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Peter Stoger became the fourth Bundesliga casualty this season with Cologne sitting bottom of the table, 11 points adrift from safety. Elsewhere, Peter Bosz remained Borussia Dortmund head coach despite a relatively poor performance in Leverkusen while Bayern Munich moved six points clear at the top.
Julian Nagelsmann got Hoffenheim back to winning ways with an outstanding 3-0 win against high-flying RB Leipzig while Eintracht Frankfurt fought hard to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Hertha Berlin.
But with that said, here are further 5 talking points from match-day fourteen, that produced 25 goals.
#1 Honours even between Freiburg & Hamburg
Even though we’re arguably in the early stages of the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign, we’ve already seen several relegation six-pointers after only 14 fixtures, which is probably due to the fact the bottom five teams are rather poor and Friday night was no different.
Both Freiburg and Hamburger SV came into this fixture on the back of a win, 2-1 vs Mainz and 3-0 against Hoffenheim respectively, so this game really could’ve been something special, given their performances the previous weekend.
But unfortunately for the Hamburg fans making the 1500km round trip, Aaron Hunt & Co. were unable to test the Freiburg defence and on a cold night in the Black Forest, Freiburg did have the ball in the back of the net but it was rightly ruled out for offside.
A draw does neither team any good, given that Freiburg still occupy the relegation play-off place while Hamburg sit just two points ahead of them with both teams going into tough games next week.
The one positive for Hamburg was that 17-year-old Jann-Fiete Arp enjoyed another impressive game, despite failing to find the net. The young forward needed permission to play Friday night, given that German law states people under 18 are unable to work after 8pm and before 6am.
#2 Bayern show grit and determination to win despite poor outing
After defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach last time out, Jupp Heynckes would’ve been eager to get back to winning ways as he looked to extend Bayern Munich’s lead at the top of the table and visiting the Allianz Arena on Saturday was newly-promoted Hannover 96.
Despite the 3-1 scoreline, Bayern were made to work hard for their three points on Saturday. Arturo Vidal had given the hosts the lead before Robert Lewandowski had a goal ruled out, after consulting the VAR (Video Assistant Referee). At such a vital point in the game, Hannover 96 were then awarded a penalty, of which Niclas Füllkrug tucked it away before being ordered to retake it and then missing.
Hannover did get their equaliser through Charlison Benschop but that’s when Bayern flourished. Kingsley Coman scored just his second Bundesliga goal of the season before Lewandowski added a third in the closing stages.
All in all, Bayern Munich showed great character in a fixture where they didn’t play their best football – but they got the job done.
With the return of Thomas Muller, it’s hard to see anyone but Bayern Munich lifting the title once again this season. They’ve shown time and time again that they have what it takes to dig in deep and grind out a result, something that they were unable to do under Carlo Ancelotti.
#3 Peter Bosz survives another week as Dortmund coach
Two weeks ago, reports suggested that Peter Bosz had two games to save his job at Borussia Dortmund. A game against Tottenham Hotspur, which they lead and then lost and their Revierderby against Schalke 04.
Last weekend saw them go 4-0 up in the first half against their Bundesliga rivals, before Schalke overturned a four-goal deficit, mounting even more pressure on the Dutchman, yet somehow, we still see him in a job.
Away at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, it’s fair to say that Borussia Dortmund failed to impress once again. Finding themselves a goal down through Kevin Volland, they did manage to rescue a point resulting in a 1-1 draw, but against 10 man Leverkusen for 50 minutes, ultimately, it’s not good enough.
Many Borussia Dortmund fans on social media have called for the sacking of Bosz, but the dilemma that Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and sporting director Michael Zorc face is, who do they replace him with?
They’ve been linked with former coach Ottmar Hitzfeld which would seem like a smart appointment, but they’re still going to have the trouble of appointing some either in the winter or the summer. Julian Nagelsmann seems tied on Bayern Munich while Ralph Hasenhuttl could well sign a contract extension at RB Leipzig.
Right now, Bosz is probably their best option.
#4 Sorry Peter Stoger another Bundesliga casualty
Like Peter Bosz, Cologne head coach Peter Stoger came into the weekend under immense pressure but unlike the former, a 2-2 draw against in-form Schalke was unable to save the Austrian from being dismissed on Sunday morning.
It was arguably their best performance of the season given they trailed Schalke twice with Sehrou Guirassy earning a point for Cologne, just their third of the season but ultimately, it just wasn’t enough.
Stoger had guided Cologne to the Bundesliga in 2014 and has improved their position each year, finishing fifth and earning a Europa League berth for the first time in 25 years last season but with the added pressure of European football and several key injuries this campaign, the Billy Goats find themselves rooted to the bottom, already 11 points adrift of safety.
Cologne released a statement on Sunday morning announcing that Under 19's coach Stefan Ruthenbeck will take over first-team duties until the winter break, while Holstein Kiel head coach Markus Anfang looks favourite for the job.
But despite the poor season, Stoger should be commended for what he’s achieved in four years at Cologne.
Someone who will be hoping to replicate the Austrian will surely be Schalke head coach, Domenico Tedesco. The Veltins-Arena outfit missed out on Europe last season and so Tedesco will be hoping to guide Schalke to the Champions League once again.
#5 Martin Schmidt back to winning ways with Wolfsburg
An impressive performance from Wolfsburg saw them win 3-0
In the final fixture of match-day fourteen, Borussia Monchengladbach travelled to Wolfsburg brimming with optimism after their 2-1 win over Bayern Munich last weekend. Unfortunately for Dieter Hecking, his return to his former stomping ground is one he’ll soon want to forget after losing 3-0.
Yunus Malli got the hosts off to a flying start with a goal after just four minutes and it just goes to show what Martin Schmidt has achieved in such a short space of time as the former Mainz head coach has lost just once since being appointed at Wolfsburg.
The 50-year-old rightly deserves the plaudits given despite his initial run of seven straight draws before getting his first win, against Freiburg two weeks ago. Schmidt has finally got Wolfsburg playing a standard of football that fans have craved for some time now. He’s re-established Malli as one of the Bundesliga’s best Number 10's whilst playing a similar style to that he did during his Mainz days - high-octane pressing football.
It’s worth noting the improvement in Daniel Didavi, which Schmidt should also receive plaudits for. The former VfB Stuttgart playmaker suffered a slow start to his career at Wolfsburg, but under Schmidt he’s become one of their key players.
Only Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have contributed to more goals than Didavi, whose scored five and created six.
If this run goes on, then Wolfsburg could well be playing European football once again.
