Borussia Dortmund commenced Matchday 7 in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory at the Westfalenstadion on Friday night, paving the way for an exciting Konferenz on Saturday. A total of 13 goals were scored in five matches during the Saturday afternoon fixtures, providing fans across Germany with thrilling moments.
Here are three key storylines from the Bundesliga Konferenz.
RB Leipzig Takes the Lead, for Now
RB Leipzig secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Xavi Simons and Willi Orban, placing Marco Rose’s team at the top of the Bundesliga standings. If Bayern Munich does not manage to win against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga Topspiel, Leipzig will maintain their position, signaling a shift in the title race with only four points separating the top six teams.
This victory follows an interview Rose gave to the DFL during the international break, discussing the Bundesliga title race and the need to manage expectations at Leipzig. The Meisterschale has been elusive for the club since their promotion to the top flight in 2016, but with attacking talents like Benjamin Šeško, Loïs Openda, Antonio Nusa, and Simons in the lineup, this season appears to present a significant opportunity.
Victor Boniface Shines Again
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface had a chance to give his team an early advantage from the penalty spot, but despite his reputation as a skilled penalty taker, he missed against goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. This may have been a relief to Eintracht Frankfurt, as the penalty awarded for Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe’s foul on Amine Adli seemed somewhat controversial.
After falling behind 1-0 to Omar Marmoush’s goal, Bayer Leverkusen responded quickly. Robert Andrich equalized less than ten minutes later, and Boniface netted the winning goal in the final twenty minutes, marking his fifth Bundesliga goal of the season and his third goal in the last four league games. This win helps Xabi Alonso’s side bounce back after two consecutive defeats.
Bochum Remains Without a Win
Christian Gamboa gave Bochum fans a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 76th minute against Hoffenheim, bringing the score to 2-1. However, Haris Tabakovic’s stoppage-time goal sealed a 3-1 victory for the hosts. Bochum is now winless after seven Bundesliga matches and will head into the weekend at the bottom of the table, four points behind St. Pauli, who are in the relegation playoff position.
With upcoming matches against Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bayer Leverkusen, it remains uncertain when Bochum will earn their first point of the season.