The FC Augsburg coach is evidently developing into a Bayern scare. Hertha BSC reveals blatant offensive weaknesses. And RB Leipzig? Will not even achieve its minimum goal in this form. The theses for the 12th Bundesliga matchday.
Union Berlin is playing for Europe again
Berlin is red and white, that can be said without exaggeration after the easy 2-0 in the derby against Hertha and now seven points ahead of the city rivals. 1. FC Union is also no longer in the fast lane, it has already passed Hertha.
Since the promotion two and a half years ago, the Reds have scored 22 points more than the Blue and this season it should stay that Union is ahead of Hertha in the table. Hertha BSC may not be seen as the best yardstick in a supraregional perspective, but in terms of the Bundesliga there are currently only four teams that are better.
With currently 20 points after only twelve games, Union has already retracted half of what is generally considered to be necessary for safe relegation. Before, during and also at the end of a season, those responsible will never tire of emphasizing that the only goal is to stay in the league.
That is of course legitimate, but it is also particularly flirtatious. The truth is that Union is also playing for a place in international business this season. The understatement of those responsible in Berlin, on the other hand, only seems artificial.
Hertha’s offensive game is not suitable for the Bundesliga
The situation is completely different – still – at the rival Hertha BSC. Here, too, demands and reality do not go together, but there is a gap in the other direction. The derby showed the grievances in the only core competence, defending, sometimes relentlessly. But what the Berliners did in their own possession had absolutely nothing to do with Bundesliga football. A long ball followed the next, then garnished with crosses from the side into the penalty area, which was clearly dominated by Union.
That was the Berlin plan and it revealed a terrifying helplessness. Pal Dardai basically stabilized the team in the game against the ball and Hertha will always win a game because they can muddle to a 1-0. But as soon as the opponent scores the first goal, it gets really dark.
In the long run that will not be enough to at least rank in the secured midfield and in the worst case, Hertha will remain a candidate for one of the relegation places until the end of the season. In any case, it is hardly to be expected that Dardai will scratch the curve with his team in this segment of the game.
Doubtful whether Jesse Marsch and his team fit together
The numbers after the 0-2 in Hoffenheim were absolutely devastating from Leipzig’s point of view: Only 112 kilometers, only 43 percent won duels, only five own shots on goal, but 23 (!) For the opponent and 19 of them were fired from within the penalty area. That sums up Leipzig’s failure to perform last weekend very well. The runner-up thought they were on the mend, the convincing 2: 1 two weeks ago against Dortmund was proof that the team is still capable of great performances.
The failure of all of the systems in Hoffenheim is now fueling doubts as to whether Jesse Marsch and his team are even compatible. Leipzig has already done a few dropouts too much this season to assume that the Hoffenheim game will only be a slip-up.
Marsch primarily criticized the lack of will of his team and that is not a good signal either. Since the ascent five years ago, Leipzig has never been worse than fourth at the same time of a season, currently the team is only seventh and the tendency is clear: If this fickleness persists, Leipzig will not achieve the minimum goal of participating in the Champions League.
