Modeste makes the most of it for Dortmund While we’ll give an honorable mention to the brilliant Moussa Diaby for his thunderbolt in Xabi Alonso’s coaching debut for Bayer Leverkusen , the Bundesliga ‘s real star this weekend in front of net was journeyman striker Anthony Modeste . Why? Because he brought Borussia Dortmund back from the brink of yet another Der Klassiker defeat at home to Bayern Munich, scoring in the 95th minute to earn BVB a precious point that ensures the title race will remain interesting for a while longer.
The goal itself wasn’t particularly aesthetic, but it was a just reward for a player who’s struggled to know how to help this Dortmund side in transition and still reeling from Sebastien Haller ‘s cancer diagnosis. Yet on Saturday with the fabled Yellow Wall cheering him (and his teammates on), he twice found a way to make an impact.
– Watch again: Dortmund 2-2 Bayern Munich (ESPN+, U.S. only)
With Bayern cruising at 2-0 up following a Leon Goretzka rocket and Leroy Sane finish either side of half-time, Modeste’s movement and intelligence helped set up Youssoufa Moukoko for a thundering strike 16 minutes from full-time, and after Bayern sub Kingsley Coman was dismissed for a second yellow card in the final minute of regular time, Modeste outmuscled Noussair Mazraoui at the back post to nod home Nico Schlotterbeck ‘s lofted cross with virtually the last action of the game.
Not only did the result frustrate the heck out of Bayern legend Oliver Kahn in the stands, but it kept Bayern reined in as the pack of teams at the top continue to jostle for position. Sometimes, a draw can feel like a win and Saturday surely felt that way at Signal Iduna Park. — Tyler
Perfect 10 for Milan’s Diaz
Of course, we could question Juventus ‘ defending, and especially Leonardo Bonucci ‘s (who was not on a yellow by the way) for allowing Brahim Diaz to run the whole half of the pitch before scoring. However, it was an exceptional goal from the Spaniard in AC Milan ‘s exceptional 2-0 win over Juve on Saturday at a packed San Siro.
The pace, the balance, the acceleration and then the finish from the former Malaga prodigy was breathtaking. You won’t see a better goal this weekend and not many this season either. To score it straight after half-time to give his team a two goal lead was huge as well.
We tend to forget that the former Manchester City attacking midfielder is only 23 and even if he needs to be more consistently decisive, goals like this will surely help. — Laurens
All class from Pulisic
Graham Potter’s decision to rotate his Chelsea team heavily in between Champions League matches against AC Milan gave several players an unexpected opportunity against Wolves on Saturday.
Christian Pulisic capped a promising display with an expertly taken goal, exchanging passes with Mason Mount , whose return ball was exquisite, before clipping a delicate finish over Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa . — Olley
Teams in trouble Foxes in a hole
This might be the weekend Leicester City fans realise they really are in a relegation battle. Coming off the back of their 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest , Brendan Rodgers will have looked at the trip to Bournemouth as a chance to show his team had turned a corner.
It started so well with Patson Daka ‘s goal after 10 minutes but Bournemouth’s comeback to win 2-1 means Leicester have now lost seven of their nine games this season. Confidence should have been high after the result against Forest and a game against a newly promoted side represented a perfect opportunity to pick up points, but instead Leicester are again rooted in the bottom three — Dawson
Schalke feel the pain
It’s fair to say that expectations were modest for Schalke 04 this season, having finished 16th last year in their return to the Bundesliga. And yet this campaign already feels like a lost cause, with Saturday’s 4-0 shellacking by Bayer Leverkusen further proof of their slumping demeanor. Xabi Alonso’s senior coaching debut, having arrived just three days ago, was an easy welcome to the German league as his side tore through a naive Schalke rearguard time and again.
After Diaby’s wonder strike from distance in the 38th minute came three easy goals that looked like training ground moves. Surgical passing and clever runs opened the Royal Blues like a can opener, with Diaby twice combining with Jeremie Frimpong for simple side footed finishes, with Paulinho adding a fourth late on by capping another simple passing pattern.
Schalke haven’t won in the Bundesliga since Sept. 10, scoring three times and conceding eight in defeats to Dortmund, Augsburg and Leverkusen. They face an easier run of games until the visit of Bayern Munich in the final round before the World Cup , but it’ll take some time effort to truly course-correct. –Tyler
Weekend MVP Ter Stegen Barca’s forgotten hero
Barcelona invested heavily in their attacking artillery in the summer but it was goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who earned them three points against Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Ter Stegen made a string of late saves as Barca clung on to a 1-0 win at Camp Nou which took them back to the top of the league going into next weekend’s Clasico against Real Madrid.
The pick of the bunch came from Iago Aspas , who had scored nine times in 11 games against Ter Stegen for Celta before Sunday’s encounter. Aspas received the ball unmarked in the 84th minute, eight yards out, but his shot was brilliantly turned behind by the German stopper’s leg for a corner.
There were also saves from Unai Nunez and Hugo Mallo as Celta really piled on the pressure in the final stages of the game. Barca were also thankful to some last-ditch blocks, including one brilliant one from Marcos Alonso , who was playing as a makeshift centre-back.
Ter Stegen has now kept seven clean sheets in eight league games this season, conceding just one goal in that time. He has saved 19 of the 20 shots he has faced and not conceded in over 600 LaLiga minutes. Next up in the league is that trip to Madrid, who have doubts about their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ‘ fitness going into the fixture. — Marsden