Bundesliga
Bayern easily beat Schalke – Leipzig leapt into second place
Bayern’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (front) and Schalke’s Henning Matriciani battle for the ball
© Bernd Thissen / DPA
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich also won their last game before the winter break. In a frenetic match, RB Leipzig held the upper hand against Werder Bremen.
Bayern’s stars showed up in form for the World Cup at FC Schalke 04 and consolidated their lead in the Bundesliga. Led by the outstanding German international Jamal Musiala, coach Julian Nagelsmann’s side deservedly beat the bottom of the table 2-0 (1-0) on Saturday. In front of a crowd of 62,271 in Gelsenkirchen, Munich’s attacking artists showed all their skills, although Torfabrik failed to win this time. Serge Gnabry in the 38th minute and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (52) scored for FC Bayern against Schalke, who fought bravely but were mostly harmless in attack.
It was the 10th consecutive victory for the first-place finisher. At least until Sunday, the advantage over second place is six points. Schalke, on the other hand, are already five points adrift of the relegation place.
Werder Bremen-RB Leipzig 1:2
RB Leipzig continues its successful run. Before the winter break, the Saxons celebrated their sixth competitive victory in a row and inflicted the next defeat on Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga in the English week. In the Hanseatic League, Leipzig won 2-1 (1-0) on Saturday afternoon. The cup winners confirmed their excellent form in a close but balanced game. The club have won their 12th out of 16 matches since manager Marco Rose took charge. Before the game between SC Freiburg and Union Berlin and Sunday’s game against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Saxons climbed into second place in the table.
Both teams are currently among the most dangerous teams in the league. Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku (12 goals) and Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug (10), who was called up for Germany’s World Cup on Thursday, are currently among the best shooters in the league.
But neither the French World Cup participant Nkunku nor Füllkrug scored a goal in front of 41,500 spectators at the Weser Stadium. Leipzig striker André Silva (13′) gave Leipzig the lead with their first big chance by scoring in the penalty area with no resistance. Christian Groß (57th) equalized with a deflected shot from the edge of the box. Xaver Schlager (71st) put the Saxons back in the lead and scored the final score.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart
Bad start to the season, positive ending: Bayer Leverkusen is back on the road to success after a long and worrying decline. With a 2-0 (1-0) victory over VfB Stuttgart, Xabi Alonso’s team achieved a third consecutive Bundesliga victory. Thanks to goals from Moussa Diaby (30th minute) and Jonathan Tah (82nd), the Werkself were spared another setback in front of a sold-out 30,210 crowd at the BayArena in their last game before the long break for the Cup of World.
In contrast, the Swabians spend the winter close to the relegation zone and were also winless in the 17th consecutive Bundesliga away game and thus in the entire calendar year 2022 abroad. With the appearance of his team in Leverkusen, coach Michael Wimmer was only able to gather further arguments for a VfB future as head coach to a limited extent.
Hertha BSC Berlin – 1. FC Cologne
Before the upcoming winter break, Hertha BSC eased concerns about the sporting situation somewhat with a win against 1. FC Cologne. After five failed attempts in the league, the Berliners managed to score three points again on matchday 15 with a 2-0 (1-0) win against the Rhenishes.
In a spirited and at times frantic game, Wilfried Kanga gave the home side the lead in the ninth minute in front of 60,827 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Nine minutes after the break, Marco Richter made it 2-0. Hertha go into the break for the World Cup with 14 points, while Cologne are three points clear without a win in five matches.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – VfL Wolfsburg
With their fourth consecutive victory, VfL Wolfsburg said goodbye to the long winter break and the World Cup as a candidate for the Europa League. Coach Nico Kovac’s team achieved a happy 2: 1 (1: 1) at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in a mixed game. In front of just 18,014 spectators at the Sinsheim Stadium, Christoph Baumgarten (42) put the hosts ahead. An own goal by Ozan Kabak (45th+5) and a goal by Ridle Baku (56th) plunged Kraichgau even further into the crisis.
With this win, Wolfsburg, unbeaten in nine competitive matches, cleared Hoffenheim five points in the table. Under manager André Breitenreiter, disappointing TSG have managed just one win in their last nine games against bottom-of-the-table Schalke 04. It was also the fifth straight home game without threes.
FC Augsburg – VfL Bochum
Christopher Antwi-Adjei ended VfL Bochum’s suffering away from home. The 28-year-old allowed Ruhrpott-Elf to celebrate their first away points of the season in a 1-0 (0-0) win against FC Augsburg on Saturday. The victory put Bochum within two points of FCA, who missed a huge equalizing chance when Mergim Berisha missed a penalty two minutes after Bochum’s goal (60′).
In front of 28,011 spectators, some of whom called for a boycott of the World Cup with a large banner, things got down to business in the WWK Arena in a rustic and non-playful way. Many long balls, many technical errors, but few chances to score or long periods of possession: it was not a footballing pleasure.
The thrilling final attack of the Augsburgers, who never gave up, with goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz attacking alongside them, was powerful but not crowned with success. Also because Bochum fought him with the same passion.
