The points were shared in a crazy clash at the Westfalenstadion between Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim - a match that provided end-to-end entertainment throughout.
Dortmund's Westfalienstadion. Photo: Mbdortmund via Wikimedia Commons
Midtable Hoffenheim were offered chance after chance by the host’s open defence, with Ihlas Bebou going through on goal a number of times. But it was English superstar Jadon Sancho who opened the scoring, finishing crisply midway through the first half to put BVB 1-0 up after being played onside.
Mu’nas Dabbar equalised for the visitors with a smart finish only seven minutes later. BVB goalkeeper Marwin Hitz, who stepped in again for Roman Bürki, will again find himself in the headlines after another calamitous error. His attempted punch clearance ricocheted off the fortunate Bebou, with the ball flying into the goal off him.
Erling Haaland thought he had levelled proceedings moments later, but Thomas Delaney was offside in the build-up. Hoffenheim had done a relatively good job of limiting the dangerous Norwegian, but Haaland got a final chance with only nine minutes remaining.
Dabbur came off slightly worse from a clash, going down injured in the process, but Hoffenheim chose not to put the ball out. One sloppy pass later and Haaland was in possession, brushing off the final defender and powering the ball past the goalkeeper.
Defender Stefan Posch was angered by the outcome, but ultimately Edin Terzic’s side had done no wrong, and the spoils were fairly shared.
Elsewhere:
Bayern Munich were crowned Club World Cup Champions this week, after beating Tigres 1-0 in the final on Thursday. As Champions League winners, Hansi Flick’s side were Europe’s representatives in the tournament, and beat Al Ahly 2-0 on Monday. In the final in Qatar, a lone Benjamin Pavard goal was enough for Bayern to bring the trophy back to Germany.
RB Leipzig are currently the only side to have picked up maximum points this gameweek, as they beat Augsburg 2-1 on Friday night. A Dani Olmo penalty was followed by a Christopher Nkunku goal shortly before halftime, but a Daniel Caliguiri penalty gave Julien Nagelsmann’s side a late scare. Leipzig are now only four points behind Bayern, who play Arminia on Monday.
Schalke picked up only their ninth point of the season after a goalless draw away at Union Berlin. Union’s struggling capital city rivals Hertha drew 1-1 away at Stuttgart. Werder and Freiburg’s game was also a goalless affair.
Finally, Leverkusen looked set for a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Mainz, but the relegation battlers had something else in mind. Robert Glatzel grabbed one back after 89 minutes, before Kevin Stöger grabbed a dramatic equaliser in injury time.
Game of the week: