FC Bayern and Augsburg showed an eight-goal spectacle. Leipzig celebrated a sovereign victory against Gladbach. Hertha and Stuttgart each get a point in the basement.
Stuttgart’s Silas, Bayern’s double goalscorer Benjamin Pavard and Leipzig’s can opener Timo Werner (from left).
AFP via Getty Images
Bayern fright Berisha opens eight-goal spectacle in Munich
Only a few seconds were played in the Allianz Arena and FC Augsburg were 1-0 ahead of FC Bayern: Berisha, who had already scored in the first leg to win 1-0, was on the spot again (2′). But the deficit really woke up the record champions, even before the break, new winter signing Cancelo (15th), twice Pavard (19th, 35th) and Sané (45th) turned the result in favor of FCB. This didn’t do more than was necessary in the second half, and Berisha presented the receipt once again, reducing the lead to 2:4 from the Fuggerstadt side (60′). Bayern didn’t allow more – on the contrary. Davies (74th) restored the three-goal gap and ensured clear conditions. But Augsburg didn’t have enough either, Cardona made it 5-3 with the final whistle (90+3).
Silas counters Rode: VfB gets a point in Frankfurt
The cloak of silence can safely be laid over the first half of the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart. Eintracht couldn’t, VfB didn’t want to. The first 45 minutes went by without any major highlights, with both offensive players barely able to stage themselves. The SGE came out of the dressing room with more enthusiasm, Rode scored the lead with the support of Stuttgart’s Sosa (55th). Anyone who would have expected a reaction from the Swabians was wrong. Rather, the leadership of Eintracht gave tailwind, Frankfurt controlled the game, the ball and the opponents. But out of nowhere, Silas was there for VfB in the 75th minute. It stayed that way until the end, despite a few chances here and there.
Debatable penalty and great Ajorque
A decisive scene in the Olympic Stadium between Hertha BSC and 1. FSV Mainz 05 took place after around 15 minutes. After the VAR got in touch, referee Benjamin Cortus decided on a penalty after viewing the video images. Mainz’s Barreiro is said to have touched the ball slightly with his hand – at least a debatable decision, because the direction of the ball did not change, Hertha’s Serdar finished as planned. Ngankam didn’t let any of this deter him and took the lead from the point (18′). In the period that followed, the Berliners had everything under control, there was little to see from Mainz in the offensive. This should change after the break, the 1. FSV now invested more. Ajorque rewarded Rheinhessen’s performance improvement with a remarkable equalizer (57′). The game went back and forth with chances for both sides. Herthas Kempf came closest to scoring the winning goal, but failed in the 69th minute on aluminum. But it stayed at 1:1.
Plea forgives and causes a penalty: Leipzig wins confidently
The “man of the day” in Leipzig was Gladbach’s Plea. The French missed the possible lead from the point for Mönchengladbach, who already had the better chances in the first half, in the 53rd minute, RB keeper Blaswich parried. That’s not all, because in the 70th minute Plea fouled Leipzig’s Haidara in his own sixteen. Forsberg showed the Gladbacher how it’s done and made it 2-0 for Leipzig. Because Werner had previously exploited a Koundé blunder to make it 1-0 (58th). From then on, the Saxons had everything under control, increased through Gvardiol (80th) and celebrated a successful dress rehearsal for the round of 16 second leg in the Champions League on Tuesday evening at Manchester City with the 3-0.
