German Bundesliga, Week 14: Bayern Munich Fall To Mainz, BVB Win Revierderby

Bayern Munich may have started the season in scintillating form but they’ve hit something of a rough patch of late, with the former Bundesliga leaders finding themselves tumbling into third place thanks to their second straight loss. After a 1-0 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund, Bayern needed a strong response during their visit to Mainz. They didn’t get it.

Bayern fall to third in the table behind Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach, a position that was unthinkable considering their hugely impressive start to the season. But since losing Schweinsteiger to a broken collarbone against Napoli, the former title favourites have earned just three points out of nine while a resurgent Dortmund crush more or less everyone in their domestic path. Someone has to step up for Bayern, and it should probably be quickly.

Borussia Dortmund are top of the Bundesliga, thanks to their 2-0 Revierderby victory over Schalke 04. Die Königsblauen looked very much like a struggling team dealing with injuries, playing on the road in a derby. There really wasn’t any point in the match where Schalke did not look over their heads, and if it wasn’t for the fantastic goalkeeping of Lars Unnerstall, Schalke would have lost by much more.

Dortmund’s first goal came in the 16th minute, with Robert Lewandowski heading in a free kick delivered by Marcel Schmeltzer. Schalke’s defense was nowhere to be found, leaving Lewandowski completely unmarked. A 6’1” striker with eight goals in the Bundesliga coming into this game. Completely unmarked. At that point, the game already felt over.

Borussia Dortmund lead Schalke 04 by a score of 1-0 at halftime in the Revierderby, but they’ve been much more dominant than that score suggests. Schalke have been poor and Dortmund have had no problem both keeping the ball and stifling Schalke’s limited attacks, despite the injuries to Sven Bender and Neven Subotic. Schalke keeper Lars Unnerstall and defensive midfielder Jermaine Jones have been very good, and are the only reasons Dortmund don’t have more goals.

Mario Götze has been brilliant, while Raul and Klass-Jan Huntelaar might as well not be playing. Their teammates have done very little to help them make an impact on the game. This might be a different match with Benedikt Höwedes and Jefferson Farfan, but without their captain and their right winger, Schalke look lost and completely out-classed.

Borussia Dortmund Lineup (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer; Kehl, Leitner; Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Götze; Barrios

Schalke 04 Lineup (4-4-1-1): Unnerstall; Uchida, Papadopoulos, Matip, Fuchs; Baumjohann, Draxler, Jones, Holtby; Raul; Huntelaar

The pre-match build-up and discussion leading up to the Revierderby is, unfortunately, defined by injuries. Who is not playing is just as important as who is playing. Both Jurgen Klopp and Huub Stevens have massive decisions to make with their teams, as Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 are both without key players.

Der BVB lost Neven Subotic with a broken orbital earlier in the month and have now lost another key player through a facial injury. Sven Bender has broken his jaw and will be unavailable for the match. Mario Götze is a doubt, but says that he is fit to start. Felipe Santana will continue to replace Subotic in defense, while Bender could be replaced by either Moritz Leitner or Ilkay Gündogan if Klopp wants to get aggressive. Ivan Perisic is another option. Bender is a huge loss and there is no like-for-like replacement, but Dortmund has an embarrassment of riches.