The Bayer Leverkusen professionals can relax and watch Bayern’s top game at BVB. In Berlin, coach Urs Fischer is coming under increasing pressure. Mainz celebrates.
Bayer Leverkusen defended its lead in the Bundesliga ahead of the top game between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern on Saturday evening (6.30 p.m./Sky).
Coach Xabi Alonso’s team, which has been performing strongly for weeks, won 3-2 (2-0) at TSG Hoffenheim in the afternoon and extended their lead over Munich to five points, at least for the time being. Meanwhile, the previous bottom team FSV Mainz 05 celebrated a 2-0 (0-0) win against RB Leipzig with interim coach Jan Siewert.
1. FC Köln therefore slipped to last place in the table despite the 1:1 (1:1) draw against FC Augsburg. The sporting crisis also worsened at 1. FC Union Berlin with a 0:3 (0:2) loss against Eintracht Frankfurt. Before the game, Union coach Urs Fischer received a job guarantee. In the middle of the table, SC Freiburg celebrated a late equalizing goal to make it 3:3 (1:3) against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Grimaldo and Wirtz secure Leverkusen’s victory
The league leaders took the lead through Florian Wirtz (9th) after a good combination. Alejandro Grimaldo (45th + 1) added after a corner. The half-time lead was well deserved. But Anton Stach (56th) after a mistake by Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and Wout Weghorst (58th) equalized for Hoffenheim. Grimaldo (70th) secured Leverkusen’s lead in the table again.
Mainz held up well against the cup winners. Jae-sung Lee (76th) gave Rheinhessen, who parted ways with coach Bo Svensson on Thursday, the lead. Leandro Barreiro (82nd) decided the game.
Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush (2nd and 14th) increased the Berliners’ worries with his goals in the opening phase, who subsequently continued to have major problems creating scoring opportunities. Nacho Ferri (82nd) scored the final goal.
Freiburg equalizes late
Freiburg took the lead through Lucas Höler’s goal (7th), but it didn’t last long. Jordan Siebatcheu (25th) and Alassane Pléa (29th) turned the game around. Julian Weigl initially failed with a penalty kick against Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu – but the penalty was repeated because the goalkeeper was too far in front of the line. Weigl was successful in the second attempt in the 39th minute. Substitute Noah Weißhaupt (71′) scored the next goal for the sports club, Vincenzo Grifo (90’+6) equalized late with a penalty kick.
The Cologne fans celebrated Linton Maina’s goal in the 16th minute, but Augsburg got back into the game thanks to Phillip Tietz’s goal (25th).
Source: Stern
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