There has never been a season under such conditions. Due to the corona pandemic, the season didn’t start until September. Nevertheless, the associations whipped through all national and international competitions until the end of May; the European Championship is waiting there.
The players have to pay for the busy schedule: the national players of the top clubs rush from game to game. On the eighth day of the season, it was clear how the load affects the top clubs. In view of some ailing top teams, a Berlin club suddenly found itself in fifth place – and it is not Hertha! These are the findings of the eighth Bundesliga matchday:
1. The tight schedule is casting its first shadow
Julian Nagelsmann tested a new form of division of labor in the 1-1 draw against Frankfurt. Even before the game, Leipzig’s coach had decided to replace central defender Dayot Upamecano at half-time. The 22-year-old French had only just got fit again after a muscle injury. Before his injury, he had played thirteen games in seven weeks. A break wouldn’t have hurt Upamecano. He still had to go – and just before the hit he made a 0: 1.
The impression is hardened: In the Bundesliga, the first signs of wear and tear are showing after exhausting weeks. There are a few indications for this:
RB Leipzig struggled against compact Frankfurters. In the first few games of the season in particular, grass ball sport impressed with its quick combinations and a strong center. Against Frankfurt they bounced off the physically massive midfield of the opponent. Leipzig shot on goal less often than ever before this season.
Also Bayern Munich awarded points in the title fight. In the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen, coach Hansi Flick’s tactical castling did not work. With six Javi Martínez and newly filled outside positions, Bayern remained offensively pale. The national players Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sané and Serge Gnarby should actually be spared – and still had to work to somehow build up pressure against brave defending Bremen.
Games of Borussia Monchengladbach This season often follow a pattern: Over long stretches of the games, the Gladbachers are superior and give the best chances to score, only to receive the bitter equalizer shortly before the end. Against Augsburg they caught the goal in the 88th minute to make it 1-1 – and that despite the majority. In the final minutes, the team lacks concentration – no wonder considering the large number of games. It was already the fifth lead that Gladbach gambled away in the final quarter of an hour.
There will be no break in the coming weeks. Anyone who plays in Europe and has qualified for the second round of the DFB Cup can play nine games in the four and a half weeks until Christmas. (Bayern are the exception here; their cup game against Holstein Kiel has been postponed to January.) After a week of “winter break”, it goes straight on. Given this schedule, the top teams will rarely show dream football. Further mistakes by the title favorites are to be expected.
2. The number one in Berlin is called Union
Berlin also has to be counted among the top teams of this young season. Mind you, this does not mean Hertha, which was pepped up with millions in transfers before the season. Union Berlin is surprisingly in fifth place. Union’s winning streak also held against 1. FC Köln. The 2-1 win was the third win in a row, and Union has been unbeaten for seven games.
Not only are the Union’s results surprising, but also the performance. Against Cologne, the team was superior in the field for long stretches. Defensively, the two chains of four defended compactly and aggressively, especially the behavior when moving out of the defense chain was right. After the Cologne equalization in the meantime, Union took the game into their own hands, collected 60 percent possession and combined to win. Max Kruse’s series of converted penalties broke. But in the margin he got Union’s winning goal.
And the other Berlin club? Still looking for defensive stability. In the 2: 5 against Borussia Dortmund this was given for just one half before the Berlin central defense desperate against four-way shooter Erling Haaland. While Union has the fourth best defense in the league, Hertha is fourth from bottom in terms of conceded goals.
Hertha’s gap on Union increased to eight points. It is also clear: When the Berlin derby comes on Friday in two weeks, Union will stand in front of Hertha in a table.
3. Bielefeld curious: no shot at goal
Arminia Bielefeld versus Bayer Leverkusen was a game for the ages. That was certainly not due to the brilliant performances of both teams: Leverkusen collected 70 percent possession, but rarely found solutions against the low 4-1-4-1 of Bielefeld. Whoever switched on the game on TV saw twice as many foul games as shots on goal.
Then came the 47th minute. A slack back pass rolls to Bayer’s goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký. The Finn missed the ball when it was accepted – and it landed in the goal. To reach into the moth box of the TV commentators: This own goal will not be missing in any annual review.
The goal was curious from another point of view: It gave Bielefeld a goal, even though they didn’t shoot a single shot over the entire 90 minutes. You read correctly: Leverkusen’s defenders didn’t have to block a ricochet, and Bielefeld’s attackers didn’t even dare a desperate act from thirty meters.
These curious statistics are symbolic of the Bielefeld season. The style of play of coach Uwe Neuhaus is entirely defensive. Arminia defends deeply, even her ball possession game is designed to hold the ball and not to gain space; the ball could eventually be lost. So they lack a goal danger. Only Augsburg gave as few shots on goal as the Bielefeld (59). Given only five goals in eight games, Bielefeld’s path to relegation will be a rocky one.
