Xabi Alonso’s gambling did not pay off! The Spaniard left his two most efficient players, Patrik Schick and Florian Wirtz, on the bench and was punished, as sturdy Wolfsburg managed to defend their home turf and salvage a goalless draw against the champions – 0-0.Lever struggled to set their pace, resulting in only one colossal chance – Nordi Mukiele’s first-half header, which flew high over the bar instead of finding the net, given that the Frenchman was three meters away from goal. Wirtz and Schick ultimately got minutes after the break, but it was too late.Not our day. Goalless in Wolfsburg. 90+7′ | 0-0 | #WOBB04 pic.twitter.com/woqeQuzzrc— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) February 8, 2025 Wolfsburg’s disallowed goal in the sixth minute due to Konstantinos Koulierakis’ offside hinted at first-half fireworks, but it turned out to be the only time the ball was in either net. The home team was an equal rival with the Bundesliga champions, as they wasted another fair chance over Tiago Tomas.However, the miss of the round (perhaps even of the season) was courtesy of Lever’s Nordi Mukiele, who managed to send a header over the bar from a three-metre distance.MEU DEUS COMO FOI QUE MUKIELE PERDEU ESSE GOL?!?! 😱😱😱😱Eaí, foi azar ou falha?!👇 pic.twitter.com/V5xiCE6gXD— Bundesliga Insider (@BundesInsider) February 8, 2025 Given that Xabi Alonso left his primary offensive threats, Patrik Schick and Florian Wirtz on the bench, he gave a chance to the latter at the hour-mark, reinforcing his attack ahead of the decisive 30 minutes. Still, when the German’s entry did not pay off, the Czech was the gaffer’s last resort in the last quarter an hour.However, Alonso’s gamble in the end cost him the victory, as his men failed to find the net and grab three points, allowing the table-toppers, Bayern, to increase the difference to eight points.Ex Arsenal director sacked…againThey changed the manager but did not catch a break! Borussia Dortmund once again unpleasantly surprised their fans, losing at home to Stuttgart 2-1. After the peaceful first half, the Swabians’ 12-minute blitzkrieg and two goals (Waldemar Anton’s own goal and Jeff Chabot’s effort) sealed the deal by the 62nd minute.The BVB bounced back over Julian Brandt, who managed to reduce the gap nine minutes before the end, but Dortmund lacked the strength to make a comeback.Stuttgart ruin Niko Kovač’s debut as Dortmund coach 😬 pic.twitter.com/f5W04QKBj0— 433 (@433) February 8, 2025 The duel between Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart also promised a lot, but provided no excitement to the crowd during the opening 45 minutes. Niko Kovac’s impact on defence was visible, but the BVB’s offensive display was way to futile to break Stuttgart’s “wall.”The “shy” first half brought only two notable chances – one for Dortmund’s Ramy Benseabini, who fired a shot a whisker wide off the post and the other for the Swabians’ Jeff Chabot who netted but from offside, so the goal did not stand.Chukwuemeka finally in the yellow jerseyGiven that Stuttgart’s players failed to threaten Gregor Kobel, the Swiss’ teammate(s) took care of netting for the visitors’, as the German international Waldemar Anton sent the ball into his own net five minutes after the break, giving Stuttgart the lead – 1-0. However, that wasn’t the end of BVB’s struggles, as the deadlock-breaker gave wings to the Swabians, who made it 2-0 only twelve minutes later over Chabot, who was luckier than in the first half – 2-0!⚽️ GOAL: Waldemar Anton (OG)🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Stuttgartpic.twitter.com/UDGdyPB6MG— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) February 8, 2025 ⚽️ GOAL: Julian Chabot🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Stuttgartpic.twitter.com/YQc2jApdSZ— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) February 8, 2025 Dortmund could have bounced back immediately, but Serhou Guirassy’s effort hit the bar following Stuttgart custodian, Alexander Nubel’s reaction. Yet, Julian Brandt managed to net his third goal of the season and a goal of hope for Kovac’s crew, which had nine minutes (plus added time) to try avoiding defeat.⚽️ GOAL: Brandt🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Stuttgartpic.twitter.com/4Ov0QZtLsa— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) February 8, 2025 Instead of levelling the score, Dortmund was left with a man down, as Julian Ryerson received a second booking in the 90th minute, which was the clear indicator that the three points would travel to Stuttgart. Following this defeat, the BVB are only 11th, while Stuttgart moved to the fourth spot in the Bundesliga table.BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 21Friday Bayern – Werder 3-0 (0-0)/Kane 56 pen, 90+7 pen, Sane 82/Saturday Dortmund – Stuttgart 1-2 (0-0)/Brandt 81 – Anton 50 og, Chabot 62/Freiburg – Heidenheim 1-0 (1-0)/Grifo 30/Hoffenheim – Union Berlin 0-4 (0-1)/Hollerbach 24, 87, Ljubicic 61, Ilic 73/Mainz – Augsburg 0-0Wolfsburg – Leverkusen 0-020.30: (2.70) M’ gladbach (3.40) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.55)Sunday 17.30: (2.40) Holstein Kiel (3.50) Bochum (3.05)19.30: (1.58) RB Leipzig (4.00) St.Pauli (5.90)***odds are subject to change***
