Thanks to a converted penalty by Harry Kane, FC Bayern Munich are early champions in the first half of the Bundesliga. The Munich team won 1-0 (0-0) at Borussia Mönchengladbach and are still four points ahead of double winner Bayer Leverkusen after 16 match days. Goal scorer Harry Kane converted a foul penalty in the 68th minute to secure a deserved win against a committed but hapless Gladbach team.
For Steffen Baumgart, his debut as Bundesliga coach of 1. FC Union Berlin was a failure. After the bankruptcy before the DFB sports court during the week, the Köpenickers also lost 0-2 (0-1) at the start of the new football year in the first game under Bo Svensson’s successor at 1. FC Heidenheim and are slipping further and further into the relegation battle.
In the Bundesliga top group, Eintracht Frankfurt consolidated its third place with a 1-0 (1-0) win at FC St. Pauli behind leaders Bayern Munich and champions Leverkusen, who started with a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund on Friday. Behind them, FSV Mainz 05 climbed to fourth place in the Champions League with a 2-0 (1-0) win against bottom team VfL Bochum.
SC Freiburg is also doing well in the race and is sixth after the 3:2 (2:0) against Holstein Kiel. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is still not getting going under new coach Christian Ilzer and is in acute danger of relegation after the 0-1 (0-1) draw against VfL Wolfsburg.
Union have not won in ten competitive games
In Heidenheim, winter newcomers Frans Krätzig (17th) and Adrian Beck (83rd) sealed the defeat for the Berliners, who, even under former HSV coach Baumgart, were unable to end their negative streak of ten competitive games without a win. Union professional Tom Rothe was shown a red card because of an emergency brake (37th).
With 17 points, the Iron Men are only four points ahead of the relegation place. The gap may be reduced by another point if the DFB Federal Court confirms the 0-2 defeat at the green table in the scandalous game against VfL Bochum (1-1). Union had lodged an objection against the DFB sports court’s assessment.
Star striker Omar Marmoush may have made his farewell gift for Eintracht with his goal (32nd) at FC St. Pauli. The Egyptian has been linked to English champions Manchester City. Frankfurt’s sports board has already confirmed that a club has contacted the Hessians about Marmoush. The striker’s market value is estimated at 60 million euros.
Bochum continues to come last
In Mainz, Jonathan Burkardt (23rd/69th) – a possible Marmoush replacement in Frankfurt – scored twice for the hosts. This means that VfL remains bottom of the table, while Holstein Kiel is also in a relegation zone. The North Germans’ defeat in Freiburg was sealed by an own goal from Nicolai Remberg (23′) and goals from Christian Günter (38′) and Vincenzo Grifo (74′). The two Kiel goals from Phil Harres (85th/90th) came too late.
In Hoffenheim, Mohamed Amoura gave Wolfsburg three points. This left the hosts without a win in their eighth competitive game in a row under Ilzer. The Austrian, who replaced Pellegrino Matarazzo, only celebrated a victory in his first game.
