The two top goalscorers in the league continue to battle it out with smiles on their faces. There’s hope at the bottom of the table, and a headache for one side near the top. Here are the Matchday 24 talking points.Top strikers battle off
Two of the world’s finest goalscorers are in the Bundesliga and both are enjoying career-best seasons. Robert Lewandowski brought up a century of goals for Bayern Munich in their win against Frankfurt in just 136 games – only Gerd Müller managed it quicker. On the same day, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched his 22nd league goal of the season – a tally which keeps the Gabon striker top of the Bundesliga’s scoring charts. Lewandowski displayed all of his scoring instincts in collecting his brace, as the Pole continues to perform beyond suitable adjectives. Dortmund’s defeat on the day sidelined the head-to-head between these two top strikers, but as the final stretch of the 2016/17 season approaches it is clear how good these two are. The Bundesliga is often labeled for being a developing league, but these two players are in their prime and they deserve to be enjoyed.
Darmstadt dreaming
After three weeks of improvement and plenty of positive signs, Darmstadt were finally rewarded with three points. Torsten Frings’ side played well against Hoffenheim, Augsburg and Werder Bremen but ran out of steam and lacked quality – a season-long issue. Against Mainz, two early goals helped them handle a late storm to win their first game since that sensational upset against Dortmund in mid-February. Fittingly, it came on an emotional day for the club too. It’s only their fourth win of the season, but two have come under Frings and there’s no denying they are playing much, much better since the former Germany international was in charge. Survival still looks as unlikely, but they’ll go down fighting and that’s nothing more than their fairytale story deserves.
Leipzig slowing
There’s always a crash after a rush and Leipzig look like they’re entering theirs. After defeats to Dortmund and Hamburg made headlines at the start of Feburary, Leipzig’s title challenge was put on ice. A draw in Augsburg and a home defeat to Wolfsburg later, and that dream is all but over as Leipzig sit 10 points behind Bayern. Leipzig were far from the force they have been this season against the visiting Wolves and how Ralph Hasenhüttl and his side handle this bumpy stretch of form could prove pivotal come the end of the season. Their fixture list into the final 10 games sees them face either sides in the relegation fight or chasing a European spot – either way, teams playing for something.
Wolfsburg worth their win
Without wishing to get caught up in the usual excitement surrounding the arrival of a new manager, Wolfsburg’s appointment of Andries Jonker looks a good one. Wolfsburg beat Leipzig by solitary goal – a very well-taken one by Mario Gomez it should be said – but it should have been more. The win lifts them three clear of the relegation playoff spot, and quite remarkably pulls Schalke into an end-of-season hole. Before the end of the season, Jonker will face Weinzierl’s Schalke, as well as Hamburg, Darmstadt and Ingolstadt. There will be more than enough opportunities for the club to banish this horrible season to the history books, and on the basis of this performance they will be looking forward sooner rather than later.
