By Rich
Hosts Borussia Dortmund extended on Friday their perfect start to 2023 with a 2:1 win over visitors RB Leipzig, moving the club into first place in the table going into the rest of the weekend’s matches. Dortmund took the lead in the game in the 21st minute, when Marco Reus converted a penalty. Dortmund then extended their lead to 2 goals in the 39th minute, when Emre Can struck from 20 yards out. Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg cut the lead to just 1 goal in the 74th minute, when he turned in substitute David Raum’s back-post cross. Dortmund’s 8 Bundesliga wins so far this year equalled a club record, and Dortmund are now unbeaten in their last 33 Bundesliga home games on Fridays. A contest at the other end of the table occurs on Saturday, when Bochum host nearby Schalke in what is an important derby for both clubs. The home team has lost 5 of their 7 league matches since January, but a win over the visitors would lift the club 6 points clear of Schalke. A Schalke win, however, would bring the Royal Blues level with Bochum. Schalke are coming off a 2:1 win last weekend over VfB Stuttgart, which was their first victory since Matchday 14. The win also extended Schalke’s unbeaten streak to 5 straight league games. The late game on Saturday will be that between hosts VfB Stuttgart and visitors FC Bayern München, and will determine who finishes the weekend in first place. Only a favorable goal differential is keeping Stuttgart out of the relegation zone, but a Hoffenheim win at Mainz on Saturday could end that. Bayern are anticipating the full return of Sadio Mane, who could make his first Bundesliga start since November, and he could be joined on the pitch by Dayot Upamecano, who is back from suspension and ready to take his place in the center of the defense. The reverse fixture this season ended in a 2:2 draw at the Allianz Arena. Looking ahead to Sunday, competition will come to what could be an exciting end when VfL Wolfsburg host Eintracht Frankfurt, as the clubs are competing for spots in European competition. The hosts have been in a slump since the World Cup, but improved their chances for Europe last time out with a 2:0 win over Cologne, which ended a run of just a single point from 4 games. Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner left Wolfsburg to join Eintracht in the summer of 2021, and is looking to recover from last weekend’s 2:1 loss at RB Leipzig. The loss was Frankfurt’s second in successive competitive games, and the club has won just 1 of their last 3 league matches. Frankfurt may just be the Wolves’ favorite opponent: the Wolves have won 21 of 41 Bundesliga games against Die Adler.
Hosts Borussia Dortmund extended on Friday their perfect start to 2023 with a 2:1 win over visitors RB Leipzig, moving the club into first place in the table going into the rest of the weekend’s matches. Dortmund took the lead in the game in the 21st minute, when Marco Reus converted a penalty. Dortmund then extended their lead to 2 goals in the 39th minute, when Emre Can struck from 20 yards out. Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg cut the lead to just 1 goal in the 74th minute, when he turned in substitute David Raum’s back-post cross. Dortmund’s 8 Bundesliga wins so far this year equalled a club record, and Dortmund are now unbeaten in their last 33 Bundesliga home games on Fridays. A contest at the other end of the table occurs on Saturday, when Bochum host nearby Schalke in what is an important derby for both clubs. The home team has lost 5 of their 7 league matches since January, but a win over the visitors would lift the club 6 points clear of Schalke. A Schalke win, however, would bring the Royal Blues level with Bochum. Schalke are coming off a 2:1 win last weekend over VfB Stuttgart, which was their first victory since Matchday 14. The win also extended Schalke’s unbeaten streak to 5 straight league games. The late game on Saturday will be that between hosts VfB Stuttgart and visitors FC Bayern München, and will determine who finishes the weekend in first place. Only a favorable goal differential is keeping Stuttgart out of the relegation zone, but a Hoffenheim win at Mainz on Saturday could end that. Bayern are anticipating the full return of Sadio Mane, who could make his first Bundesliga start since November, and he could be joined on the pitch by Dayot Upamecano, who is back from suspension and ready to take his place in the center of the defense. The reverse fixture this season ended in a 2:2 draw at the Allianz Arena. Looking ahead to Sunday, competition will come to what could be an exciting end when VfL Wolfsburg host Eintracht Frankfurt, as the clubs are competing for spots in European competition. The hosts have been in a slump since the World Cup, but improved their chances for Europe last time out with a 2:0 win over Cologne, which ended a run of just a single point from 4 games. Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner left Wolfsburg to join Eintracht in the summer of 2021, and is looking to recover from last weekend’s 2:1 loss at RB Leipzig. The loss was Frankfurt’s second in successive competitive games, and the club has won just 1 of their last 3 league matches. Frankfurt may just be the Wolves’ favorite opponent: the Wolves have won 21 of 41 Bundesliga games against Die Adler.
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