Thanks to Germany striker Mario Gomez, VfL Wolfsburg were able to finish 2016 on a high and improve their position at the bottom end of the Bundesliga table. On matchday 16, they overcame Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1. Meanwhile, Hamburger SV moved out of the relegation zone, until tomorrow at least, with a 2-1 victory over Schalke 04. Dortmund extended their unbeaten run at home, but could only take a point off FC Augsburg in their 1-1 draw. Eintracht Frankfurt overcame 1. FSV Mainz 05 3-0 at home and remain unbeaten at home this season.
Despite being unbeaten in their last six games at home, Gladbach began the nervier of the two sides. It didn’t take long for the visitors to pounce on that nervousness, as Daniel Caligiuri fired Wolfsburg into a 3rd minute lead. The visitors continued to be the brighter of the two sides, with U21 national team player Paul Seguin’s shot from the edge of the box going just over Yann Sommer’s goal (20’).
Gladbach reacted well after the break, however, and managed to score their equaliser through Thorgan Hazard (52’). Yet as André Schubert’s side went in search of a second, Mario Gomez rounded Borussia keeper Yann Sommer and slid the ball into the net, restoring the visitors’ lead (57’). Gladbach continued to push forward in search of another goal, but couldn’t do enough to earn a point.
Dortmund equalise against Augsburg
With the confidence of having gone 28 games unbeaten at home, BVB were quick out of the blocks against FC Augsburg. Mario Götze even had a good chance to fire the home side into an early lead, but his deflected shot could only hit the outside post (9’). FCA then began to assert themselves in the game. The away side then took a surprising lead through Dong-Won Ji, as he got the better of a one-on-one with Roman Weidenfeller (33’). Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Dortmund found themselves a goal down for the seventh time this season.
In the second half, BVB once again looked to get off to a lightning start, which they did through Ousmane Dembele’s equaliser shortly after the break (47’). Dortmund continued to pile on the pressure in search of a winner, but to no avail as the game finished 1-1.
HSV leave the automatic relegation places
Schalke and HSV began the game brightly, with the home side holding a slight advantage in the early stages. However, with World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes in the heart of the defence, the away side looked solid at the back. The rest of the first half was then characterised by misplaced passes from both sides as it finished 0-0 going into the break.
Schalke took the initiative early on in the second half, as Leon Goretzka’s shot was saved by HSV goalkeeper, Christian Mathenia (52’). However, the visitors left themselves open on the break, as Nicolai Müller scored his fourth goal of the campaign in the 60th minute. Bobby Wood then doubled the home side’s lead, after cutting inside onto his left foot and firing past Fährmann in the Schalke goal (80’). Donis Avdijaj then scored in the 90th minute for Schalke, but the visitors ran out of time to force an equaliser.
Frankfurt win derby over Mainz
Frankfurt were the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges and were rewarded early on through Branimir Hrgota. The Swede controlled a long ball from the back before coolly slotting it past Jonas Lössl in the Mainz goal (18’). Frankfurt, who had ten unbeaten home games under their belt, then allowed a certain sloppiness into their play, giving Mainz chances to find an equaliser. However, Martin Schmidt’s side couldn’t make the most of the opportunities they created.
Even after the break, the home side were in luck, as Lukass Hradecky in the Eintracht goal fumbled a long-range effort from Jean-Philippe Gbamin (47’). However, the ball trickled on to the post before the keeper was able to retrieve it. In the 55th minute, the task facing Mainz got a lot tougher as Jhon Cordoba was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. Eintracht then made the most of their one man advantage, with second half substitute Aymane Barkok extended the home side’s lead (75’). The game was then well and truly up in the 85th minute, when Hrgota bagged his second of the game.
created by sid/bt
Thanks to Germany striker Mario Gomez, VfL Wolfsburg were able to finish 2016 on a high and improve their position at the bottom end of the Bundesliga table. On matchday 16, they overcame Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1. Meanwhile, Hamburger SV moved out of the relegation zone, until tomorrow at least, with a 2-1 victory over Schalke 04. Dortmund extended their unbeaten run at home, but could only take a point off FC Augsburg in their 1-1 draw. Eintracht Frankfurt overcame 1. FSV Mainz 05 3-0 at home and remain unbeaten at home this season.
Despite being unbeaten in their last six games at home, Gladbach began the nervier of the two sides. It didn’t take long for the visitors to pounce on that nervousness, as Daniel Caligiuri fired Wolfsburg into a 3rd minute lead. The visitors continued to be the brighter of the two sides, with U21 national team player Paul Seguin’s shot from the edge of the box going just over Yann Sommer’s goal (20’).
Gladbach reacted well after the break, however, and managed to score their equaliser through Thorgan Hazard (52’). Yet as André Schubert’s side went in search of a second, Mario Gomez rounded Borussia keeper Yann Sommer and slid the ball into the net, restoring the visitors’ lead (57’). Gladbach continued to push forward in search of another goal, but couldn’t do enough to earn a point.
Dortmund equalise against Augsburg
With the confidence of having gone 28 games unbeaten at home, BVB were quick out of the blocks against FC Augsburg. Mario Götze even had a good chance to fire the home side into an early lead, but his deflected shot could only hit the outside post (9’). FCA then began to assert themselves in the game. The away side then took a surprising lead through Dong-Won Ji, as he got the better of a one-on-one with Roman Weidenfeller (33’). Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Dortmund found themselves a goal down for the seventh time this season.
In the second half, BVB once again looked to get off to a lightning start, which they did through Ousmane Dembele’s equaliser shortly after the break (47’). Dortmund continued to pile on the pressure in search of a winner, but to no avail as the game finished 1-1.
###more###
HSV leave the automatic relegation places
Schalke and HSV began the game brightly, with the home side holding a slight advantage in the early stages. However, with World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes in the heart of the defence, the away side looked solid at the back. The rest of the first half was then characterised by misplaced passes from both sides as it finished 0-0 going into the break.
Schalke took the initiative early on in the second half, as Leon Goretzka’s shot was saved by HSV goalkeeper, Christian Mathenia (52’). However, the visitors left themselves open on the break, as Nicolai Müller scored his fourth goal of the campaign in the 60th minute. Bobby Wood then doubled the home side’s lead, after cutting inside onto his left foot and firing past Fährmann in the Schalke goal (80’). Donis Avdijaj then scored in the 90th minute for Schalke, but the visitors ran out of time to force an equaliser.
Frankfurt win derby over Mainz
Frankfurt were the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges and were rewarded early on through Branimir Hrgota. The Swede controlled a long ball from the back before coolly slotting it past Jonas Lössl in the Mainz goal (18’). Frankfurt, who had ten unbeaten home games under their belt, then allowed a certain sloppiness into their play, giving Mainz chances to find an equaliser. However, Martin Schmidt’s side couldn’t make the most of the opportunities they created.
Even after the break, the home side were in luck, as Lukass Hradecky in the Eintracht goal fumbled a long-range effort from Jean-Philippe Gbamin (47’). However, the ball trickled on to the post before the keeper was able to retrieve it. In the 55th minute, the task facing Mainz got a lot tougher as Jhon Cordoba was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. Eintracht then made the most of their one man advantage, with second half substitute Aymane Barkok extended the home side’s lead (75’). The game was then well and truly up in the 85th minute, when Hrgota bagged his second of the game.
