Nothing can go wrong for Borussia Dortmund! As they continue to lead the way in the Bundesliga, they also beat rivals Schalke in the RevierDerby. Mönchengladbach and Bayern win 3-0 in comfortable outings, whilst Eintracht Frankfurt lose for the second game in succession, this time against Hertha Berlin. We discuss all of the action before moving on to our In Depth section. With the RevierDerby the centre of attention, we delve deeper in to what makes the rivalry tick.
MD13 – Frankfurt stall, Dortmund on the march
Less goals than usual in the Bundesliga, but captivating all the same. Frankfurt finally succumb following their hot streak, with Wolfsburg putting an end to their 11 game unbeaten run. BVB win 2-0 against Freiburg as they move seven points clear at the top. We also saw wins for RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, whilst Hoffenheim and Schalke share the points in their encounter. Alongside all of the usual matchday analysis, we look at German players abroad in our In Depth section, following on from last week’s debate about foreign players in the Bundesliga. Each member chooses their personal favourite.
MD12 – Düsseldorf thwart Bayern as Borussias lead the way
Nine points separate Bayern from the top after they draw 3-3 against Düsseldorf. Dortmund and Mönchengladbach win again, as do Eintracht Frankfurt. Schalke put five past Nürnberg, whilst VFB Stuttgart fail to score for the fourth game in five, this time against Bayer Leverkusen who prevail 2-0. The matchday discussion is followed by the In Depth section, which this time takes a look at the impact of foreign players in the Bundesliga. Each of the Buli Diaries team chooses their personal favourite player from overseas
German Football Culture – Fans, Ultras and the DFB
With the Bundesliga taking a break due to the internationals, we took the chance to talk about what makes German football great, specifically its widely organised fan scene. First, we talk about the matchday experience and attempt to explain the German Ultra scene. Finally, we talk about the recent protests and clashes between ultras and the police. What does the future hold?
MD11 – What a Klassiker, what a season!
7 points and 3 teams now separate Dortmund and Bayern. Gladbach, Leipzig and Frankfurt claim impressive wins while Hertha and Bremen keep on struggling. The bottom three teams all manage to win. Alongside the standard matchday discussion, we talk about the 2. Bundesliga, which is as competitive as ever.
MD10 – Dortmund win to go four clear before Der Klassiker!
The title race is still on! A big win for Dortmund in Wolfsburg and only a draw for Bayern at home to Freiburg means that four points now separate the two at the top, with Der Klassiker up next. Elsewhere, Gladbach, Frankfurt and Leipzig all dominate, the Leverkusen rollercoaster continues, this time against Hoffenheim, and Schalke big up a big three points. Things aren’t getting better for Stuttgart, as they remain dead last. Alongside the analysis of all the weekend’s games, we also discuss the DFB Pokal following the midweek second round fixtures.
MD9 – Leverkusen sparkle, Dortmund stutter
Another entertaining weekend in the Bundesliga, but what’s new there?!? A strong showing from Leverkusen sees them put 6 past Werder Bremen, while Dortmund concede a last minute penalty against Hertha to drop two points. Bayern, Hoffenheim and Freiburg all earn wins as Schalke draw 0-0 with Leipzig.
MD8 – A win for Bayern, but a loss for the board?
It’s hard to keep your eyes off the Bundesliga right now. Frankfurt beat Düsseldorf 7:1 and both Borussias Dortmund and Mönchengladbach win 4:0 in dominant style. This week’s focus fell especially on Bayern, who finally win again. We debate whether their press conference, held on Friday, contributed to that victory, and we also discuss the background behind the event.
Das Reboot – How Germany conquered the world… and whether they can again
We are talking about the changes after the early exit of the Euros 2000, which lead to Germany winning the 2014 World Cup. After explaining the changes Germany did, we especially focus on the coaches Klinsmann and Löw. What made them so successful and if the current struggle is also due to Löws coaching.
MD7 – Borussias fly high – Have Dortmund and Mönchengladbach opened up a title race?
The Bundesliga is looking unexpectedly interesting. Bayern lose for the 2nd time in a row and Dortmund manage to net a last-minute winner. Leipzig, Gladbach, Bremen and Hertha all bag points to surpass Bayern in the table. At the end of the standings, Schalke leave the relegation spots with their second successive win, while Hannover beat Stuttgart in a vital game to get their first 3 points of the season. Apart from discussing the matchday, we also talk about East German football. Germany recently celebrated the 28th anniversary of the country’s reunification and two former GDR-champions, Magdeburg and Dresden, clashed for the first time in the 2. Bundesliga.