BVB makes a mistake and worries about Karetsas – Füllkrug saves Bremen – late ecstasy at HSV

Borussia Dortmund is in a results crisis after its third winless game in a row and could fall back to third place after this matchday. BVB had to settle for a 0-0 draw at 1. FC Union Berlin and is now dependent on support to maintain its top spot ahead of SC Freiburg and FC Bayern.

The mood at BVB was further dampened by the injury of new signing Konstantinos Karetsas, who twisted his ankle a few minutes after coming on as a substitute, holding his ankle and limping off the field. It would be the next health setback for him after he collapsed in the Champions League game against Villarreal.

After the partly dispassionate performance in the Champions League at Bodö/Glimt, Dortmund presented themselves much more aggressively. The guests exceeded the limits of what was permitted several times in the duels. Ethan Nwaneri (1st minute), Waldemar Anton (7th) and Serhou Guirassy (14th) saw yellow cards early on. In terms of play, BVB put the Berliners under increasing pressure and pushed them deep into their own penalty area, but hardly developed any threat to score.

Union defended consistently and also went hard. Tom Rothe and Janik Haberer were also warned. Given the many yellow cards, a sending off seemed only a matter of time. There were largely no significant chances to score on either side until the break. BVB keeper Gregor Kobel was only called upon in stoppage time after a free kick from Kastriot Imeri.

After the break, both teams played much more lively. For Dortmund, Maximilian Beier missed the chance to take the lead on his 24th birthday when he directed a cross from ex-Union player Julian Ryerson wide of the goal in the 56th minute. On the Berlin side, who were waiting for a counterattack, Tim Skarke suddenly appeared in front of Kobel but put the ball over the goal.

Things got more heated in the final phase: There were many tough duels and fouls. Guirassy missed a good chance from a free kick, Union were mainly dangerous from set pieces. No more goals were scored.

Füllkrug saves Bremen

Werder Bremen has set a special record. In the 2:2 (0:2) against SC Paderborn, Niclas Füllkrug's team made up a 0:2 deficit in the third game in a row. No team has ever achieved this in the long history of the Bundesliga. Werder recently managed this against Borussia Dortmund (2:2) and FC Augsburg (3:2).

The comeback with the next two Füllkrug goals in the 59th and 66th minutes (hand penalty) also coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Bremen Weserstadion. Werder home games have been public holidays again this season. Stefano Marino (18th) and Steffen Tigges (30th) put the promoted team in the lead. Werder missed numerous chances in the first half in front of 40,517 spectators.

In the sixth minute, Bremen didn't pay attention for the first time: Tigges suddenly had a free shot from a tight angle and was denied by goalkeeper Karl Hein. In the forward game, Werder was bursting with enthusiasm and dynamism at times. After a nice attack via Chuki and Arthur, Füllkrug got his first chance to shoot in the 12th minute. After a through pass from Ludovit Reis, Marco Grüll even ran towards the Paderborn goal all alone. Goalkeeper Nahuel Noll parried both the Austrian's shot and Chuki's follow-up shot (15').

Werder was too playful at the front - and too careless at the back: the 0:1 was preceded by their own loss of the ball, the 0:2 by inattention after a Paderborn throw-in. Such lack of concentration was also evident in the opposing half. In the 34th minute, Chuki was completely free centrally in front of the Paderborn goal, but the cross pass to him was far too imprecise. The Spaniard also failed because of the strong goalkeeper Noll - just like Arthur again shortly before the break (41').

At halftime, Daniel Thioune brought on the long-injured Mitchell Weiser (46'). The memory that Werder had also turned the game against Augsburg around thanks to his late winning goal also played a role. Less than 20 minutes later it was actually 2-2 and Werder was now pushing with all their might for the third goal. But the chances no longer had the quality of the first half. Two shots from Weiser were no problem for Noll (77th/81st). Only Füllkrug demanded everything from the Paderborn goalkeeper again (81st). The striker was completely free to shoot in a central position.

Muheim shoots HSV into luck

Hamburger SV has continued its winning streak. The 1-0 (0-0) home win over VfB Stuttgart in front of 57,000 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion was the third win in a row for the Hanseatic League. With now nine points, HSV moved past the guests in the table and ended VfB's interim high. Miro Muheim scored the goal of the day in the 88th minute.

The hosts had the first opportunity of the game. After Stuttgart lost the ball, Fabio Vieira finished on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot went over the goal (6th). The action was the start of a lively opening phase, as the Swabians also looked for a direct route to the goal. Deniz Undav was surprised by a cross and headed over the crossbar (9th). Shortly afterwards, Demirovic missed with his head from six meters (15th).

After a short break, chance after chance continued. VfB keeper Seimen made a strong save against Vieira (26th). In direct response, Demirovic put the ball just next to the right post, and Undav hit the left post a little later (39'). VfB took the game more to their side and was the team that dominated the game. However, the Swabians' actions lacked clarity and determination.

Even after the break, the abundance of opportunities continued. Once again the focus was on Stuttgart's Demirovic and Undav as well as Yussuf Poulsen with a smash for HSV. Both coaches stayed true to their offensive line. Pejcinovic arrived at VfB, Otto Stange and Terem Moffi at HSV. But it was midfielder Muheim who, as in Hoffenheim, ensured Hamburg happiness with a long-range shot shortly before the final whistle.

Schalke remains without a goal in their own stadium

FC Schalke 04 remains completely harmless in their own stadium. In the third home game, coach Miron Muslic's team also failed to score a goal in the home arena in a 0-1 (0-1) draw against the away kings FSV Mainz 05. The Rheinhessen team, on the other hand, once again relied on striker Phillip Tietz, who decided the game with his goal (24th minute). The 29-year-old scored in five away games in a row across the seasons.

For coach Urs Fischer's team it was the third away win in the third game. The last away defeat for Mainz was more than eight months ago. With the victory on Saturday, a black streak also came to an end. Mainz won against Schalke for the first time in more than seven and a half years.

The Rheinhessen demonstrated their away strength right from the start. Schalke didn't seem to be on the pitch at first and had visiting striker Sheraldo Becker run towards goalkeeper Loris Karius twice in the first 50 seconds. Both times the former Mainz player saved the Royal Blues from going behind very early.

The otherwise strong defensive district club showed some inconsistencies in defense. They ultimately led to the guests' goal. Away specialist Tietz made ice-cold use of an assist from Anthony Caci. Karius had no chance here. The strong keeper saved Schalke from falling behind again and again.