By Rich
Max Kruse had a hat-trick and Jonas Wind had a brace on Friday as hosts VfL Wolfsburg notched a decisive 5:0 victory over visitors 1. FSV Mainz 05. Wind’s first goal came just 8 minutes into the match, and was followed by Kruse’s first goal on a penalty kick in the 24th minute. Kruse increased the lead to 3:0 with another goal in the 35th minute, and Wind scored his second goal in the 42nd minute. The match’s final goal came in extra time at the end of the first half, when Max Kruse took advantage of the ball off Yannick Gerhardt. The hat-trick was Kruse’s first since November 2017, and Kruse now has 12 Bundesliga goals for the Wolves. Kruse’s first goal was the 800th goal Mainz has conceded in its history in the Bundesliga. On Saturday, all eyes turn to the 106th Klassiker between hosts FC Bayern München and visitors Borussia Dortmund, in what could well be the most important match of the season. Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski has accumulated 32 goals so far this season, propelling his club to a first-place position, 9 points clear of 2nd-place Dortmund going into this weekend. A victory on Saturday for the hosts would land them their 31st Bundesliga title. Dortmund are coming off a 6:1 victory over Wolfsburg last weekend, a victory that included 2 goals from striker Erling Haaland, ending his run of 5 matches without a goal. The reverse fixture earlier this season was won by Bayern, thanks to a brace from Lewandowski. In fact, Bayern have won the last 6 consecutive Bundesliga Klassikers, and haven’t lost at home to Dortmund since April 12, 2014. Elsewhere in the league on Saturday, RB Leipzig and 1. FC Union Berlin will have their second encounter in just 3 days, when Leipzig host Union. The 2 clubs met in the DFB Pokal semi-finals on Wednesday, and Leipzig prevailed 2:1 thanks to Emil Forsberg’s 92nd-minute goal. Both clubs are enjoying a fine run during the Rückrunde, with Leipzig picking up more points (32) than even Bayern (29), and Union on course for their highest-ever league finish. Looking ahead to Sunday, 3 of the clubs still in danger of relegation at the end of the season will play, when Augsburg travel to Bochum and Stuttgart travel to Hertha. Depending on results elsewhere this weekend, Bochum could secure their return next season if they defeat Augsburg, for whom automatic relegation is still a mathematical possibility. Both Hertha and Stuttgart must avoid defeat when they meet, as a loss could spell disaster for either. The clubs last played each other on Matchday 14, a game that ended in a draw.
Max Kruse had a hat-trick and Jonas Wind had a brace on Friday as hosts VfL Wolfsburg notched a decisive 5:0 victory over visitors 1. FSV Mainz 05. Wind’s first goal came just 8 minutes into the match, and was followed by Kruse’s first goal on a penalty kick in the 24th minute. Kruse increased the lead to 3:0 with another goal in the 35th minute, and Wind scored his second goal in the 42nd minute. The match’s final goal came in extra time at the end of the first half, when Max Kruse took advantage of the ball off Yannick Gerhardt. The hat-trick was Kruse’s first since November 2017, and Kruse now has 12 Bundesliga goals for the Wolves. Kruse’s first goal was the 800th goal Mainz has conceded in its history in the Bundesliga. On Saturday, all eyes turn to the 106th Klassiker between hosts FC Bayern München and visitors Borussia Dortmund, in what could well be the most important match of the season. Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski has accumulated 32 goals so far this season, propelling his club to a first-place position, 9 points clear of 2nd-place Dortmund going into this weekend. A victory on Saturday for the hosts would land them their 31st Bundesliga title. Dortmund are coming off a 6:1 victory over Wolfsburg last weekend, a victory that included 2 goals from striker Erling Haaland, ending his run of 5 matches without a goal. The reverse fixture earlier this season was won by Bayern, thanks to a brace from Lewandowski. In fact, Bayern have won the last 6 consecutive Bundesliga Klassikers, and haven’t lost at home to Dortmund since April 12, 2014. Elsewhere in the league on Saturday, RB Leipzig and 1. FC Union Berlin will have their second encounter in just 3 days, when Leipzig host Union. The 2 clubs met in the DFB Pokal semi-finals on Wednesday, and Leipzig prevailed 2:1 thanks to Emil Forsberg’s 92nd-minute goal. Both clubs are enjoying a fine run during the Rückrunde, with Leipzig picking up more points (32) than even Bayern (29), and Union on course for their highest-ever league finish. Looking ahead to Sunday, 3 of the clubs still in danger of relegation at the end of the season will play, when Augsburg travel to Bochum and Stuttgart travel to Hertha. Depending on results elsewhere this weekend, Bochum could secure their return next season if they defeat Augsburg, for whom automatic relegation is still a mathematical possibility. Both Hertha and Stuttgart must avoid defeat when they meet, as a loss could spell disaster for either. The clubs last played each other on Matchday 14, a game that ended in a draw.
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