Bundesliga, Matchday 14: No changes at the top as Potsdam, Duisburg, and Frankfurt all victorious

By Olaf Goldbecker – A seemingly easy Sunday for the top teams was scheduled, facing teams that all are in the relegation battle. Yet only Wolfsburg with the assumed most difficult task against Bayern Munich collected an easy win. The other three had to tremble long for their points. On the bottom, Hamburg was the winner of the matchday after defeating direct opponent Leipzig.

SC Freiburg v 1.FFC Turbine Potsdam 0:2 (0:1)

Southwestern tip of Germany against northeastern located Potsdam, the match with the longest travel distance in the league, featured the big question if top placed Turbine can find itself back on track. Potsdam’s performance still wasn’t great, but it was enough. Genoveva Anomna scored in the 12thminute of the game to give the team a lead. The insurance marker was scored with 10 minutes left on the clock by Patricia Hanebeck.

Hamburger SV v Lokomotive Leipzig 2:0 (2:0)

An important battle in the relegation fight was won by Hamburg.  Marie-Louise Bagehorn got her team on track early in the 2nd minute. Halfway through the second half, substitute player Maike Timmermann cared for the decision.

FF USV Jena v 1.FFC Frankfurt 0:2 (0:1)

This time Frankfurt also had a tough life beating a team from the bottom. After half an hour, Kerstin Garefrekes put her team on the scoreboard but Jena delivered a hard battle. With only four minutes left on the clock, Dszenifer Maroszan secured the three points.

VfL Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich 3:0 (2:0)

Wolfsburg took advantage of a major defensive mistake in the 5th minute to score an early lead by Anna Blässe, and then they got help from Munich, which scored an own goal by Sandra de Pol in a rather harmless situation after 17 minutes. Munich did not open up against the strong counter attacking team from Wolfsburg, which led to a midfield battle with rare scoring opportunities. In minute 69, Conny Pohlers wiped out all doubts, although nobody could really see how Munich would be able to get a point since it took until minute 78 until they created their first and only scoring chance.

SG Essen-Schönebeck v SC Bad Neuenahr 0:2 (0:1)

It always is the same old story. Games of Bad Neuenahr have a winning factor and that one carries Celia Okoyino da Mbabi. A penalty kick after a quarter hour helped the visitors get on track. In period two, it was Okoyino da Mbabi again after an hour, who cared for the goal – she has scored eight now with her team having a total of 15 goals. For Essen, it was the fifth straight loss and they are starting to get worried about losing their comfort zone.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen – FCR Duisburg 0:1 (0:0)

Almost another surprise by the last-place team, but Mandy Islacker rejected this. Only four minutes were left on the clock when the road team clinched the three points against the hard-battling relegation candidate.

Situation: No changes on top since all teams won. Potsdam still leads by three points over Duisburg, who has one game more to play. Frankfurt follows one behind Duisburg, and is one point ahead of Wolfsburg, which still has two games more to play. Leading the mid-table now is Bad Neuenahr with 18 points ahead of Freiburg with the same number and Essen with 17 points. Bayern Munich with 13 is not free of worries, but is still having an easier life than the bottom four. Hamburg jumps to 12 and has the best goal difference of the bottom teams. Jena also stands at 12. On relegation spots are Leipzig with 9 and Leverkusen with 4.

Coming up next will be makeup games on Wednesday. Leipzig hosts Duisburg, Wolfsburg hosts Jena, and Hamburg meets Munich.