Leverkusen, with Patrik Schick in the starting line-up, defeated home team Heidenheim 2:1 in the German Football League and equaled Bayern Munich’s record thanks to their 32nd competitive match without a loss in a row. Xabi Alonso’s men already have an eight-point lead over the defending champions, the Bavarian giants will only face Bochum in the 25th round on Sunday.
Adam Hložek and Matěj Kovář spent the entire match on Bayer’s bench. Leverkusen opened the scoring in the first half through Frimpong and Adli doubled the lead in the 81st minute. The home team only managed to reduce Kleindienst’s goal.
“It wasn’t difficult for us to play well after last week,” said Leverkusen coach Xani Alonso, referring to the 3-0 win over Bayern. “Today we were ready for it and I liked that. The players are not only ready for top matches, but they were also alert and motivated today. I’m not going to celebrate my 500 days in this role. I am satisfied with the game, the performance and the result. We are in a good situation, we will continue and take it game by game,” added the Spanish coach.
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The third Stuttgart also won 2:1 in Darmstadt. During his comeback in the VfB starting line-up after returning from the African championship, the league’s second best scorer, Serhou Guirassa, established himself after less than a quarter of an hour of the game. The Guinean attacker’s 18th goal of the season was followed up by Dahoud in the setup and Seydel managed to reduce it.
Although Alex Král did not start in the starting line-up of Union Berlin, he got on the field in Hoffenheim in the sixth minute instead of the injured Khedira. With a goal by American Aaronson in the end, the guests won for the second time in a row 1:0 and once again consolidated their position above the relegation zone. Pavel Kadeřábek played 91 minutes for Hoffenheim, who have already won eight Bundesliga matches, after which he was replaced by David Jurásek.
Fourth-placed Dortmund drew 1:1 at Wolfsburg. The home team, whose Václav Černý remained on the bench for the entire match, failed to win for the seventh time in a row. Borussia took the lead in the eighth minute with Füllkrug’s eleventh league goal, Gerhardt equalized in the second half.
Leipzig beat Mönchengladbach 2-0 at home and drop a point to Dortmund. The goals were scored by Simons and Openda. Tomáš Čvančara is still missing from the visitors due to an injured ankle.
Second-to-last Mainz under the leadership of new coach Bo Henriksson won only their second victory in the competition after beating Augsburg 1-0 at home. Van den Berg decided in the 44th minute. The lead of the home team could have been doubled soon after, but Amiri did not convert the penalty.
German Football League – Round 22:
Heidenheim – Leverkusen 1:2
Goals: 87. Pieringer – 45.+2 Frimpong, 81. Adli,
Darmstadt – Stuttgart 1:2
Goals: 90.+5 Seydel – 14. Guirassy, 90.+2 Dahoud
Hoffenheim – Union Berlin 0:1
Branka: 84.Aaronson
Mohuč – Augsburg 1:0
Branka: 44. Van den Berg
Wolfsburg – Dortmund 1:1
Goals: 63. Gerhardt – 8. Füllkrug
Leipzig – Mönchengladbach 2:0
Goals: 14. Simons, 58. Analysts