Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen in a match that ended with the home side reduced to nine men. According to multiple reports, Nicolás Jackson was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Martin Terrier. Luis Díaz received a second yellow card for simulation, a decision that referee Christian Dingert later admitted was 'very harsh', according to Dingert. Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness called the refereeing performance 'the worst by a refereeing team I have ever witnessed in a Bundesliga match'. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said after the match that Dingert acknowledged the second yellow card was not warranted after reviewing the video. According to four sources, from next season, Bundesliga referees will be able to overturn a second yellow card after a VAR review. The draw leaves Bayern in second place, while Leverkusen remain top of the table.
Borussia Dortmund secured their place in next season's Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Freiburg, according to multiple reports. The win came after a mixed run of results for Dortmund, who earlier beat Cologne 2-1 with goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier, according to multiple reports. In that match, according to three sources, Cologne's Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was sent off before half-time for a studs-in challenge on Beier. According to two sources, Cologne were frustrated by a handball decision against Dortmund's Yan Couto in stoppage time. Dortmund also came from 0-2 down to beat Hamburg 3-2, according to four sources, with Daniel Svensson playing 58 minutes in that match. However, there is a contradiction regarding Dortmund's result against Bayer Leverkusen: one source reports a 1-0 loss, while another implies a win based on context of other matches. The exact final score of that match remains unclear. According to four sources, Robert Andrich scored the only goal in Leverkusen's win over Dortmund.
It is the worst performance by a refereeing team that I have ever experienced in a Bundesliga match.
FC Köln's struggles continued as they drew 3-3 with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 100th top-flight Rhineland derby, according to major media. The result led to the sacking of head coach Lukas Kwasniok, according to major media. According to major media, FC Köln have won only twice in five months. Sporting director Thomas Kessler said after the derby: 'It was a rollercoaster of emotions but ultimately, we have to say that the point isn't enough today.' He added: 'We can all read the table.' The club now faces a search for a new head coach, with no immediate successor named.
In other Bundesliga action, according to three sources, Bayer Leverkusen drew 3-3 at Freiburg. According to three sources, RB Leipzig beat Augsburg 2-1 with a stoppage-time own goal. According to three sources, Stuttgart drew 2-2 at Mainz, and later drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen, according to three sources. According to three sources, Hoffenheim beat Heidenheim 4-2. According to three sources, Hamburg beat Wolfsburg 2-1 with all goals from penalties. In Serie A, according to three sources, Inter Milan drew 2-2 at Torino. In 2. Bundesliga, according to four sources, Holstein Kiel lost 2-3 to Nürnberg, with Alexander Bernhardsson providing an assist before being substituted with a possible injury, the nature of which remains unknown. The Bundesliga title race remains tight, with Leverkusen leading by a narrow margin.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions but ultimately, we have to say that the point isn't enough today.
We can all read the table.