# Farcical failures for Bundesliga big boys underline European pressures

## Introduction
After all the big moments, the daring comebacks, the thrilling crescendos, it felt like they had finally run out of road. Having both been substituted, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong sat on the visitors’ bench at the Allianz Arena as time ticked down, a seat apart, both yelling, maybe at each other, maybe just into the ether. Finally Wirtz covered his face with his hands.

Of all the images of  between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, this was the one that stuck. Frustration is to be expected, particularly in the dying embers of a bad defeat against a domestic and European rival, but this was something that we have rarely seen from Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen. Setbacks happen, but he and his players have always maintained their poise, knowing that their path is the right one and that an answer is coming. This time? Maybe not.

## Context

Fast forward and that feeling is even more entrenched. Saturday’s home loss to Werder Bremen was not only a surprise but a second successive defeat in which Leverkusen looked far from themselves. Worse still, it was a day on which they could have feasibly breathed new life into the title race, given Bayern’s own home defeat – barely believably, against Bochum. Yes, Bochum have improbably caused Bayern a few problems in recent years, beating them twice at Vonovia Ruhrstadion (although Vincent Kompany’s team swept to a 5-0 win there in autumn), but this was on Bayern’s patch. Two of Bochum’s last three visits to Munich had ended in 7-0 defeats. If Kompany was going to change almost an entire starting lineup before a Champions League match of capital importance, this felt like a safe time to do it.

Instead, the gap at the top remains eight points and – improbably after such a shambolic display – Bayern go into Tuesday’s trip north further buoyed, as well as with their 3-0 lead. Bild’s headline – “Embarrassing Bayern laugh at Leverkusen” – summed it up. The champions were given the assist of dreams and were unable to profit. The eight-point gap, fatal as it may prove to _Die Werkself_’s chances of retaining their title, never felt like it was knocking them off course. Now the faith is really being tested, with the coach even openly questioning himself.



*Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich 2-3 Bochum, Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Augsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-3 Mainz, Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Union Berlin, Freiburg 0-0 RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim 1-1 Heidenheim, Holstein Kiel 2-2 Stuttgart, Wolfsburg 1-1 St Pauli*

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## Talking points

### Team Performance
After taking over a team with just a solitary point by the start of November and losing three of his first four games in charge, Hecking has gradually transformed Bochum’s prospects, with the helping hand of two points confirmed to be added on last week after the missile-throwing incident at Union Berlin. On the pitch, Hecking’s previous no-hopers have now taken 16 points from the last 12 games, moving them up into the relegation playoff spot.

### Team Progress
New shirts, same old show for Dortmund. The new neon special jersey recalling their 1997 Champions League winners was debuted at home to Augsburg, but the miserable performance which produced a 1-0 defeat underlined that it will take more than a kit change to inspire this team before the return with Lille on Wednesday – at this point, it seems futile to talk about the Bundesliga’s top four, with BVB seven points adrift and glued to 10th place. Niko Kovac already seems at a bit of a loss, sending his players on a long run in Sunday training after a match in which they created next to nothing. At present, it feels like their trip to northern France might be their last Euro jaunt for a while.

### Team Performance
Leipzig are benefiting from BVB’s continuing woes, a 0-0 draw at Freiburg leaving them three points behind fourth place but extending their current sequence to 339 minutes without scoring away. Marco Rose is still in situ for now but another setback against Dortmund next weekend would be hard to surmount.

### Team Performance
Leipzig are benefiting from BVB’s continuing woes, a 0-0 draw at Freiburg leaving them three points behind fourth place but extending their current sequence to 339 minutes without scoring away. Marco Rose is still in situ for now but another setback against Dortmund next weekend would be hard to surmount.

## Quick Guide
### Bundesliga results
Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich 2-3 Bochum, Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Augsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-3 Mainz, Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Union Berlin, Freiburg 0-0 RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim 1-1 Heidenheim, Holstein Kiel 2-2 Stuttgart, Wolfsburg 1-1 St Pauli

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