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EURO BITES: Bundesliga - Boring, boring Bayern, scepticism over Klopp to Liverpool, and insult to injury for Wolfsburg coach

A round-up on the weekend action in the Bundesliga as Bayern Munich took a giant leap towards another title.

BAYERN MUNICH HEADING FOR A BORING BUNDESLIGA TITLE…

Bayern Munich proved its supremacy on Sunday night with an impressive 5-1 win over chief rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Despite another two goals by Robert Lewandowski (who has now scored 12 goals in four games) and two goals by Thomas Muller (one from the penalty spot), the celebrated player was a defender.

Jerome Boateng produced brilliant assists for the first and the third goals. The 50m passes by the German national clearly surprised Dortmund’s defenders and made the difference in what was expected to be the tightest Bundesliga game for Pep Guardiola’s team.

“This is something I practice everyday,” Boateng succinctly commented after the game. “We have to get back to the basics of tackling,” a bitter Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel stated after the game.

…SEVERAL LOSSES MAKE IT A PERFECT WEEKEND FOR BAYERN

Bayern’s win gave Pep Guardiola’s team a seven-point lead over Dortmund, but the black-and-yellow are still in second place in the Bundesliga table. Schalke deservedly lost 3-0 at home to 1. FC Köln, barely creating any good scoring chances despite 66 per cent ball possession and 17 shots on the goal. Wolfsburg lost 2-0 to Monchengladbach on the road, and are now 12 points behind. “We will try to make this season as unexciting as possible,” Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller replied when being asked if the Bundesliga will now be ruled by boredom.

LENO’S BAD LUCK RIGHT BEFORE NATIONAL TEAM CALL-UP

Bayer Leverkusen failed to pick up three points at home against crisis-ridden Augsburg, thanks to an own goal by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Defender Jonathan Tah played a short pass towards the goalie, who then was surprised by a bump in the pitch as the ball scuttled into the goal. The embarrassing incident came right before Leno’s first call up to the German national team squad for the two upcoming European Championship qualifiers. After Karim Bellarabi scored the equaliser before halftime, Hakan Calhanoglu missed a penalty for Leverkusen and was substituted four minutes later.

FORMER HOFFENHEIM HERO IBISEVIC FINDS A NEW HOME

The new Bundesliga surprise team is Hertha BSC Berlin after a home 3-0 win over Hamburger SV, triggering a unique stadium atmosphere amid Berlin’s celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Germany’s reunification. Without any real dominance in the game, a Hertha side that finished 15th last season is now profiting from the efficiency of new striker Vedad Ibisevic. The 31-year-old was written off last year when he failed to score a single goal for VfB Stuttgart. Back in the season 2007/08, Ibisevic led Hoffenheim to a spectacular season by scoring 18 goals in the first-half of the season, almost taking away the title from Bayern Munich. He already scored four goals now for his new team, and seems to be fit again after last season’s troubles.

GERMAN MEDIA SCEPTICAL ABOUT KLOPP TAKING LIVERPOOL JOB

Gossip that Jurgen Klopp might become Brendan Rodgers’ successor at Liverpool hit the German media early Monday morning. The former manager of Borussia Dortmund had denied connections with the Reds as early as June of this year, and had just recently reiterated that he is not planning a comeback any time soon. Rumours that Klopp could leave for England leaves many German journalists surprised. They see the 48-year-old as the unofficial, but already certified, successor to Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich next year. Klopp’s latest refusal came only a week ago, when the Mexican Football Association announced that he would not be the new manager of the national team.

LOSING AMID OPPONENTS FANS

Dieter Hecking had to go through an especially tough punishment on Saturday afternoon. Wolfsburg’s manager was sent to the stands in the 74th minute in Monchengladbach, after kicking out at an advertising board with his foot. He then found himself in the middle of an enthusiastic home crowd taking pictures of the 51-year-old. Five minutes after being sent to the stands, Gladbach scored their second goal by Ibrahima Traore – and Hecking had to take a full load of abuse from fans cheering in his direction. “Next time, I will head to the locker room,” Hecking stated after the game.