Reus only No.14: Bundesliga free kick goals in decline

Marco Reus scored his first Bundesliga goal for Borussia Dortmund since early September on Sunday. The captain calmed the nerves of the Westfalenstadion with the goal to make it 3-1 against Hertha BSC. It was also a very nice goal, and one of rarity.

“I’m pleased that after a long, long, long time I was able to score a free-kick goal again,” said the BVB captain after the final whistle on the streaming service DAZN. The last time Reus had sunk a stationary ball from outside the penalty area was on matchday 34 of the 2020/21 season against Bayer Leverkusen. In his younger years, the national player was considered a specialist for free kicks, in his first two seasons at BVB, for example, the now 33-year-old converted a total of five attempts. But the trend speaks against free-kick goals, and not just at Reus.

Halved since 2014/15

Like data from the magazine sports picture show, the number of hits that are particularly worth seeing is declining. Reus converted the 14th free kick of the current Bundesliga season on Sunday. On average, it takes 13.5 Bundesliga games to score a goal like this. For comparison: After 21 matchdays of the 2014/15 season, there were still 28 free-kick goals in the top German division, i.e. twice as many goals. It is remarkable when looking at the current season that six of the only 14 goals are scored by three players.

Hoffenheim and Cologne still without a goal after a free kick

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, FSV Mainz 05’s Aaron Martin and RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku have each scored two free-kicks. On the other hand, there are nine clubs, half of the Bundesliga, who are still waiting for their first direct free kick goal this season (FC Augsburg, Union Berlin, VfL Bochum, Werder Bremen, Hertha BSC, TSG Hoffenheim, 1.FC Köln, Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Schalke 04). If you take all the free-kick situations together, for example also crosses, deposits and initially blocked shots, there is a total of 42 goals after 21 match days. Not a single one of these comes from Hoffenheim and Cologne, with RB Leipzig leading the way with five goals from free kicks.

The free kick ranking of the Bundesliga

1. RB Leipzig, 5 goals from free kicks, 3 of which converted directly

2. Union Berlin, 4 goals, none directly

= 2. Eintracht Frankfurt, 4 goals, 2 direct

4. Borussia Dortmund, 3 goals, 1 direct

= 4. SC Freiburg, 3 goals, 1 direct

= 4. Bayer Leverkusen, 3 goals, 2 direct

= 4. VfL Wolfsburg, 3 goals, 1 direct

8. FC Augsburg, 2 goals, none directly

= 8. FC Bayern, 2 goals, 1 direct

= 8. Werder Bremen, 2 goals, none direct

= 8. Hertha BSC, 2 goals, none direct

= 8. FSV Mainz 05, 2 goals, 2 direct

= 8. Borussia Mönchengladbach, 2 goals, none directly

= 8. FC Schalke 04, 2 goals, none direct

= 8. VfB Stuttgart, 2 goals, 1 direct

16. VfL Bochum, 1 goal, none directly

17. TSG Hoffenheim, no goals

= 17. 1.FC Cologne, no goals

(Information via sports picture)