Sunday 1 September 2013

Bundesliga Matchday 4 Roundup - Dortmund is four for four and tops the league

Dortmund moved to occupy the top of the Bundesliga with its 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.  Dortmund is the only team in the league that has won every game in this season.  Bayern trails by two points, while Leverkusen trails by three.  

On completion of Bundesliga matchday three, four clubs had won their first three matches and shared the top with nine points each, with just the goal difference separating them.  This matchday changed that, starting with Bayern Muenchen only achieving a draw in Freiburg.  A late goal by the side from southern Baden robbed Bayern of two points.  On Saturday Leverkusen was defeated in Schalke, giving the Knappen their first success this season.  Mainz 05 lost 4-1 to Hannover 96, ending its winning streak.


During midweek, Schalke also qualified for Champions League Group competition and will join Leverkusen, Dortmund and FC Bayern as the fourth Bundesliga club participating in the group stage.  Frankfurt moves on in the Euro League, while Stuttgart has been eliminated.

In an exciting Friday evening match in Prague, Czech Republic, Bayern won the Champions League Super Cup after a 5-4 penalty shoot out win over Chelsea and Pep Guardiola won his first silverware after the DFB Cup loss to Borussia Dortmund.

SC Freiburg vs FC Bayern Muenchen  1-1

With an eye on the weekend Champions Club game, Pep Guardiola made seven changes to his first string line-up.  Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Mario Mandzukic were left on the bench, while Manuel Neuer guarded the net with Daniel van Buyten, Rafhina, Dante and Cotento making up the back four.  The midfield saw Bastian Schweinsteiger, Schaquiri and Thomas Mueller in the holding role, while Toni Kroos and Mario Goetze comprised the attacking midfield. Pizzaro replaced Mandzukic in the striker role.

While Bayern, even with the seven line up changes, was the dominating side over 90 minutes, the sides only goal came in the 33rd minute, when Shaquiri fired a pass from Thomas Mueller into the near corner of the  net.  With just four  minutes left, it looked as if Bayern had secured the three points, just to be foiled by Freiburg's Hoefler, who fired a pass home four meters from the net.  Bayern split points and has dropped the first two points of this campaign.  SC Freiburg is still chasing its first win of the season.

Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Werder Bremen 4-1

Arango (36th) gave Gladbach the lead in the first 45, in a relatively balanced first half.  Bremen's defence was unlocked on Raffael's goal in the 53rd of the second half.  Bremen bounced back on a own goal by Glabach's Nordtveit, but goals by Kruse (75th) and Herrmann (85th) sealed the Gladbach 4-1 victory. 

Hannover 96 vs Mainz 05 4-1

Hannover brought a perfect Mainz start to this campaign to an end, sending Mainz home with a 4-1 loss. While Mainz did its best to make life difficult for Hannover, the side lacked the ability to finish.  All Hannover strikers were succcesful, with Diouf, Sobiech, Didier Ya Konan all finding the back of the net. While Mueller took the lead initially for Mainz, it was Hannover's efficiency and the final goal by Prib that earned the three points.

VFL Wolfsburg vs Hertha BSC Berlin 2-0

After a successful start on its return to the top flight, Berlin was handed its first loss of the season by Wolfsburg.  From the start the match was fascinating and entertaining, with both sides exchanging blows, although the Wolves were the better side.  While Berlin concentrated on defence, the side was instrumental to switch to offence with quick counters Allagui and Ramos.  Despite Berlin's engagement, Iva Olic and Diego scored to give the Wolves a 2-0 halftime lead.  While Berlin pushed back in the second half, Wolfsburg stood solid preventing any Berlin success, bringing home the 2-0 win.

1. FC Nuernberg vs FC Augsburg  0-1

Augsburg has achieved the highest standing  in a year after its win over the Franken in Nuernberg.  Augsburg was the more active team, while Nuernberg was ineffective through most phases of the game. After Nuernberg's Pinola was sent off in the 74th minute, Augsburg's Vogt achieved the winning goal in the 84th minute.  Nuernberg is still chasing the first victory of the season.

Hamburger SV vs Eintracht Braunschweig 4-0

Hamburg handed Bundesliga debutant Eintracht Braunschweig another loss, its fourth of the season and did so convincingly. With goals by Rafael and van der Vaart, Hakan Calhanoglu struck a double to send Berlin packing with a 4-0 loss.  This was Hamburg's first win of the season.

Schalke 04 vs Bayer Leverkusen 2-0

 After Schalke's midweek qualification for the Champions League group stage over PAOK, the Knappen registered their first win over a top rated league club, Bayer Leverkusen.  Hoeger and Farfan scored the winners for the Royal Blues.  Leverkusen's loss is a plus for FC Bayern in light of that side's first draw of the seaon

VFB Stuttgart vs 1899 Hoffenheim 6-2

Stuttgart's new coach made an impressive Bundesliga debut with his side firing on all cylinders and defeating Hoffenheim 6-2.  Ruediger and Ibesevic found the back of the net in the 12th and 19th minute before Hoffenheim's Volland narrowed the score to 2-1 in th 28th minute.  Maxim struck back with a goal in the 28th minute for a 3-1 Stuttgart lead at the half.  Stuttgart's Schuetzenfest continued in the second half with a double pack by Ibisevic (47th and 63rd) and Maxims second of the evening in the 55th.  Firmino got Hoffenheim's second goal in the 87th minute to make the final 6-2 for Stuttgart.  The offensive side of Maxim, Ibisevic and Tino Werner caused all kinds of problems for Hoffenheim's defence.  This was Stuttgart's first victory of the season.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund 0-1

Borussia Dortmund continued its perfect record by recording its fourth win of the season, the only club that has won all four starts this season.  The win puts Dortmund two points ahead of Bayern Munich and two points ahead of Leverkusen.  New acquistion from Shakhtar Donetz, Mkhitaryan scored a double pack (10th and 56th minute) while Kadlec recorded a goal for Frankfurt in the 36th minute.  Dortmund dominated the match throughout, although Frankfurt had ample opportunities to score. 



Tuesday 27 August

SC Freiburg vs Bayern München 1-1

Saturday 31 August

Bor. Mönchengladbach vs Werder Bremen 4-1
Hannover 96 vs FSV Mainz 05   4-1
VfL Wolfsburg vs Hertha BSC   2-0
1. FC Nürnberg vs FC Augsburg   0-1
Hamburger SV vs Eintracht Braunschweig  4-0
Schalke 04 vs Bayer Leverkusen  2-0

Sunday 1 September

VfB Stuttgart vs 1899 Hoffenheim  6-2
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund 2-1

    
Place-----Team-----------------------GP---W---D----L---GF/GA ---Pts
1--------Borussia Dortmund-----------4----4----0-----0-------9:2-------12
2--------FC Bayern Muenchen--------4----3----1-----0-------7-2-------10
3--------Bayer Leverkusen-------------4----3----0-----1-------8:5--------9
4--------Hannover 96--------------------4----3----0-----1------8:6---------9
5--------Mainz 05------------------------4----3----0-----1------8:7---------9
6------- Hertha BSC Berlin-------------4----2----1-----1------9:5---------7
7--------Borussia M'gladbach-----------4----2----0-----2------9:8--------6
8--------VFL Wolfsburg-----------------4----2----0-----2------6:4---------6
9--------Werder Bremen-----------------4----2----0-----2------3:1---------6
10-------FCAugsburg--------------------4----2----0-----2------3:6---------6
11-------1899 Hoffenheim--------------4----1----2-----1-----12:12--------5
12-------Hamburg------------------------4----1----1-----2-------9:8---------4
13-------FC Schalke 04------------------4----1----1-----2-------6:9---------4
14-------VFB Stuttgart-------------------4----1----0-----3-------9:8---------3
15-------Eintracht Frankfurt-------------4----1----0-----3------4:12--------9
16-------SC Freiburg---------------------4----0----2-----2-------6:9---------2
17-------1. FC Nürnberg-----------------4----0----2-----1-------4:7---------2
18-------Eintracht Braunschweig-------4----0----0-----4-------1:9---------0

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