3 things we learnt from the Bundesliga Konferenz – Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart and the fight for survival | OneFootball

The Bundesliga returned from the international break with Union Berlin beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1, and before Der Klassiker on Saturday evening, there were several teams in action.

This afternoon saw Mainz host Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg travel to RB Leipzig, Stuttgart face Wolfsburg, Köln vs Augsburg, and Heidenheim play against Werder Bremen.

Here are the three things we learnt:

Bayer Leverkusen finally click:

Die Werkself took their foot off the gas near the end, but today showed that they needed the October international break to work on their set-up, and it clearly worked.

In their 4-3 win against Mainz, Leverkusen registered seven big chances, amassing a non-penalty xG of 2.71 (via FotMob) as things have now clicked under Kasper Hjulmand.

Alejandro Grimaldo continues to be the leader of this team with two goals, but Christian Kofane has impressed in the absence of Patrik Schick, and his tally is now three in his last three. Jonas Hofmann, who looked to be heading towards the exit, has seemingly revived his career at the BayArena. The midfield pairing of Aleix Garcia and Equi Fernandez also impressed. While Martin Terrier scored on his return from injury.

Overall, it was the type of performance that Leverkusen needed to show that their quality is still there, and all they needed was a break to tinker with things. They are well in the race for the Bundesliga top four.

VfB Stuttgart are back:

Another team who were scraping by in the early stages of the season were Stuttgart, but in the past few games, they have, like Leverkusen, also begun to piece things together.

The duo of Angelo Stiller and Chema Andres look as if they have been playing together for several seasons, not just games. (I’m not going to bang the drum even more, but Chema is a massive upgrade on Atakan Karazor)

While the other summer signings in Bilal El Khannouss and Tiago Tomas were impressive, the former created the most chances in the game (five) and his total of the season is now three goals and one assist in seven games, since joining on loan from relegated Leicester. He has hit the ground running and looks like another shrewd signing by Stuttgart.

The change in formation also got the best out of Lorenzo Assignon (another summer signing) and Maximilian Mittelstädt, who had been left out of the Germany squad for the previous international break.

Deniz Undav’s return from injury will also provide another big boost for Stuttgart as they now sit third in the Bundesliga table and look back to their best.

An unlikely Bundesliga relegation battle:

Following their losses to Leverkusen and Stuttgart, both Wolfsburg and Mainz now find themselves sucked into the relegation vortex alongside Heidenheim and Gladbach.

Mainz have struggled following the departure of Jonathan Burkardt, and the juggling of Conference League football alongside Bundesliga commitments may also be having a negative impact. At the same time, Wolfsburg have never really got going under head coach Paul Simonis. Christian Eriksen made his first start, but it is unlikely to make any difference, and I would not be surprised if Simonis is sacked in the near future.

Heidenheim showed that they may not be as bad as people first thought, coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Werder Bremen, meaning they are no longer joint bottom.

That award belongs to Gladbach, who are still without a win, and they play Bayern Munich next week. Currently, die Fohlen are without a win in 14 Bundesliga games, and the current winless record is 31 by Tasmania Berlin set in 1965-66.

Elsewhere around the Bundesliga:

GGFN | Jack Meenan