The false start of runner-up VfB Stuttgart is complete. After the 1:3 defeat in Freiburg, the Swabians could only manage a 3:3 (2:1) draw against FSV Mainz 05 on the second matchday of the Bundesliga, throwing away a 2:0 and 3:2 lead. Champions League finalist Borussia Dortmund also dropped points in a 0:0 draw at Werder Bremen. Newcomer Holstein Kiel lost its first Bundesliga home game against VfL Wolfsburg 0:2 (0:2) and is still waiting for its first point. Eintracht Frankfurt beat TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3:1 (2:0). Borussia Mönchengladbach won the West derby at VfL Bochum 2:0 (0:0).
Remembering Lemke and Daum
Meanwhile, in Bremen and Stuttgart, two long-standing Bundesliga greats were remembered. Before kick-off, the Werder fans unveiled a large choreography with the message “Wille Lemke will never be forgotten,” and the players wore special jerseys with a “Thank you Willi” patch. Lemke, who was Werder manager from 1981 to 1999, died on August 12 at the age of 77. The Stuttgart fans, meanwhile, paid tribute to their former championship coach Christoph Daum, who died on August 24 after suffering from cancer, with long applause.
The VfB fans were then able to celebrate two quick goals from Enzo Millot (8th) and Jamie Leweling (15th) before Mainz came back into the game with a questionable penalty. Nadiem Amiri scored from the spot (43rd). Things got even worse for the Swabians in the second half when Jonathan Burkardt equalized (62nd). In the final phase, events unfolded rapidly. First, VfB scored through new signing Fabian Rieder (88th), before Maxim Leitsch managed to equalize (90th+4).
There were no goals in Bremen, where BVB struggled. To make matters worse, national defender Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a yellow-red card for repeated fouls (73′).
Kiel’s unsuccessful home debut
The first Bundesliga game in Schleswig-Holstein did not create a celebratory mood for Kiel. Maximilian Arnold (27th minute) and Sebastiaan Bornauw (30th) secured the win for Wolfsburg, who had squandered a 2-1 lead against FC Bayern the previous week. This means that the North Germans, like the second promoted team FC St. Pauli, who lost 0-1 at Union Berlin on Friday, are still without a point.
With the finest counterattacking football, Eintracht achieved a well-deserved home victory. First, top striker Hugo Ekitiké scored (24th minute), then Hugo Larsson (33rd minute). The starting point in both cases was the strong Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian, who had recently been linked with clubs from the English Premier League, crowned his strong performance with Frankfurt’s third goal (56th minute). Only André Kramaric was able to shorten the gap for Hoffenheim (54th minute). It was the Croatian’s fourth goal of the season.
In Bochum, there was a reunion with Kevin Stöger, who played a major role in VfL’s survival last season. The Austrian, who moved to Gladbach on a free transfer in the summer, also set up Borussia’s opening goal through Tim Kleindienst (67′). Franck Honorat made everything clear for Gladbach (78′).
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