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Bundesliga Matchday 13: Top five talking points

December 3, 2016

Matchday 13 proved to be one of the most exciting of the season so far. A busy afternoon saw 19 goals, comebacks and some penalty drama. From BVB's attack to Nagelsmann's magic, here are the top talking points.

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Fußball Bundesliga TSG Hoffenheim vs. 1 FC Köln
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Querfurth

1. Rolls Reus revs BVB's attack

Dortmund's attack purred on their way to victory against Gladbach. Marco Reus delivered three assists, Ousmane Dembele delivered his best performance in yellow and black and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took his goal tally to 15 for the Bundesliga season. It was a complete display, and a perfectly timed one after Thomas Tuchel's criticism last weekend. This was a performance that flowed, was fun to watch and showed just how much of a connection Dortmund's attackers have with one another. Only one person will be more excited than the Dortmund fans after such an awesome attacking performance and that's Mario Götze. Presumably.

2. Nagelsmann continues to prove his quality

The Bundesliga's clutch of surprise teams are all looking to turn their weekly successes into something lasting and with just four games left until the halfway point of the season, every team is desperate to get an edge before the winter break. Hoffenheim, Cologne and Hertha are all vying for a European spot and in Sinsheim, Julian Nagelsmann continued  to work his magic against a Cologne side who never recovered from the injury of Marcel Risse. Hoffenheim had more of the ball, more chances and were just the better team. Frederik Sörensen was turned inside out on the second goal and that's a bit how Cologne must have felt at the end of the game too. For the 13th time this season, Hoffenheim have finished their weekend without tasting defeat. Everyone might be asking who can beat Leipzig, but the same question could be asked of Nagelsmann's men.

3. Werner keeps scoring, but at a cost

Nineteen seconds into Leipzig's game against Schalke, Timo Werner dived for a penalty that he won and scored. Instead of scoring his eighth of the season, Werner had the chance to apologize and tell the referee the truth - as Aaron Hunt and Miroslav Klose have both done in the recent past. Werner didn't. While it might be "part of the game" to dive, it's a shame to see a young, talented player not only go against what he likely learned at youth level but also pass up on the chance to play fairly. Given the headlines Leipzig have been making off the pitch all season, some fair play on it would have been welcome.

 

4. A day for firsts

It was a day of firsts on matchday 13 as seven players scored their first goals of the league season. Freiburg's Janik Haberer scored his first ever Bundesliga goal in their win away at Leverkusen, and Max Kruse notched his first since returning to Bremen from Wolfsburg.

Wolfsburg unbelievably missed the chance to win their first home game of the season, but new striker Borja Mayoral and youth talent Paul Seguin scored the first goals of their careers. Seguin later saw his first red card too, as Hertha completed a great comeback aided by Marvin Plattenhardt's first goal of the season.

In Sinsheim, Jeremy Toljan scored opened his account for the season for Hoffenheim and Markus Suttner scored his first ever for Ingolstadt, albeit in vain against Werder Bremen. Timo Werner's penalty against Schalke was not only his first of the season from the spot, but also Leipzig's first peanlty at home this season.

Fußball Bundesliga Bayer 04 Leverkusen - SC Freiburg
Janik Haberer celebrates his first Bundesliga goalImage: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Grimm

 

5. Wolfsburg howling for help

Despite twice taking the lead, Wolfsburg ended up losing at home against Hertha. The worst part was they deserved to. The club's form is worrying and they still haven't won at home this season. Julian Draxler's future adds a further cloud to a gathering storm at Wolfsburg. The midfielder came off the bench for the final 12 minutes, but the sparkle he had this summer for Germany has been extinguished. All he got was a bunch of whistles from the home fans, something he later labellled "not supportive." If Wolfsburg press the reset button and sell him in January, they may have a chance to climb out of their mess. But even if Draxler leaves, he isn't their only problem - as 10 points from 13 games proves. With Bayern, Frankfurt and Gladbach left to play before the break, Christmas could be far colder for the Wolves.