3 Bundesliga Konferenz storylines – Matchday 6: Leipzig, Boniface ...

3 Bundesliga Konferenz storylines – Matchday 6: Leipzig, Boniface and Bochum

Borussia Dortmund kickstarted Matchday 7 in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at the Westfalenstadion on Friday night, which set up an excellent Konferenz on the Saturday. With 13 goals across five games on Saturday afternoon, fans have been treated to some excellent goals across Germany.

Here are three storylines from the Bundesliga Konferenz.

Goals from Xavi Simons and Willi Orban secured a 2-0 win for RB Leipzig as Marco Rose’s side top the Bundesliga. Should Bayern Munich fail to beat Stuttgart in the Bundesliga Topspiel, it will remain that way as the title race pendulum takes a huge swing with just four points separating the top six.

It comes after Rose gave an interview to the DFL during the international break, commenting on the Bundesliga title race and managing expectations in Leipzig. The Meisterschale has eluded the Saxony club since their promotion to the top flight in 2016 but with attacking talent such as Benjamin Šeško, Loïs Openda, Antonio Nusa and Simons on show, this campaign feels like an excellent opportunity that they must grasp.

Victor Boniface had an excellent opportunity to put Bayer Leverkusen in an early lead from the spot but despite being a prolific penalty scorer, the Nigerian fluffed his lines in front of Kevin Trapp. Perhaps relief for the visiting Eintracht Frankfurt given the decision to award Bayer a spot kick for Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe’s foul on Amine Adli seemed a little harsh.

But after going 1-0 down via Omar Marmoush, Bayer Leverkusen responded well. Robert Andrich equalised less than ten minutes later, before Boniface scored the winning goal in the final 20 minutes – his fifth Bundesliga goal of the season, and his third goal in Leverkusen’s last four league games as Xabi Alonso’s side return to winning ways after successive defeats.

Christian Gamboa’s 76th minute goal against Hoffenheim gave the travelling Bochum fans some hope of a comeback at 2-1 prior to Haris Tabakovic’s stoppage time goal secured a 3-1 win for the hosts. It now means that Bochum are winless after seven Bundesliga games, and will end the weekend rock bottom, four points adrift of St. Pauli who occupy the relegation playoff.

With Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen in their next three Bundesliga games, it remains to be seen where Bochum’s next point will come from.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder