Football Bundesliga
Haaland shoots Dortmund to victory – Stuttgart defies corona cases
Erling Haaland celebrates his penalty goal against Mainz
© Bernd Thissen / DPA
Borussia Dortmund remains at the top of the Bundesliga with a win against Mainz. VfL Bochum and Hertha BSC Berlin cheer in the table cellar.
During the comeback of Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund topped the Bundesliga table for at least one night. BVB won 3-1 (1-0) at home on Saturday’s eighth matchday against FSV Mainz 05 and initially overtook FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen, who will meet on Sunday. The SC Freiburg missed it with a 1: 1 (0: 1) against RB Leipzig to keep up with the Dortmunders. Newcomers VfL Bochum won the basement duel at SpVgg Greuther Fürth 1-0 (0-0), Hertha BSC won after two defeats 2-1 (1-0) at Eintracht Frankfurt. 1. FC Union Berlin defeated VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 (0-0). In the evening, a weakened replacement VfB Stuttgart fought 1: 1 (1: 1) in Mönchengladbach.
Dortmund – Mainz 2-1
For the first time this season, BVB started dominantly in a home game in front of around 60,000 spectators and rewarded themselves with captain Marco Reus’ opening goal (3rd minute). The second goal was contributed by striker Haaland on his comeback after a three-game break due to a thigh contusion with a hand penalty (54th). After the connecting goal by Jonathan Burkardt (87th), BVB had to tremble again before Haaland made everything clear again in stoppage time (90th + 4).
Fürth – Bochum 0: 1
SpVgg Greuther Fürth did not achieve the hoped-for first home win in the Bundesliga in the promoted duel against VfL Bochum. Due to the late goal for the Revierclub by Anthony Losilla (80th), the deficit of the bottom of the table on the rival, who climbed to 15th place at least for the time being, grew to six points.
Frankfurt – Hertha 1: 2
When sports director Fredi Bobic and professional Kevin-Prince Boateng returned to their former club Eintracht Frankfurt, Hertha won their third win of the season. Newcomer Marco Richter scored his first goal (7th), Joker Jurgen Ekkelenkamp increased (62nd). The 1: 2 by Goncalo Paciencia (78th / foul penalty) came too late for Frankfurt.
Freiburg – Leipzig 1: 1
At the premiere of SC Freiburg in the new stadium, the guests who had had a weak start to the season were helped by a penalty kick: Emil Forsberg scored from the point (32nd). The hosts pressed for an equalizer, Woo-yeong Jeong then scored the first SC goal in the new arena (64th). Leipzig remains stuck in midfield as eighth in the table.
Union Berlin – Wolfsburg 2-0
Wolfsburg were the better team in Berlin for a long time, but the goals were scored by the hosts. Taiwo Awoniyi gave Union the lead (49th), Sheraldo Becker increased (83rd). With the victory, the capital club climbed to fifth place and overtook Lower Saxony.
Mönchengladbach – Stuttgart 1: 1
The Stuttgart, who had to replace ten players due to some corona cases and injuries, came to a 1-1 (1-1) at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening. In front of 41,608 spectators at Borussia-Park, Jonas Hofmann scored the equalizer (42nd minute) after Konstantionos Mavropanos (15th) had put the guests in the lead (15th). This means that VfB continues to keep the distance to the relegation zone. The Gladbachers, however, missed the third win in a row and the jump to an international starting position.
