Augsburg requires a finisher:
Augsburg dominated their match against HSV. HSV rarely had a sniff of the ball. However, HSV took the few chances they could muster. Augsburg played great football around the penalty area but as soon as the ball was inside the area, one knew that the result would either be a corner or a Rene Adler save.
Sascha Mölders last season started his Bundesliga career well but has faded since. In the winter break, Augsburg should start looking for a striker. They can perhaps take a gamble and loan Bayern’s Patrick Weihrauch. A good striker can make all the difference to Augsburg’s season.
The first chinks appear in Bayern’s armour:
Whenever Bayern loses, the opposition is rarely applauded. Bayern is always blamed for a number of reasons beginning with complacency of players ending with the poor defence. However, Bayern’s defeat to Leverkusen was rather strange. Bayern dominated and played well enough. All Mario Mandzukic and Thomas Müller needed to do was to bundle the ball over the net (much like Mario Gomez) to win the game.
Leverkusen however showed that one can afford to give many set-pieces away against Bayern and not fear conceding. Also, Bayern is vulnerable on the break. Both Leverkusen goals came from breaks. Both were lucky goals, especially the second one. However, Bayern is not as strong and mighty as first thought even though they continue to sit at the top of the table.
Teams are learning to win the hard way:
One accusation always thrown at Bundesliga teams is that they can win when they are at their best but not at their worst. Schalke and Dortmund both ground out wins this weekend as did HSV and Stuttgart. Dortmund played Freiburg in terrible conditions and managed to score two goals.
Schalke beat Nürnberg by a single goal. HSV conceded plenty of possession but managed to win 0-2 as well while Stuttgart won in the final minutes against a high-flying Frankfurt side.
Stuttgart has begun their annual ascent up the table:
Stuttgart’s Bruno Labbadia was visibly delighted after his side’s 2-1 over Frankfurt. The result was surprising considering the forms of both sides. However, those who are regular viewers of the Bundesliga know that this is nothing new. Stuttgart usually backs up a horrible third or the first half of the campaign with consistent performances.
They drew with Leverkusen 2-2 and beat HSV 0-1 recently. They stopped another team’s run in Frankfurt. Stuttgart will be extremely difficult to beat from now on as they have started their annual ascent up the table.
Home records prove to be a myth:
Home records counted for little this weekend in the Bundesliga. Generally, the home stadium is supposed to a fortress. However, some stats tell us otherwise. Bayern, for example, has conceded four goals this season. All four of the goals they have conceded this season have come at the Allianz Arena. They have an immaculate away record and recorded their first loss of the season unsurprisingly at their fortress, the Allianz Arena.
Hannover’s 22 match unbeaten run at home came to an end as well. They led Gladbach by two goals but ultimately lost the match 2-3. Dortmund has already lost a home game this season to Schalke while Schalke themselves have lost a home game too. That loss came against Bayern.
