Matchday 11 action in the Bundesliga saw Borussia Monchengladbach showcase their dominance with a convincing 4-0 thrashing of VfL Wolfsburg,
Augsburg continued their excellent form under their new manager, Bayern Munich triumphed 4-2 against Heidenheim and Stuttgart secured a well-deserved 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.
Bayer Leverkusen showed their killer instincts as they ripped Union Berlin apart in a commanding 4-0 victory, and RB Leipzig continued their winning run with a 3-1 triumph over Freiburg.
Let’s dissect the highs and lows of Bundesliga Matchday 11 in our weekly football column.
Borussia Monchengladbach thrash faltering Wolfsburg 4-0
Monchengladbach bagged two goals in each half to claim a dominant win over Wolfsburg. The Foals are unbeaten in their last three league games, pushing into the top half of the table.
Gladbach on piled the early pressure, with Franck Honorat storming into the Wolfsburg box before crossing for Tomas Cvancara to open the scoring.
The Wolves tried to find their way back into the tie but couldn’t and played their way into trouble as goalkeeper Koen Casteels gave away the ball, allowing Gladbach to pounce and Rocco Reitz to double the lead.
Wolfsburg fought valiantly early in the second half but struggled to find their shooting boots, and after failing to take their half-chances, Gladbach made it three.
Casteels was having a nightmare afternoon and somehow allowed in Honorat’s shot from distance on 64 to ensure the win.
Alassane Plea wanted to get in on the action and stroked home a cross to make it 4-0. Wolfsburg drop to 11th in the table.
Bayern Munich beat spirited Heidenheim 4-2
Bayern edged past determined Heidenheim in an exciting encounter at the Allianz Arena.
In-form Harry Kane collected a pass from Leroy Sane before blasting beyond Kevin Muller to open the affair in the 14th minute.
He doubled his tally just before half-time, heading home Sane’s corner.
However, Heidenheim battled back through their main men – Tim Kleindienst and Jan-Niklas Beste.
Despite the setback, the champions found their way past the Bundesliga newcomers as substitutes Raphael Guerreiro and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting netted.
Kane set a new Bundesliga record, becoming the first player to score 17 goals in the first 11 games of a top-flight season.
Stuttgart beat stunned Borussia Dortmund 2-1
Stuttgart celebrated the return of striker Serhou Guirassy with a deserved win over Dortmund.
BVB took the lead in the first half, with Niclas Fullkrug netting the opener after barely touching the ball for most of the half.
Stuttgart responded almost immediately through Denis Undav, who has deputised for Guirassy brilliantly.
BVB keeper Gregory Kobel brought the Frenchman down in the second half, and the former Rennes man dispatched the kick to earn his side the three points.
Dortmund have lost their last two, while Stuttgart bounced back from the shock loss to Heidenheim. BVB are fifth, while Stuttgart stay third.
Bayer Leverkusen compound Union Berlin woes in 4-0 mauling
With the pressure on Leverkusen following Bayern’s win, Xabi Alonso’s side showed their title credentials in a 4-0 win over hapless Union Berlin.
Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring with a thunderous effort from the edge of the box.
Victor Boniface forced Frederik Ronnow into a fine save and the goalkeeper made another great stop to deny Florian Wirtz.
Despite Ronnow’s heroics, he could have been more proactive as Odilon Kossounou powered home Jonas Hofmann’s deep corner in the second half to double the lead.
Ronnow was in no man’s land as Jonathan Tah looped Grimaldo’s cross over him before substitutes Amine Adli and Nathan Tella combined to dangerous effect, and the latter smashed the ball into the net for the fourth.
Leverkusen returned to the top of the table while Union Berlin are rock bottom of the Bundesliga table. Manager Urs Fischer will likely be sacked this week.
Leipzig maintain winning run with 3-1 win over Freiburg
Leipzig saw out Freiburg with a comprehensive 3-1 victory. Xavi Simons opened the scoring in the sixth minute, skipping past challenges before curling his effort beyond Noah Atubolu.
However, Freiburg pulled level just before the half-time break as Merlin Rohl took the ball and went on a slaloming run through Leipzig’s right flank before placing a missile-guided effort in the bottom corner.
Leipzig left it late but won a penalty via a mistimed challenge by Freiburg captain and talisman Vincenzo Grifo. Lois Openda stepped up and sent Atubolu the wrong way to restore the lead.
Christoph Baumgartner ensured the three points with a late strike from a swift counterattack.
Around the grounds
Augsburg showed resilience as Ermedin Demirovic’s incredible second-half strike secured a valuable point against TSG Hoffenheim, maintaining their unbeaten streak under new manager Jess Thorup.
Wout Weghorst’s header on 23 gave Die Kraichgauer the lead, but Augsburg captain Demirovic responded with a curled shot shortly after the break to level the score. He had shown stunning quick feet and balance to set himself up.
Both sides had chances and half chances to win it, but neither took them, and the spoils were shared. Augsburg are up to tenth after winning two and drawing two of their last four games. Hoffenheim stay in sixth.
Darmstadt 98 and Mainz 05 locked horns in a goalless draw at the Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor.
Despite occasional openings for both sides, neither relegation rival could break the deadlock.
The hard-fought encounter resulted in Die Lilien (Darmstadt) maintaining their precarious one-point lead and one-position advantage over the 16th-placed Nullfunfer.
VfL Bochum’s quest for a first home win this season was thwarted by a Davie Selke strike. The goal was practically Cologne’s first effort.
Cologne’s Marvin Schwabe came up with some stellar saves to earn his side a point despite being on the back foot for most of the game.
Lukas Daschner, on his starting debut for Bochum, appeared to secure the vital three points with a goal on 25.
However, Selke’s third goal of the season levelled the scoreline. Despite the hosts’ spirited push for a winner, they had to settle for a draw.
The outcome leaves Bochum three points and three positions clear of their guests, who remain 17th on the table.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen delivered a Bundesliga spectacle at the Weserstadion as the Eagles orchestrated a commendable comeback from a two-goal deficit.
Following his German national team call-up, Marvin Ducksch notched the Green-Whites into the lead from the penalty spot.
Rafael Borre extended Werder’s advantage with a header against his parent club.
However, Frankfurt clawed back into contention when Ellyes Skhiri’s opportunistic strike found the back of the net, and the comeback was completed when Hrvoje Smolcic nodded home from close range.
The thrilling clash ended on level terms as Frankfurt stayed in seventh place and Werder in 12th.
Player of the Week
Leipzig attacking midfielder Simons was the star of the show as he engineered his side’s win over Freiburg.
He has bagged a goal and an assist in four different Bundesliga games this season. Also, no player in Europe’s top five leagues has more assists than the Paris Saint-Germain starlet (seven).
Apart from the goal and assist, he recorded four key passes and won three of his six duels. He constantly picked up dangerous positions in the half-spaces and looked to spring every incoming pass into an attack.
Matchday 12 action to watch out for
Bundesliga action returns after the international break, with Bayern travelling to face Cologne on November 24. It is hard to remember the last time the Billy Goats (Koln) beat the Bavarians.
Dortmund versus Monchengladbach is the match of the round as Erdin Terzic’s side bid to bounce back from two consecutive losses against high-flying Gladbach.
Fireworks are expected when Stuttgart travel to face Frankfurt in another standout fixture.
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