Kevin-Prince Boateng was on target again, but Schalke could not get the better of Hoffenheim in a six-goal thriller
Kevin-Prince Boateng was on target again, but Schalke could not get the better of Hoffenheim in a six-goal thriller
Goal-den Saturday in the Bundesliga
Munich - The Bundesliga came up trumps with another goal-packed Saturday afternoon on Matchday 7, from which Hertha Berlin and Bayer 04 Leverkusen both emerged triumphant while Hoffenheim and Schalke shared six.
1899 Hoffenheim 3-3 FC Schalke 04
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True to their season form, 1899 Hoffenheim were involved in another goal fest, this time against FC Schalke 04, the sides sharing six goals between them at the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar Arena.
Goals galore
Kevin-Prince Boateng, employed up front by Schalke coach Jens Keller, needed just three minutes to put the Royal Blues in front, and when Joel Matip made it two in the 11th minute, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Markus Gisdol’s men. A further five minutes down the line, however, Anthony Modeste knocked in his sixth goal of the campaign from close range to get the hosts right back into the game.
Marco Höger restored Schalke’s two-goal advantage before the interval with a fine individual effort, but Hoffenheim still refused to lie down and a Roberto Firmino penalty early in the second half once again hauled them within touching distance of the men from Gelsenkirchen. David Abraham curled in a delightful free-kick to bring the hosts level with just under half an hour to go and Firmino came within inches of winning it for them late on, drilling a shot off the underside of the bar as Schalke ended up hanging on for a point.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 Hannover 96
Goals from Simon Rolfes and Sidney Sam helped Bayer 04 Leverkusen keep the pressure on Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at the top, securing a 2-0 victory over Hannover 96.
Captain's job
The result leaves Leverkusen six points clear of their fourth-place opponents and they were good value for the win at the BayArena, even if Szabolcs Huszti caused the first flutter of home hearts early on. Once Bayer settled into their stride, however, they had too much firepower for a Hannover side who came into the game having failed to earn a single point on the road so far this season.
Skipper Rolfes powered a header past guest keeper Ron-Robert Zieler to put the Werkself in front and Sam doubled their lead before the break, supplying a sublime outside-of-the-boot finish to Heung Min Son’s assist. With the points effectively in the bag, Sami Hyypiä's men saw the win out with something to spare and can now start focusing on their midweek UEFA Champions League tie with Real Sociedad de Fútbol.
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Hertha Berlin 3-1 1. FSV Mainz 05
Hertha Berlin came from behind to take the points against 1. FSV Mainz, Sami Allagui haunting his former club with two goals in the 3-1 win at the Olympiastadion.
Müller stings Berlin
Nicolai Müller demonstrated his predatory instinct to grab his sixth goal of the season and get Mainz off to a flyer in the capital, scrambling the ball in from close range. Thomas Tuchel’s men, without a win since Matchday 3, had doubtless not forgotten, however, that Müller’s opener against Hannover in their previous away game had only stung their opponents into action and saw them beaten 4-1. And as it transpired, Berlin responded in like manner, with Änis Ben-Hatira menacing the Mainz rearguard and setting up a useful chance which Ronny failed to make the most of.
It was only a matter of time before they did pull level, Allagui getting the better of his former club to net his fourth goal of the season. That, incidentally, is as many as he scored in 19 games as a Mainz player two years ago. He went one better to put Hertha in front in the 73rd minute, beating Heinz Müller with a shot that the Mainz goalkeeper will probably think he could, and should, have kept out. Müller had no chance with Hertha's third, though, Ben-Hatira drilling home a 25-yarder to seal the win.
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