🇩🇪 BuLi Breakdown: Schalke lose again, 10-man Union battle to draw | OneFootball

The first Englische Woche of the Bundesliga’s return was completed on Wednesday with four (okay, three) cracking games.

In the earlier match a late Krzysztof Piątek penalty ensured that Hertha Berlin drew 2-2 with RB Leipzig and stayed unbeaten under new boss Bruno Labbadia.

You can read all about that match right here.

Wagner’s requiem

Schalke hadn’t won a game since January 17 and travelled to a relegation-threatened Fortuna Düsseldorf with three points on their mind.

David Wagner’s side were hurting after their embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home to Augsburg at the weekend but started the brighter of the two teams here.

Daniel Caligiuri was the man who went closest, firing a shot straight at the goalkeeper from 18 yards after 20 minutes, but it was an early performance that would have pleased the coach.

It wasn’t until after half-time though where the visitors finally took the lead.

A free kick from the left found an unmarked Weston McKennie, who connected brilliantly with a diving header and opened the scoring.

It didn’t stay that way for long, however.

A long-range free kick was palmed away by Markus Schubert, but only as far as Rouwen Hennings who simply headed in from two yards out.

And just three minutes later, the comeback was complete.

A corner from the left was headed back into the box by Hennings, and there was Kenan Karaman to nod in from the goal line.

No hassle for the Hoff

It was 9th versus 10th at the PreZero Arena with Hoffenheim looking to bounce back from their 1-1 away draw at Paderborn at the weekend.

And the hosts got off to the perfect start after just 10 minutes – a low cross from the left-hand side found Christoph Baumgartner, who placed in the perfect finish from 12 yards.

Things got even worse for Köln 10 minutes later though, as Sebastiaan Bornauw received his marching orders after a shocking tackle on Baumgartner.

It looked like things had gone from bad to worse for the visitors on the stroke of half time, only for Hoffenheim’s second to be disallowed for offside.

Immediately after the break however, the hosts did make it two.

A cross from the right found Baumgartner who headed back across goal and into the back of the net.

Hoffenheim were humming now and just a few moments later were 3-0 up.

Some brilliant work from Baumgartner on the edge of the area saw the striker flick the ball to Steven Zuber, who rifled a first time effort into the far corner for arguably the goal of the night.

But Köln get going and grabbed a goal back on the hour mark.

A goal kick was flicked on into the path of Florian Kainz, whose shot was deflected up over the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.

Union fight for the cause

After their bruising 4-0 defeat to city rivals Hertha last Friday, Union were on the hunt for a victory against 15th placed Mainz.

But it was the away side who started the brightest and made their dominance count after only 14 minutes with Bote Baku firing in from the edge of the area.

But the capital club weren’t to be deterred and quickly found an equaliser.

A free kick from Marcus Ingvartsen wrong-footed the Mainz goalkeeper and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Just before half-time however the home team were handed a huge disadvantage as Robert Andrich received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

After the break, Union held on well and claimed an invaluable point in spite of incessant Mainz pressure.

Schrödinger’s football match

Rock bottom Paderborn were under no impressions here – they had to win or would stay four points adrift at the bottom of the Bundesliga.

But they failed to ignite during an uninspiring first half that was low on quality and non-existent when it came to chances.

Sven Michel had the best chance of the game, galloping through towards the end of the second half only to fire his effort straight at the goalkeeper.

Jesus this was awful.

If you made it this far, well done.