems to have a new lease of life, was set up by the ever impressive Keissling who squared for him to tap in, in the twenty-eighth minute.

Into the second half and it took Gladbach just eight minutes to find a way back into the game, as fantastic work by Kruse with the slide rule pass, Herrmann with a jinking run and then the finish by Stranzl in the fifty-fourth minute. Just three minutes later Juan Arango squared it up after an horrendous mistake by Bernd Leno, who spilt the most innocuous of crosses straight to the feet of the on rushing Venezuelan. That was as good as it got for Gladbach however, as the parity last for just four minutes as that man Sidney Sam turned, swivelled and shot past a helpless ter-Stegen, who could only watch as the home side went three-two up in the sixty-first minute of the game. It was only a further ten minutes that we had to wait for another goal, as Sidney Sam was tackled, the ball broke perfectly for Gonzalo Castro who spanked the ball past ter-Stegen from twenty-five yards to make it four-two.

Hannover 2-1 Schalke
The pressure on Jens Keller couldn't get much worse, but it was just about too. After just fifteen minutes, Schalke were a goal and a man down. Benedikt Hoewedes was sent off for conceding it and Huszti sent Hildebrand the wrong way to give his side a one-nil lead. The game was a very bitty and niggly affair, and it took until the fourty-second minute for either side to really threaten again, but Mame Diouf was clinical and took his chance. Offside in the first phase of play, the apparent Stoke target got himself back onside and glanced home a header from no range to make Keller feel even more uncomfortable.

Schalke came out of the half-time break with Keller's words stinging in his teams ear, Schalke looked a lot better but Szalai broke free after Draxler's pass to Clemens (which was offside), the Hungarian contrived to miss an open goal. He atoned for his previous error and he gave the Gelsenkirchen side some hope. This grew later in the half as Huszti was sent off for a dangerously high boot on Fuchs, who himself would later be sent off for two yellows in six minutes. That's also how it finished, with the pressure piling on to Keller, will he still be in a job after the return leg at PAOK? Who knows!

Mainz 2-0 Wolfsburg
Mainz were another side looking to maintain their 100% record going into matchday three, as they took on Wolfsburg now with one of the strongest spines in the league thanks to the addition of Luis Gustavo. This one was also in favour of Wolfsburg, with the away side having only lost once in their last eight games to Mainz and they've only one once at home against Wolfsburg in the last seven games. An uneventful first half was however followed by a fantastic second half, that went against the aforementioned stats. 

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the deadlock was broken as Choupo-Moting slid in after a goalmouth scramble following a corner, he pounced on Bo Svensson's header to give his side the advantage. Soon after, Luis Gustavo picked up a second yellow card and he was given an early bath. The clincher came through that man Nicolai Mueller, who after a perfect long ball from Johannes Geis broke through and slammed past Benaglio into his top right hand corner to give Mainz a deserved win. Thomas Tuchel, who is rumoured for the Schalke job, managed to stay unbeaten against Dieter Hecking and keep up his sides impressive early season form.

Hertha 1-0 Hamburg
Hertha aimed to upset Hamburg as they celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of being in the Bundesliga, and they did just that as they continued their impressive early season form with a win they had to grind out more than what they were used to this season. Hamburg brought eleven thousand fans to the Olympiastadion, but were unfortunately sent home disappointed. A first half that had more yellows than clear cut chances was followed by a better second half, and only an Adrian Ramos strike in the seventy-fourth minute separated the teams as the Columbian netted his third goal in as many games. Some tipped Hertha for the drop, but I honestly believe they could be dark horses for Europe at this rate.

SUNDAY: Braunschweig 0-2 Frankfurt
Frankfurt and Braunschweig were both desperate to get their first points of the season, but yet again it was plucky Braunschweig who went down fighting. After a tight and bright first half for the newly promoted side, yet again class and Bundesliga experience told for their opponents like in their previous two games. The first goal came from serial goal-getter Alex Meier, who's strike in the fifty-second minute took a huge deflection to go in, then came the killer goal, as Stephan Aigner scored just ten minutes later to secure the win for Armin Veh's side.

Augsburg 2-1 Stuttgart
The two other teams without a point yet in the league went head to head at the SGL Arena, in a more exciting encounter than the early Sunday game. The game got the early goal it needed as Hamit Altintop scored his first Bundesliga goal for three years as he nipped unattended as the Stuttgart defence fell asleep. Then in the thirty-sixth minute it was two-nil as my favourite name in the Bundesliga, Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker headed home. The first half wasn't over though, as Stuttgart's Mr.Dependable Vevad Ibisevic tucked away a penalty.

Into the second half and it was a much nervier and tighter affair, with Augsburg having to clear off the line being the most exciting event, well, apart from former Augsburg man Ibrahima Traore getting a very debatable red card to make it a record eight for the match day. That means that both Suttgart and Braunschweig are yet to get a point on the board this season.

That's all for Matchday 3 from me, here's hoping next week is just as exciting!