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The Bundesliga Hinrunde has ended and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Across nine fixtures, viewers were spoilt with 36 goals with the pick of the ties featuring Hannover, who were involved in a 4-4 game against Bayer Leverkusen.
Thomas Muller scored just his second Bundesliga goal of the season as Bayern Munich once again find themselves sitting top of the Bundesliga at the winter break while Cologne – who qualified for the Europa League – earned their first three points of the season in what will be a long battle against relegation.
With that, here's a look at the 5 talking points from week 17 in the Bundesliga:
#5 Borussia Dortmund back to winning ways
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Peter Stoger made it two wins from two as the Borussia Dortmund head coach as they picked up three points against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday evening thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Christian Pulisic.
The former Cologne manager went back to basics in terms of tactics after being appointed Dortmund coach. Taking over from Peter Bosz who played a number of players out of position, Stoger opted for a 4-3-3 with players in their favoured positions.
Mark Uth had given Hoffenheim an underserving lead but the way Borussia Dortmund fought back after their recent run of form has to be commended.
Yet again linked with a move away from Dortmund, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised from the spot before Pulisic – who recently won the US Men’s Player of the Year Award – showed great composure to dink the ball over the on-rushing Oliver Baumann.
Speaking on Sunday morning, BVB sporting director Michael Zorc revealed the first thing he saw following the game was a congratulations message from their former employee and head coach, Peter Bosz. He also stated that Dortmund will eventually lose Aubameyang but for the time being, their plans most certainly involved him.
Hoffenheim will certainly feel hard done by the result but with just three wins in 11 Bundesliga fixture, Julian Nagelsmann will be starting to feel the pressure, despite the Sinsheim club lurking just outside the Europa League places.
#4 Bayern Munich well on their way to Bundesliga title
Thomas Muller and Sven Ulreich saved Bayern Munich’s blushes on Saturday afternoon after they narrowly defeated VfB Stuttgart. Coached by Jupp Heynckes, Bayern now lead the Bundesliga by 11 points while it’s extremely unlikely that anyone will be able to challenge them this campaign.
Muller scored the only goal of the game with 11 minutes remaining after making a substitute appearance but it was Ulreich – who spent seven years in the Stuttgart first team – who deserves the plaudits with a late penalty save that saw Bayern record their 13th win of the season.
Speaking after the match, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness confirmed that Bayern Munich are in the hunt for a striker to back Robert Lewandowski, with both Hoffenheim’s Sandro Wagner and Freiburg's Nils Petersen in the mix – both of whom played for Bayern earlier in their career.
The 65-year-old also stated that Bayern do have money available to them, while spending €50 million to €70m on one player is a possibility, should they find one to fit their needs.
Stuttgart will certainly feel hard done by but Hannes Wolf will be a pleased man with the performance that the hosts put in against champions and leaders Bayern but what is perhaps worrying is the fact they’re now just two points above the relegation zone.
#3 Alfred Finnbogason: Bundesliga’s in-form striker
Late goals seemed to be the narrative across much of the Bundesliga fixture on Matchday 17, while the fixture between Augsburg and Freiburg was no different.
After the hosts had taken an early lead through Alfred Finnbogason, Freiburg pegged their opponents back with a goal from Christian Gunter and a brace from Nils Petersen, who made it 1-3 Freiburg just after the hour mark.
But just like Bavarian rivals Bayern Munich, Augsburg managed to score not just one, but two goals in added time, sending Freiburg home with just one point.
Ahead of the World Cup, the Iceland international is certainly making a name for himself. It’s fair to say that Finnbogason has struggled in Europe’s ‘bigger’ leagues following his move from Heerenveen to Real Sociedad but since making a permanent move to Augsburg, the 28-year-old is finally finding his scoring boots once again.
During his time in Spain, Greece and Germany, Finnbogason has failed to hit double figures in a season, but that is changing this time out. Manuel Baum – who is Augsburg’s unsung hero – has made the Iceland international one of the most feared strikers in the Bundesliga in 2017.
His 11 goals in 16 Bundesliga games is his most prolific season since the 2013/14 campaign in Holland, which saw Finnbogason scored 29 goals in 32 games.
#2 A first league win for last-placed Cologne
Germany’s Bundesliga club recorded their first win in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Cologne – who remain rooted to the bottom – fought their way past Wolfsburg with the only goal of the game coming from the local boy, Christian Clemens.
The Billy Goats dismissed Peter Stoger two weeks ago with the Austrian now coaching Borussia Dortmund while it’s been up to Stefan Ruthenbeck to turn Cologne’s season around. Coaching their U19s when called upon, Ruthenbeck has done a remarkable job despite the personnel on offer.
With no fit striker for two games running, right-back Lukas Klunter lead the line – rather impressively – while there were starts for both Chris Fuhrich and Birk Risa, both of whom are 19 making it one of the youngest Cologne starting XI to feature in the Bundesliga.
It took Clemens just four minutes to make an introduction. The 27-year-old has come under some criticism in the past couple of weeks but his determination on Saturday was commended by the Cologne supporters. His goal 20 minutes from time is just his second goal upon his return in January.
And now that they have their first win of the Bundesliga season, Cologne fans will be hoping they can strengthen in the winter transfer window ahead of what will be a tough run of games upon the Bundesliga return on January 13.
#1 Bayer Leverkusen involved in eight-goal thriller
We’ve seen plenty of fixtures this season that have had the potential to be ‘Game of the Season’ while Bayer Leverkusen’s visit to Hannover 96 is another candidate for the accolade.
Heiko Herrlich’s side came into the fixture as the in-form Bundesliga team but viewers will know that Hannover isn’t an easy place to visit this season under Andre Breitenreiter.
Leverkusen’s lead last just one minute after youngster Julian Brandt gave the visitors the lead before Ihlas Bebou pegged them back. Niclas Fullkrug continued his form with a goal from the spot before Admir Mehmedi equalised for Leverkusen four minutes later.
Felix Klaus had given Hannover the lead seconds before the break which forced Herrlich into a change. Leon Bailey made an instant impact with an equaliser just two minutes after making his appearance before adding his second of the game 20 minutes from time.
At that point, Leverkusen had been comfortable on the ball but a lapse in concentration at the back resulted in Hannover defender Julian Korb making it 4-4 after 83 minutes.
A great game for the neutral, Herrlich will have been livid with the defensive performance of Leverkusen on Sunday evening, but the fact they remain unbeaten 12 games is a story in itself following their poor start.
