Five things we learned from the Bundesliga at the weekend

Berlin (AFP) – Leaders Borussia Dortmund and second-placed Bayern Munich both posted thumping wins over struggling opponents to leave the six points gap at the top of the Bundesliga table unchanged.

Club captain and playmaker Marco Reus proved again why his fitness is essential to Dortmund’s chances of winning the title for the first time since 2012 by orchestrating Saturday’s 5-1 rout of Hanover 96.

Bayern’s attacking midfielder Leon Goretzka is also shining with three goals in his last two games to keep the defending champions on Dortmund’s heels after Sunday’s 4-1 home win over Stuttgart on Sunday.

Here are five things we learned after the 19th round of Bundesliga matches:

Dortmund need Reus fit

Injury-prone playmaker Reus is crucial to Dortmund’s chances of beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League’s last 16 with the first leg rapidly approaching on February 13 in London.

A twisted ankle saw Reus miss last weekend’s 1-0 win at RB Leipzig as Dortmund struggled to create chances after Axel Witsel’s first-half goal.

However, Dortmund were a different side with Reus back to his best, ripping apart Hanover’s defence and scoring Dortmund’s second which led to a flurry of three goals in seven minutes to turn the win into a rout.

It is not just his 12 league goals and nine assists which make the difference – Reus creates space, leaving the likes of England winger Jadon Sancho more room to terrify defences.

Bayern stars rue lapses

Bayern earned their seventh straight league win against Stuttgart, but the defending champions were far from happy.

With the score 1-1 just after the break, Stuttgart squandered a great chance at the Allianz Arena when Stuttgart’s Nico Gonzalez hit the post, just before Munich star Robert Lewandowski cannoned a penalty off the post.

Bayern pulled away with three more goals, but Goretzka knows a better side would have punished them with Liverpool looming in the Champions League, last 16 away tie at Anfield on February 19. 

“We have to improve, because completely different opponents are coming in the next few weeks,” said Goretzka.

And Joshua Kimmich said Bayern can ill afford more lapses in concentration, “we have to win every game at the moment, if we drop any more points that it (the league title race) is as good as over.”

Schalke’s injury woes

As if facing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League’s last 16 was not enough, Schalke must deal with an injury crisis after three players went off in Friday’s 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2G2Qrgu