It doesn’t matter whether it’s the German Bundesliga, English Premier League, La Liga in Spain or Serie A in Italy: there was only one Austrian who won and played through at the weekend. And his name is Philipp Lienhart (picture). The central defender was happy with SC Freiburg about a 2-1 (0-0) win at Werder Bremen and his compatriots Marco Friedl and Romano Schmid, in which a 0-1 deficit was turned over and Lienhart’s compatriot, Michael Gregoritsch, because of a ankle injury was absent. For Lienhart it was a battle of attrition: “It’s always difficult and uncomfortable in Bremen. Now are the crucial weeks, you have to dig in all your reserves!” The crucial weeks for the Champions League places and promotion to the cup final. Lienhart described this as a kind of “hitting and stabbing”. With the away win, Freiburg remained fifth in the race: just two points behind Union Berlin and one behind RB Leipzig. Without Christopher Trimmel, Union Berlin only managed to draw 1-1 (1-0) at home against Bochum, the latecomers, with Kevin Stöger equalizing Bochum with a converted penalty.
Leipzig is, so to speak, the “double competitor” for Freiburg: in the semifinals of the cup and in the fight for third and fourth place behind Borussia Dortmund. Patrick Wimmer played Wolfsburg’s 0-0 against Leverkusen from the 70th minute, Leverkusen’s winning streak was stopped after five rounds, which means six points behind Freiburg. At the last Hertha BSC Berlin there was the expected change of coach, this season already the eighth in the Bundesliga: Sandro Schwarz, who only won five games in 28 games, was replaced by the club legend Pal Dardai. The Hungarian is Hertha’s record player and has already been a coach twice. From 2015 to 2019 and 2021 when he managed the Rescue Squad. This time he is set to repeat it in six games. Or in eight via relegation.
In England, Marcel Sabitzer suffered a setback three days after his two goals at Old Trafford for Manchester United in the Europa League against Sevilla: He injured his adductors while warming up for the game in Nottingham on Sunday and had to pass. Instead of him, the Dane Christian Eriksen played. Sabitzer is also a question mark for Thursday’s second leg against Sevilla. Manchester United regained third place from Newcastle with a 2-0 (1-0) win. Leaders Arsenal lost a two-goal lead for the second time in a row. Final round at Anfield against Liverpool, Sunday at the London Stadium at 15 West Ham. Bukayo Saka missed a penalty. As a result, the advantage over champions Manchester City is only four points with a game more, Arsenal still have an away game against the defending champions.
In Spain, David Alaba stayed on the bench for Real Madrid’s 2-0 win in Cadiz, while coach Carlo Ancelotti rested him for Tuesday’s Champions League return game at Stamford Bridge. Kevin Danso had no chance with Lens in France’s top game against champions Paris St Germain after midfielder Salis Samed was ruled out in the 20th minute. Three Paris goals came from Kylian Mbappe, Portuguese Vitinha and Lionel Messi between the 32nd and 40th minutes. Final score 3:1 for Paris St. Germain, Lens fell back to rag three. One point behind second-placed Olympique Marseille, two ahead of fourth-placed Monaco. Muhammed Cham, who played 65 minutes, scored the winning goal from a penalty as Clermont Foot drew 2-1 against bottom side Angers.
