Friday 13 / December / 2024
Berlin: Borussia Dortmund eventually broke through the stubborn defence of Schalke to seal a deserved derby win. Manuel Akanji was the unlikeliest candidate to break the deadlock but once the defender poked home a rebound, Schalke crumbled.
Erling Haaland got his goal and Mats Hummels scored his first derby goal as their visitors struggled desperately with the ball at their feet. Schalke have now gone 21 games without a win, equaling (with Dynamo Dresden, Kaiserslautern and Blau Weiß Berlin) the second-worst run without a win in the Bundesliga. Only Tasmania Berlin's run of 31 games is worse.
Five games in and the front runners have already begun to distance themselves from the rest of the league. RB Leipzig lead Bayern and Dortmund, who themselves are already four points clear of the nearest challenger. While it's still early on, these gaps are only likely to grow.
Gladbach will be delighted to have stolen a win in Mainz as it keeps them just about in touch, but Stuttgart will be kicking themselves for not seeing off Cologne on Friday night because had they done so they would have been even closer.
Robert Lewandowski is so consistent it's not even newsworthy. His hat trick against Frankfurt came courtesy of a strike on his left foot, another on his right and one with his head. It takes his season tally to 10. It's still early but it looks like Lewandowski is in the midst of the golden era of his career.
