At the time of writing FC Bayern haven’t even played their third game of the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign but it’s already been a good weekend for the reigning champions.
If they can avoid defeat away to Bochum Die Bayern will return to the top of the table, while a victory will take them two points clear, thanks to a dramatic turn of events in Dortmund where BVB gave away three points in six minutes of madness. And elsewhere, title hopefuls Red Bull Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen both fell to defeats while Borussia Monchengladbach’s strong start to the new season continues.
BVB must learn to play the full 95
When the Bundesliga 2022 betting odds say you have an uphill battle to wrestle the title away from Bavaria the last thing you need to do is lose your third match of the campaign; and particularly at the Signal Iduna Stadium in front of the legendary Yellow Wall.
But, after winning their first two, that’s exactly what Dortmund did when Werder Bremen came to town. Here at SBOTOP we backed the hosts to make it three wins from three but they failed spectacularly, surrendering a two goal lead which they held as the 90 minute mark approached. Goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Julian Brandt put the hosts in a comfortable position heading into injury time but when former Derby trainee Lee Buchanan pulled a goal back on 89 minutes the home side fell apart.
Niklas Schmidt stunned the home crowd with a 93rd minute header and then, with just seconds left on the clock Oliver Burke shrugged off two lame challenges to fire home the winner. Dortmund had beaten Leverkusen and Freiburg before this game which, on paper, was the easiest; but the result was no more than Werder deserved after matching their hosts for possession and winning the shot count by 14 to six, and seven to four on target.
Leverkusen in disarray
After three games Bayer Leverkusen are rock bottom of the table and the manner of their latest defeat will set alarm bells ringing in the North Rhine region. A 3-0 loss at home to Hoffenheim was a third consecutive defeat for Die Werkself who have also been dumped out of the German Cup in the first round.
Hoffenheim were lethal in attack as Christoph Baumgartner, Andrej Kramaric and Georginio Rutter, with a brilliant long range effort, all breached the Bayer defence while the closest the hosts came was when a free kick from Kerem Demirbay hit the post. These are fine margins but the harsh fact remains that Leverkusen are pointless after three.
Die Fohlen looking bright
While Leverkusen struggle, Borussia Monchengladbach opened the weekend’s football with a Friday night victory over Hertha Berlin, a result which took them to the top of the table on seven points.
Alassane Plea scored the only goal of the game with a 34th minute penalty, the French striker coolly slotted home his spot kick after Max Mittelstadt had handled in the area. An identical opportunity presented itself mid way through the second half when Filip Uremovic handled and was sent off having already received a yellow card in the first half. This time Jonas Hofmann stepped up but his penalty was saved in the bottom corner.
With over 60 per cent possession and six shots to four on target Die Fohlen deserved their win, which followed an impressive home victory over a strong Hoffenheim and a draw away to Schalke.
Siebatcheu and Becker on fire for Union
Red Bull Leipzig’s trip to Berlin turned out to be another disappointing event for Domenico Tedesco’s team after they followed up two draws with a defeat to FC Union Berlin, leaving them winless after three games. Die Roten Bullen were undone by a partnership which is bang in form, as Jordan Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker both scored for the second time in three games.
Becker fed Siebatcheu for the opener after a fast break, and then they reversed roles for Becker to score with a top class finish. Both players had scored in Union’s derby win over Hertha Berlin and they will take some stopping on this form.
Willi Orban halved the deficit with seven minutes remaining but Red Bull failed to break down Union’s defence in a late onslaught. So Leipzig is stuck on two points while Union’s second win took them up to second place on Saturday night.
With the Bundesliga 2022 results pretty much going to plan, Die Bayern can go top providing they avoid defeat away to Bochum on Sunday.
It’s a huge ask, but the BVB players will be hoping for Bochum to give as big a shock to Bayern, as they themselves received in the final six minutes against Bremen!
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