With Bayern Munich not at the top of the Bundesliga for the first time in many weeks, the Bundesliga now finds itself with a title race that appears to be one that will last til the end, oh ya and European action in the Bundesliga match day 12 preview.
Bayern Munich made the trip east to play Rostov and it was the Russian side that used the long trip and a shaken German champions to steal a 3-2 victory. The win gives Rostov the upper hand in qualifying to the Europa League against PSV in the penultimate group stage match, while Bayern has solidified the second place spot, and ya second place teams have a rough road to the final. This is what can happen when you don’t have a full strength team.
Borussia Dortmund was unable to lock up the group winners position, but that did not stop them from setting a new record for combined goals in a match where Legia Warsaw scored four, but only half the massive eight goals put up by the hosts. Specifically Marco Rues made a comeback with captain’s armband in stunning fashion as the German international scored his own hat trick. Only a draw is needed next match to go out as group winners.
Lars Stindl was unable to stay on the pitch as Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City played out to a 1-1 draw at Borussia Park. With one match left the Foals will be in the Europa League knockout phase with will provide them with more money, just not the jackpot that the Champions League knockout phase provides. This is a step up from last campaign but after a 1-1 draw with Celtic it is a ‘What if’ scenario.
Leverkusen seemed ready to play for a group winners spot but a late penalty in Moscow means that a runners up position in the Champions League knockout stage is all that is acquired. For Bayer there is something to be said by coming out of this group with a match to spare and with a weakened Bayern next up another run is in this squad.
Schalke knew that a win would mean winning their Europa League group and against Nice their unbeaten run continued with a 2-0 victory. Mainz knew that a win against Saint-Etienne would mean their hopes of a knockout round were a possibility but after a 0-0 raw with the French side their European adventure is over, BEWARE Bundesliga sides.
All the media across Europe can discuss is how Bayern Munich is not on their game but that is a discussion that has been broached here. The real excitement is that there are five teams tied on 21 points, three behind Munich who trail RB Leipzig by three as well. Eintracht Frankfurt’s story is one of resurgence after near relegation all with Niko Kovac at the helm. Hoffenheim has been on a real run since appointing Julian Nagelsmann and this seems to be the full circle of his efforts. Hertha Berlin has continued to prosper under Pal Dardai and were not a one year wonder. So a season full of surprise teams competing for the European places to join the usual Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich this season.
Top Matches of the Week
Hoffenheim under Naglesmann has cause some coaches to question if there has been a reinventing of the game of football. His pressing style coupled with fast counter attack has TSG in position to make Europe but up next is a difficult task in visiting Borussia Monchengladbach. The Foals happen to have not won in November and only have won two matches overall in 11. Falling out of the Champions League either jolts this team out of their slump or Andre Schubert is the next manager to get the ax.
Eintracht Frankfurt look to host a rather in form Borussia Dortmund who have a 8-4 win midweek and a 1-0 win over Bayern last week to push them on. Thing is BVB was on a strong run when the season drew to a close and Frankfurt harried their opposition and came away with a key 1-0 victory that gave legs to their relegation survival. Eintracht is a stronger side now and BVB has not been as consistent as they were last campaign, should equal an exciting match.
Bayern Munich losing in a big match like Der Klassiker sent shock waves around Europe, coupled with a loss at Rostov and everyone is taking attention. While Bayer Leverkusen has had moments where they have led but like last week there have been moments that have cause massive amounts of points to be lost. Their ability to knock off the big opposition has been there but finishing them off has been a rather difficult moment.
Bundesliga on Fox
Friday pits the two promoted sides SC Freiburg and RB Leipzig on FS2, a fun match to watch on Black Friday.
Saturday the morning slate gets to the heart of the weekend’s Bundesliga action as a real traditional derby, the Nordderby, plays out between Hamburg and Werder Bremen on Fox Soccer Plus with Frankfurt and BVB fighting it out on FS2. The later game, traditional topspiel, pits Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich on FS2.
Sunday double header is all on FS1. First is Schalke vs Darmstadt followed by Hertha Berlin hosting Mainz.
