Bundesliga Resumes After Winter Break
The Bundesliga finally resumed action after the winter break. Germany’s top division has been very interesting this season. Many new faces were also on show.
Bayern Stay On Top
FC Bayern resumed action on top of the table. The Bavarians played away to Freiburg and came away with 3 points after a scrappy game. Bayern Munich defeated SC Freiburg, 2-1, at Dreisamstadion in Freiburg, Germany.
Robert Lewandowski saved Bayern’s blushes scoring two goals after Freiburg took an early lead. Carlo Ancelotti’s men were feeling their way back to top form as Lewandowski’s late winner sealed the match. It looks like Ancelotti seems to have finally decided on his best side which bodes well for Bayern.
Dortmund Record Important Win
Borussia Dortmund have been underwhelming this term. They resumed the campaign placed in 6th. An important away win at Werder Bremen was a good result for The Yellows. Dortmund also had to deal with the absence of star forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who was away representing Gabon at the African Cup of Nations.
Dortmund played most of the game against 10 men as Bremen keeper Drobny was sent off for a challenge on Marco Reus. They played with a strike duo of Reus and Schurrle, the latter scoring an early goal. The change of tactic was interesting and altered Dortmund’s style of play.
Borussia, however, were poor and largely passive. Furthermore, they conceded a cheap goal following the red card. Thomas Tuchel really needs to shore up his defense. It was a game that you would expect Dortmund to walk away with.
RB Leipzig Keep The Pace
Leipzig banished any thoughts of hangover by dispatching Eintracht Frankfurt. The scoreline depicted what Leipzig have done so impressively this term through their pace, power and clinical finishing. Frankfurt’s goalkeeper was sent off 131 seconds after kick off for handling the ball outside the area.
Naby Keita, the youngster, was particularly impressive for Leipzig and important in midfield. Leipzig have been dubbed the ‘New Leicester’ and while they may not be capable of challenge for the title with the power house Bayern Municch, they look in contention for at least a Champions League spot.
New Faces A Welcome Boost
Schalke and Wolfsburg have brought in players in the transfer market to boost their poor performances. The signings did exactly that as Paul-Georges Ntep assisted Mario Gomez’s late goal for the Wolves. Wolfsburg are looking to regain stability and went a good way towards restoring that with a 1-0 win over 10 man Hamburg. Valerien Ismael needs to be given time to try and improve the scene at the Volkswagen Arena.
Elsewhere,Guido Burgstaller scored a winner for Schalke. The Royal Blues took on Ingolstadt. Burgstaller made his debut following a move from Nurmberg and scored the late winner. Schalke took an important 3 points and have a good player in Burgstaller to replace Huntelaar, Di Santo and Embolo who have long term injuries.
Darmstadt and Ingolstadt Look Set For Relegation
Darmstadt and Ingolstadt look favorites to be relegated as neither side recorded a win. The struggling clubs need a change at the earliest. Darmstatd’s appointment of Torsten Frings looked a good decision as they drew away to Gladbach, maintaining a clean sheet. Neither club is playing well enough to secure their place in the top flight next season and need a miracle to sruvive.
The Bundesliga resumed with its regular dose of action. Plenty of goals, red cards and teams with a point to prove just illustrate what the Bundesliga holds when teams return to their best form.
Picture Courtesy: DW.com