Dortmund beat Bielefeld 1-0 on Sunday and are seven points behind Bayern after 26 Bundesliga days, with the advantage of a late game to be played on Wednesday to get even closer. Borussia recorded the return of its series scorer Erling Haaland, who had not played since the end of January (adductors). Entering in the 63rd minute, the 21-year-old Norwegian did not score, however, and the only goal of the match was scored by Marius Wolf (21st). In the standings, Munich leads with 60 pts and is still aiming for a tenth consecutive title. Dortmund follows with 53 pts. Leverkusen, beaten at home on Sunday by Cologne (1-0), remains third with 45 units.
The fiercest fight concerns the fourth place, qualifying for the Champions League. Freiburg and Hoffenheim are tied (44 pts), but Leipzig regained this precious fourth place by crushing 6-1 the red lantern Fürth, including another goal and two assists from Christopher Nkunku. Since the arrival of their new coach Domenico Tedesco, recruited in mid-December after the dismissal of American Jesse Marsch, the RB have spectacularly raised the bar: tenth, six points from fourth place at the end of the first legs, Leipzig are currently the best team in the second legs, with 22 points scored from a possible 27.
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Dortmund get scared
Against Bielefeld, currently 15th with only two lengths ahead of the first relegation player, Borussia Dortmund logically dominated and controlled the game, but was unnecessarily scared by being unable to kill the match, after opening the scoring from the 21st minute. The promoted was deprived of his coach and six players, all of whom tested positive for Covid-19. Borussia had also paid its tribute to the coronavirus, with defenders Mats Hummels and Raphaël Guerreiro in quarantine.
Wolf scored early for Dortmund, taking a cross from Thorgan Hazard, Eden’s brother, from close range. The Borussen then had several opportunities to take cover but Wolf (30th), Axel Witsel (36th), Donyell Malen (on the bar, 59th) failed to conclude. The entry of Haaland, the man with 80 goals in 80 matches for Borussia, has not changed anything.
Leverkusen loses its gem
Leverkusen lost at home to Cologne not only important points, but also their young striker Florian Wirtz, an 18-year-old international, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is not expected to play again this season. The German press was already speculating on Sunday about his chances of participating in the World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18).
Bayer remains only third, but is only one step ahead of its pursuers. This Rhine derby – Leverkusen and Cologne are two adjacent cities on the banks of the river – gave rise to a duel of great intensity, but where the attackers of the two camps did not convert the opportunities that were offered to them.
The only goal of the match was the work of two Cologne substitutes who entered the field three minutes earlier: the Austrian Dejan Ljubicic overflowed on the left wing in the box and sent a powerful cross, volleyed in full flight by Kingsley Schindler (0-1, 67th). Leverkusen failed to come back, despite their attacking power and Frenchman Moussa Diaby, brilliant in recent weeks but more erased on Sunday. In addition, Mainz, which has 20 cases of Covid in its staff and workforce, was exempt from matches for the second consecutive weekend.
Florian Wirtz seriously injured his knee
Credit: Getty Images
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