Looking Around the League: An Almost Perfect Weekend for Borussia Dortmund

What’s worse than waiting in a queue for a special kit? Seriously, why do clubs release the kits while I am trying to watch the gaems? I enjoy watching every single bit of action but it is difficult to do when you are constantly checking the queue to ensure your chance for a special kit. How many kits are in stock? How much do they cost? These questions are going through one’s head as they try and watch the all important match. Besides waiting in a long virtual line for something I should not buy, but have to buy, but cannot buy, but cannot live without, it was a great weekend of football action.

Borussia Dortmund supporters had their eyes on Saturday’s action as top four contenders Eintracht Frankfurt traveled to take on future BVB manager Marco Rose’s current team Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Bayern Munich traveled to take on Wolfsburg. Die Schwarzgelben fans were hoping both Bayern and Gladbach could do them favor in the race for next seasons Champions League, and they most certainly did.

Results

Leipzig 0-0 Hoffenheim

Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0 Eintracht Frankfurt

Wolfsburg 2-3 Bayern Munich

Freiburg 4-0 Schalke

Union Berlin 2-1 Stuttgart

Augsburg 0-0 Arminia Bielefeld

Leverkusen 3-0 Köln

Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Werder Bremen

Mainz- Hertha Berlin - postponed

Table

Friday

Leipzig kicked off the weekend hosting Hoffenheim in a match that traditional Bundesliga supporters really don’t care about, and the 0-0 score line ensured that they did not miss anything exciting. With Leipzig dropping two points in the title race, the Meisterschale is that much closer to remaining in Bavaria.

Saturday

Speaking of Germany’s top team, Bayern Munich did Borussia Dortmund a favor by defeating Wolfsburg away 2-3, with a Jamal Musiala brace sandwiching an Eric Choupo-Moting strike. The former Schalke and PSG forward is playing well for the Bavarian giants as Robert Lewandowski continues to rehabilitate from injury. Bayern are now seven points clear for the title with only five matches to go. It looks like matchday 32 could be the day Bayern clinch as they host a revitalized Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Die Fohlen seem to have revitalized themselves as they put forth an impressive performance doing Dortmund another favor by destroying Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0. Former BVB player Jonas Hofmann continues to impress whenever he has played this season as he scored a goal and set up the opener in a dominant display. Hofmann’s corner early in the match was met by a Matthias Ginter header proving that BVB had a lot of influence in this match.

Elsewhere, Union Berlin were able to take down Stuttgart in the battle to stay alive for a potential Europa League qualifying spot. Meanwhile, Arminia Bielefeld earned a point against Augsburg in a scoreless draw to put themselves just one point above the relegation playoff. Bayer Leverkusen handily beat Köln in the derby 3-0, while Freiburg destroyed Schalke by four goals to nil in what has come to epitomize the Gelsenkirchen side this season.

Sunday

With the Mainz and Hertha clash postponed due to positive Covid tests in the capital of Berlin, all eyes would be on Borussia Dortmund hosting Werder Bremen. Die Werderaner would take an early lead with Milot Rashica opening the scoring on a counter, but the special neon kit of Borussia Dortmund would not be denied on the day. The loveable 90s throwback powered BVB to the tune of 4 goals which included a rocket from Giovanni Reyna, a brace from Erling Haaland, and a Mats Hummels headed corner which claimed an important three points for Die Schwarzgelben.

Top Four Race

While news of a European Super League dominates the headlines, we still have the little matter of next seasons Champions League qualification. Currently, Bayern Munich, Leipzig, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt occupy those slots, and while the top 2 are basically guaranteed at this point, the remaining 2 slots are still up for grabs. With both Wolfsburg and Frankfurt losing, Dortmund and Leverkusen gained significant ground on their opponents. BVB currently sit 4 points back of Frankfurt for fourth place, but Wolfsburg look the more vulnerable side when we look at remaining schedules. Here is an article breaking down the top four race including schedules in case you missed it:

Leverkusen have an even more difficult task given they are six points off of fourth, but they will be a factor given they play both Frankfurt and Dortmund in the run in. However, they also have a date with Bayern this coming Tuesday during englische woche (english week).

Relegation

If the Hertha and Mainz match had gone on this weekend, and Berlin would have won, then Schalke would have been relegated. Alas, COVID-19 has helped push Schalke’s pending doom until at least the midweek encounters. While Hertha Berlin’s match will again be postponed due to a two week quarantine, should Schalke lose at Bielefeld than they would officially have no chance of getting into the relegation playoff spot. Even a draw against Bielefeld means the best Schalke could hope for would be overturning a 43-goal differential to hold the tiebreaker should they win out and Berlin lose their remaining matches. It is only a matter of time before the Royal Blues are bounced from the Bundesliga.

Köln’s derby defeat to Leverkusen leaves them 3 points off the playoff spot in 17th place but they do have a decent run-in the remainder of the season. Dates with Leipzig, Augsburg, Freiburg, Hertha Berlin, and Schalke give the Billy Goats a chance but the 2-3 home loss against Mainz last weekend looks like a missed opportunity.

Hertha Berlin were supposed to be fighting for Europe but instead are fighting to stay in the league. Is this not what makes football fun? While getting relegated is terrible for a club and it’s surrounding economy, it is what pushes competition and makes all of the matches matter. This Covid-19 quarantine for Hertha could be damaging given their is not a lot of room to re-schedule matches, but I believe the Capital club will come out of this on the other end.

Mainz and Bielefeld sit just above the relegation playoff spot so any points at this stage of the season are a must. Mainz will be hoping to at least draw with Hertha Berlin when the match finally takes place to push themselves further down the line while Bielefeld will look to put themselves 3 points further away on Tuesday, while simultaneously putting Schalke in the 2.Bundesliga. With only five matches left there is still a lot to be decided, stay tuned.

Tuesday

Köln v. Leipzig

Bayern Munich v. Bayer Leverkusen

Eintracht Frankfurt v. Augsburg

Arminia Bielefeld v. Schalke

Wednesday

Borussia Dortmund v. Union Berlin

Hoffenheim v. Borussia Mönchengladbach

Werder Bremen v. Mainz

Stuttgart v. Wolfsburg

Your Thoughts

Was my Giovanni Reyna special neon kit worth 115 bucks?