Leverkusen's patience with coach Roger Schmidt snapped after his side were routed in Dortmund. He is joined by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Andries Jonker in the spotlight following the latest matches.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Rose
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Leverkusen's defending lets Schmidt down again
It was the straw that finally broke Roger Schmidt's back. The 6-2 defeat in Dortmund cost the Leverkusen coach his job. Sporting director Rudi Völler accurately described Bayer Leverkusen's performances this season as a "mixed bag" ahead of kick-off but the fragility of the Werkself's defending is becoming less surprising by the week. Poor organization from set-pieces saw them concede two early goals against Mainz last week and the same frailness was evident again in Dortmund this weekend. A slip by Charles Aranguiz on the edge of his own box allowed Ousmane Dembélé to fire home the opener before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, of all people, was left unmarked to nod home a second from a corner. The Gabonese was again left unmarked in the 70th minute score an almost identical goal. Leverkusen have now conceded 16 goals from set-piece situations.
Schmidt's decisions seemed somewhat strange and he can only have himself to blame. He had a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal but controversially decided to start Javier Hernandez, Kerim Bellarabi and Julian Brandt on the bench, opting instead for 17-year-old Kai Havertz.
Roger Schmidt was sacked after Leverkusen's defeat to DortmundImage: Reuters/W. Rattay
Bayern have found their rhythm
If the first half of Bayern Munich's season was characterised by a steely never-say-die attitude which saw them score late goals in tricky away matches at Hamburg, Freiburg, Ingolstadt and Hertha BSC, the champions have now found their groove. A 5-1 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League, an 8-0 thrashing of Hamburg in the Bundesliga and a 3-0 win against Schalke in the cup have been followed by a comfortable 3-0 win over Cologne which sees them extend their lead at the top to seven points.
And the goals are coming from all over the pitch. In the Cologne victory, it was defenders Javi Martinez and Juan Bernat who shot Bayern into a 2-0 lead before Franck Ribery made it three. The champions have now registered a league-high seven goals from defender. At the other end, Manuel Neuer proved once again why he is the world's best keeper with a sensational save from Yuya Osako with the game still goalless. The Bavarians ooze class all over the pitch and are slipping ominously into gear as we approach the business end of the season.
Robert Lewandowski failed to find the target, but Bayern are scoring from all areasImage: Getty Images/AFP/S. Schürmann
Aubameyang matches Lewandowski's BVB record
Robert Lewandowski scored 74 goals in 131 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund before joining Bayern Munich in summer 2014, leaving many a BVB supporter wondering how they could ever fill that gap. Well, statistically at least, they have their answer - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now eclipsed his Polish predecessor's tally and it's taken him 14 less games.
The Gabonese striker has had his critics this season. His profligacy in front of goal saw Dortmund lose 1-0 against Benfica in the Champions League and the 27-year-old has made no secret of his "dream" to join Real Madrid one day. But he underlined his importance to Thomas Tuchel's team with his goals number 104 and 105 for the club in all competitions as Dortmund hammered Leverkusen 6-2.
Another honorable mention must go to Ousmane Dembele, who posed a constant threat from the left wing against Leverkusen. The French youngster - another gem discovered by Dortmund's tireless scouting team - opened the scoring and set up Aubameyang as well.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is now fifth on Dortmund's all-time scoring chartImage: picture alliance/Pressefoto Rudel/R. Rudel
Hoffenheim have resilience as well as flare
Relegation-threatened Ingolstadt are a tough nut to crack under Maik Walpurgis and won't go down without a fight - as Champions League-chasing Hoffenheim were forced to work hard for victory. The 5-2 scoreline might look comfortable at first glance but Ingolstadt were the better team for large periods and led 2-1 after an hour.
Julian Nagelsmann's side have attracted praise for their free-flowing, attacking football but here they also showed that they are capable of digging deep and making use of a squad stocked with quality. Andrej Kramaric's entrance in the second half proved decisive as the Croatian scored Hoffenheim's third and set up their fourth in the space of two minutes as the hosts killed off the game in clinical fashion.
Andrej Kramaric came off the bench to help Hoffenheim to victoryImage: Getty Images/Bongarts/D. Kopatsch
Van Gaal-lite in Wolfsburg as Jonker and Gomez are re-united
When Louis Van Gaal was relieved of his duties at Bayern Munich in 2011, assistant manager Andries Jonker took charge for the final five games of the season, of which Bayern won four and drew one. Mario Gomez scored in every one of those games and the successful combination quickly worked again in Mainz when Gomez gave Wolfsburg the lead after 20 minutes.
At his press conference in the week, the 54-year-old Dutchman said he would bring a "clarity of ideas" and a "clear footballing philosophy" to Wolfsburg and he put this into practice by switching to a classic defensive four. The Wolves out-passed Mainz with 510 passes to their hosts' 301 and enjoyed 62% possession. But they nevertheless managed only seven shots. If today is anything to go on, the imprint of Louis Van Gaal is clear to see.
Bundesliga Matchday 23: In pictures
Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable 3-0 over Cologne, while Dortmund, Hoffenheim and Bremen also won. The top images from Matchday 23 in the Bundesliga.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
A stunner from Stafylidis
Augsburg took the lead and then came from behind to hold high-flying RB Leipzig to an entertaining 2-2 draw in Bavaria on Friday evening, as Bundesliga Matchday 23 got underway. Left-back Konstantinos Stafylidis put the hosts in front with a stunning long-range strike but Leipzig striker Timo Werner quickly drew the hosts level.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/S. Puchner
Hinteregger's revenge
Leipzig defender Marvin Compper gave the visitors the lead from a corner just after half-time but Augsburg defender Martin Hinteregger, who in summer turned down a move from Red Bull Salzburg to their Leipzig-based sister team in protest at the company's transfer policy, battled through the defense to force home an equalizer. Timo Werner missed a late chance for the visitors.
Image: picture alliance/SvenSimon/F. Hoermann
Bayern on the march
Bayern Munich are hitting form at just the right time, following up their recent league and cup successes (8-0 vs Hamburg and 3-0 vs Schalke) with a comfortable 3-0 win over Cologne. Goals from defenders Javi Martinez and Juan Bernat gave the champions a cushion before Franck Ribery finished off the scoring in injury time.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/R. Weihrauch
Aubameyang breaks Lewandowski's record
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 74th and 75th Bundesliga goals for Borussia Dortmund to eclipse the tally of his illustrious predecessor Robert Lewandowski - and it took him 14 fewer games! The Gabonese hitman was criticised for his wastefulness in front of goal when Dortmund lost to Benfica in the Champions League but has now scored four in his last two games.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Rose
Injury misery for Reus
Marco Reus has been ruled out of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Benfica on Wednesday night after suffering a suspected hamstring injury. The Black and Yellows will have to do without their playmaker as they look to overturn a one goal deficit from the first leg.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/F. Gentsch
Hit for six!
After conceding four against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and two at home to Mainz in the Bundesliga last week, Bayer Leverkusen's sloppy defending has now cost them another six goals away at Borussia Dortmund. No team in the league has conceded more goals from set-pieces than Roger Schmidt's men.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/B. Thissen
Individual quality
Leverkusen might be struggling at the back but there is no denying the individual quality which kept Bayer in the game for 75 minutes. Kevin Volland (pictured, right) scored a wonderful solo goal to make it 2-1 just after half-time before a well-placed free-kick from Wendell made it 3-2 to give the Werkself hope - but they collapsed defensively in the final 15 minutes.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/L. Baron
Gomez among the goals
Mario Gomez scored in all of Andries Joncker's five games as interim manager of Bayern Munich in 2011 and the veteran striker scored in the Dutchman's first game in the Wolfsburg hot seat this weekend - his seventh goal of the season in the Bundesliga.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Scheuber
Super-sub Kramaric
Ingolstadt were the better team for long periods in Hoffenheim but Julian Nagelsmann used his squad to full effect as the hosts fought their way to a flattering 5-2 victory. Andrej Kramaric (pictured) came off the bench to score Hoffenheim's third and set up their fourth in the space of two minutes.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/D. Kopatsch
Kruse at the double
Forward Max Kruse (pictured) struck twice in the second half as Werder Bremen secured all three points in a hard-fought victory over unlucky Darmstadt. Kruse converted from the spot with a quarter of an hour remaining before adding a second in stoppage time.
Image: picture alliance/CITYPRESS 24
Unlucky Darmstadt
New Darmstadt manager Torsten Frings could have seen his side go 2-0 up in the first ten minutes in Bremen as he returned to the stadium where he made over 300 Bundesliga appearances as a player. First, Bremen goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald saved from Aytac Sulu's header before Antonio Colak hit the post.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/C. Jaspersen
Foals soaring under Dieter Hecking
A draw Darmstadt, a loss against Leipzig. Those are the only two Bundesliga games in which Borussia Mönchengladbach have dropped points under new coach Dieter Hecking. Raffael (pictured) has returned to fine form after missing time with an injury, scoring the third goal in Gladbach's 4-2 win over Schalke.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Hitij
Sunshine in the rain
Fabian Johnson (middle) drove the scoring effort from Gladbach. He scored a goal in each half, both one-touch finishes that Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann had little chance of stopping. The rain had no affect on the American's play and his wild hairstyle.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/C. Koepsel
Perfect start
After three straight defeats, Eintracht Frankfurt could not have wished for a better start as they looked to get back on track against Freiburg. Branimir Hrgota gave the Eagles an early lead with a well-taken goal.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Grimm
Double trouble
But Frankfurt's joy was short-lived. Freiburg hit back with two goals from Florian Niederlechner (pictured left) to take all three points. Freiburg played the better football and created the better chances from open play.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Grimm
Stars and stripes
US internationals John-Anthony Brooks (pictured left) of Hertha Berlin and Hamburg's Bobby Wood (center) enjoyed an intense battle during Sunday's late game. In a hard-fought game, Wood's tenacity led to the only goal of the game...
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Rose
Vital winner
...which was scored by Albin Ekdal. The Swede registered his first ever goal for Hamburg to secure victory over Hertha and three crucial points in the battle to escape the relegation zone.
