The first 24 hours of Bundesliga 2021/22 action threw up a controversial end to the opening match between Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Bayern when, with the game delicately poised at 1-1, the Bavarians twice looked like they had conceded a penalty.
A point apiece was a fair reflection of the action, though Monchengladbach’s coaching staff was aggrieved at the final whistle, but it was certainly a fittingly entertaining curtain-raiser to a new season of European football.
Bayern’s high intensity start…
Julien Nagelsmann picked up his first point as head coach of Die Bayern; he would have hoped for three and with 65 per cent possession, 21 shots to 11 and nine to four on target the balance of play suggests the champions could easily have had a win. The way the match began may have had an impact on the strategy of both sides after Alassane Plea gave the hosts a perfect start with a tenth minute strike. The sniff of a victory for die Fohlen may have encouraged them to sit a little deeper while Bayern made the running, but they didn’t make it to half time before Robert Lewandowski scored a typical poachers goal to level.
While the Bavarians continued to dominate periods of play, Gladbach were out to spoil Nagelsmann’s debut as Bayern boss and in a late flurry of action the hosts were twice denied a penalty in strikingly similar circumstances. Bayern’s debutant Dayot Upamecano looked to have fouled his French compatriot Marcus Thuram but the referee waved play away and VAR declined to intervene. Then, moments later Upacemano clearly made contact with Thuram again. This time the same outcome was too much for Borussia head coach Adi Hutter and he earned a yellow card to add to his fury.
…and Robert Lewandowski is still the man
When die Bayern are one-nil down and pushing for an equaliser, who are they looking for? Yep, of course, it’s Polish sensation Robert Lewandowski. His equaliser, just before the break was classic Lewi, as he lost his marker to meet a Joshua Kimmich corner and hammer a volley home.
There have been reports, seemingly confirmed by Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, that the club is considering a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland, and that would be a frightening prospect should those two line up as twin strikers. But it will take a lot to persuade BVB to allow their star man to leave.
In any case, the Bundesliga 2021 betting odds, here at SBOTOP, are backing die Bayern to win a tenth successive Bundesliga and this result, away to a strong opponent, won’t have changed anything.
Wolfsburg and Weghorst are a threat
With a fourth placed finish in last season’s competition Wolfsburg will be among the elite of Europe’s football giants when they take place in the 2021/22 Champions League. The goals of 6ft 6in Dutch striker Wout Weghorst have been vital to the Wolves’ success. The 29 year old centre forward has scored 53 goals in 100 games for Wolfsburg since his 2018 transfer from AZ Alkmaar.
Newly promoted VFL Bochum 1848, in their return to the top flight after an 11 year absence, knew they were in for a tough first game, but they couldn’t have had a worse start when they went down to ten men with just four minutes on the clock. Robert Tesche blocked a close range header from Renato Steffen with his hand; the referee gave him a straight red card and awarded a penalty. Up stepped Weghorst only to see his well struck penalty saved in the bottom corner. On 11 minutes the big man had a header spectacularly saved but there was little Bochum could do when he fired a low shot home midway through the first half.
But for Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann, Weghorst could have scored a second half hat-trick as the visitors’ defence simply couldn’t handle him. But thanks to their stopper the new boys stayed in the game and if they fight like this every week they should be okay.
A long season ahead for die Kleeblatter
Another newly promoted side took a hammering on Saturday. Poor Greuther Furth lost 5-1 at the hands of VFB Stuttgart. Wataru Endo put the hosts ahead with a smart finish on 30 minutes and then they attacked at will as Marc Oliver Kempf scored a brace.
Die Roten finished last season in ninth place and, on this evidence, they could challenge for a Europa League place while Greuther needs to get to grips with top flight football soon… or they could be in for an almighty struggle.
There is more Bundesliga 2021 news to come later in the weekend as Borussia Dortmund take on Eintracht Frankfurt and, on Sunday Jesse Marsch takes control of his first match as head coach of Red Bull Leipzig, when they face Mainz.
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