The Bundesliga Diaries Editorial – Match Day 11

A lot was expected of the season’s first Klassiker, and the game didn’t disappoint! Borussia Dortmund ended up grabbing a 3-2 victory which gives them a seven point lead over Bayern Munich after 11 games. However, despite the final score, Bayern had the chances to put the game beyond BVB in the first half. Munich put on a strong display stopping their opponents from being comfortable. The battle in the midfield went Bayern’s way until Lucien Favre introduced Mahmoud Dahoud at half-time. That, as well as an equalizer by star performer Marco Reus, turned the game in the home side’s favour. Of course, there is still a long way to go this season. However, one thing is for sure: the Bundesliga has a title race on its hands!

One of the teams jumping above fifth-paced Bayern was RB Leipzig who beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0. Perhaps the most impressive aspect was the clean sheet against a team that has so many quality players upfront. Ralf Rangnick’s team prolonged their undefeated league run to ten games and now sit a point behind Borussia Monchengladbach. The Foals have only won twice in eight months away from home, but both have come at difficult stadiums, firstly at the Allianz Arena and this past weekend at the Weser-Stadion. Alassane Pléa’s hattrick led the team to a 3-1 victory over Werder Bremen.

Eintracht Frankfurt currently hold fourth place. The Eagles showed no mercy to Schalke 04 with goals from Luka Jovic (x2) and Sebastian Haller giving them a 3-0 victory. The two strikers are first and second in the division’s goalscoring charts with 17 between them.

The bottom six teams in the league are separated by only three points after some much needed victories. VfB Stuttgart grabbed their first under coach Markus Weinzierl in a “six-point” encounter against FC Nuremberg (0-2), while Hannover 96 were victorious against VfL Wolfsburg (2-1). Fortuna Dusseldorf also earned a vital win, which came in unexpected fashion against Hertha Berlin (4-1). The battle for survival in the Bundesliga is hotting up, with some big clubs in trouble at the wrong end of the table.