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Best of Bundesliga: Heynckes hits milestone

November 19, 2017

Bayern Munich's defeat of Augsburg had special significance for head coach Jupp Heynckes. Elsewhere, Schalke seized upon a chance to go second, while Bremen picked up a first win of the season.

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Deutschland Bayern München - RB Leipzig | Heynckes und Lewandowski
Image: picture alliance/dpa/S. Hoppe

Good week for:Heiko Herrlich, Arturo Vidal, Home teams, Max Kruse & Fin Bartels

Bad week for: Dortmund, Caiuby, VAR, Cologne

Best bits

— Bayern's 3-0 win over Augsburg not only put them six points clear at the top of the table, it was also Bundesliga win number 500 for Jupp Heynckes. The 72-year-old won 174 as a player and a remarkable 326 as a head coach. Heynckes has more wins in Germany's top flight than any other.

Borussia Mönchengladbach climbed into the top four after putting on an attacking masterclass against Hertha Berlin. Unfortunately their backline weren't as on the ball as their counterparts with the six-goal thriller ending in a 4-2 win for the Foals. Nevertheless, head coach Dieter Hecking maintained that he wasn't "offering any dreams".

— For the first time in five years, Schalke ended a Bundesliga Matchday in the top two. The Royal Blues picked up a gritty 2-0 win over Hamburg to move them above Leipzig, but more important, three points clear of bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund, who they face in the Revierderby next weekend.

Deutschland Bundesliga Schlake 04 gegen Hamburger SV | Burgstaller
Guido Burgstaller scored Schalke's second in the 2-0 win over Hamburg.Image: Getty Images/AFP/P. Stollarz

— After a record-breaking seven consecutive draws to start life under head coach Martin Schmidt, Wolfsburg finally got a win. The 3-1 victory against Freiburg means the club still has yet to lose under their new boss, collecting 10 points in Schmidt's first eight games.

Bremen picked up their first win of the season in Florian Kohfeldt's first game as head coach. Fin Bartels opened the scoring before Kruse netted a second-half hat-trick, meaning Werder scored as many goals inside 90 minutes as they had in the opening 11 games of the season.

Robert Lewandowski moved three goals clear at the top of the Bundesliga goalscoring charts, seizing upon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's absence in Dortmund's 2-1 loss to Stuttgart, and netting a brace against Augsburg.

Max Kruse sent a timely reminder to Germany head coach Joachim Löw of his goalscoring abilities as he inspired Werder Bremen to a convincing 4-0 win over Hannover 96 at the Weser Stadion. Having not scored yet this season, Kruse took home the match ball after scoring three times in the space of 23 minutes.

Deutschland Werder Bremen - Hannover 96 | Jubel
Max Kruse fired Bremen out of the automatic relegation spots on Matchday 12.Image: imago/Nordphoto/Dostmann

Best quotes

— "Uli can't text."

Stuttgart's manager Michael Reschke after Stuttgart's 2-1 over Dortmund when asked he would get a congratulatory text message from Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness.

— "I've just had a look at the pictures and I can't see any contact."

Referee Dr. Felix Brych after reviewing the penalty incident that gave Mainz the only goal in their win vs. Cologne.

— "The table isn't important after 12 Matchdays. We'll look where we are at the end of the season, but it is incredibly tight at the top."

Schalke head coach Domenico Tedesco on his side moving into second place after the win over Hamburg.

— "Unfortunately I can't bring myself off the bench!"

Hannover head coach Andre Breitenreiter after being informed that he scored more goals against Werder Bremen (four) than any other team in his playing career.

— "The important thing is what the legs are doing, but I do look a little bit quicker out on the pitch with my hair like this."

Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski on his new silver-blonde hairstyle.

Fußball Bundesliga FC Bayern - FC Augsburg
Bayern's new silver fox struck twice against Augsburg.Image: Imago/Eibner

— "A shot like that often ends up in the forest in training. Today it went in!"

Eintracht Frankfurt's Kevin-Prince Boateng gives a frank account of his opening goal in the 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim.

— "We're still a bit green when it comes to playing with a man advantage."

Leipzig head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl after seeing his side draw 2-2 with Leverkusen despite having an extra man for almost 40 minutes of the match.

Bizarre Bundesliga

In Mainz, referee Dr. Felix Brych awarded a penalty after consulting with the VAR for an apparent foul on Pablo de Blasis by Frederik Sörensen. The video review showed no contact, suggesting a perfect chance for the technology to step in and make the game fairer. However, the penalty was awarded, Mainz scored and ended up winning the game as a result. Cologne's frustration grew afterwards when Brych said that in his exchange during the decision he was informed there had been contact and that was also reiterated after the game. In the end, Cologne were still without a win after 12 games.

Deutschland FSV Mainz 05 - 1. FC Köln
Cologne have often drawn the short straw on VAR decisions this season.Image: picture alliance/dpa/T. Frey

Injuries/Suspensions

— Cologne's Frederik Sörensen picked up a yellow in Mainz and will now miss the club's game vs. Hertha Berlin. The Cathedral City side will also be without Simon Zoller for the remainder of the year after the forward picked up a thigh injury in Mainz.

— Stuttgart duo Chadrac Akolo (thigh) and Daniel Ginczek (adductor) are both set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up knocks in the win over Dortmund.

— Sokratis Papastathopoulos broke a rib in the loss to Stuttgart, but Dortmund are yet to rule him out of next weekend's Revierderby against Schalke.

 After opening the scoring from the spot, Franco di Santo was brought off at half-time in Schalke's 2-0 win over Hamburg due to a thigh problem.