Day of reckoning in the Bundesliga: criticism of Bayern, concerns about Wirtz, and crisis at BVB

At Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, the situation unfolded in a remarkably similar fashion.

Both Vincent Kompany and Xabi Alonso opted for heavy squad rotation, completely overhauling their starting lineups following their Champions League clash earlier in the week. However, the gamble backfired spectacularly for both managers. Bayern, despite playing at home, suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to relegation-threatened VfL Bochum, a result that sent shockwaves through German football. Meanwhile, Leverkusen failed to take advantage of Bayern’s slip-up, as they fell to a 1-0 home loss against Werder Bremen, missing the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

The German newspaper Bild described Leverkusen’s defeat as a missed opportunity, directly linking it to their 3-0 loss against Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. Alonso, hoping to keep his squad fresh, made six changes to his starting eleven, resting key players, including Jeremie Frimpong. However, his decision quickly backfired as Leverkusen struggled to impose themselves against a well-drilled Werder Bremen side. The loss not only halted their momentum but also raised concerns about squad depth and rotation strategy as the season enters its decisive phase.

To make matters worse, Florian Wirtz, arguably Leverkusen’s most important player, suffered a potentially serious injury after coming on as a substitute. Mitchell Weiser's late challenge forced Wirtz off the pitch, adding further concern to Alonso’s growing list of problems. The extent of the injury is still unclear, but his availability for the Champions League return leg against Bayern Munich is now in serious doubt.

After the match, Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah expressed his frustration, stating that Weiser should have been sent off for the reckless tackle. "That was a clear red card. We lost a crucial player because of it," he said. Weiser himself admitted that he had been fortunate to escape punishment. "I'm sorry. I played the ball first, but I was lucky not to get sent off. Hopefully, it's not too serious," the Werder Bremen full-back stated.

At Bayern, problems continue to pile up for Vincent Kompany, who was hoping for a celebratory evening as the club marked their 125th anniversary. Instead, the Allianz Arena turned into a place of frustration as Bochum spoiled the party, leaving Bayern’s players and fans stunned. According to Bild, Bayern’s lineup saw ten changes, something that hadn’t happened in twelve years. That inexperience showed as Bayern, despite taking a 2-0 lead, collapsed after going down to ten men, allowing Bochum to score three unanswered goals. The home crowd watched in disbelief as what should have been a routine win turned into a humiliating defeat.

The atmosphere in the Allianz Arena quickly shifted from celebratory to somber, with Bayern fans leaving the stadium in silence rather than jubilation. What was meant to be a showcase of Bayern’s dominance ended in one of their most embarrassing home defeats in recent history. The loss not only hurt their title ambitions but also raised questions about Kompany's decision-making and squad management.

Analyst Dietmar Hamann was not surprised by Bayern’s collapse, stating that he had seen warning signs for weeks. "Bayern haven’t been playing well for weeks. Maybe they were somewhat blinded by their performance on Wednesday. In recent weeks, something has crept into their game they want to achieve the maximum by doing the minimum. They need to play at a higher tempo, one or two gears up, but they didn’t show that on Wednesday, and they didn’t show it now either. If you’re leading 2-0, you should be able to hold on to that lead with this team," Hamann said.

While Bayern’s and Leverkusen’s losses do not fundamentally alter the Bundesliga title race, things are looking increasingly grim for Borussia Dortmund, who continue to slide deeper into crisis mode. Dortmund’s latest defeat, a 1-0 loss to FC Augsburg, pushed them down to tenth place, a shocking position for a club that was expected to challenge for the title. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw’s winning header added to Dortmund’s misery, leaving fans at the Westfalenstadion furious.

The reaction from Dortmund’s supporters was one of pure frustration. As the final whistle blew, a chorus of boos and whistles echoed around the stadium, with fans expressing their anger at yet another uninspired performance. What was once a team known for its energy and attacking football has now become a shadow of itself, with poor results piling up and confidence at an all-time low.

Emre Can, one of Dortmund’s senior players, did not hold back in his post-match interview. "This is our own fault. The first half, we played terribly we had absolutely no energy. We urgently need to show a different face because this is simply indefensible. It hurts a lot," he admitted in an interview with Sky. His comments reflected the growing frustration within the squad, as Dortmund’s season continues to spiral downward.

Can did not attribute the team’s struggles to fitness but rather to a mental issue that has plagued the squad. "It has nothing to do with fitness. This is a mental issue it’s all about attitude. We are not a top team," he said bluntly. His harsh but honest words were a clear message that something is deeply wrong at the club, and unless Dortmund finds a way to fix their mentality, their season will only get worse.

The Bundesliga weekend proved to be one of shocking upsets, tactical failures, and rising tension at the league’s biggest clubs. Bayern’s embarrassing collapse, Leverkusen’s missed opportunity, and Dortmund’s freefall have left fans, analysts, and players questioning what comes next. With crucial Champions League fixtures ahead, the pressure is now on all three clubs to respond. If these performances continue, the Bundesliga landscape could look very different in the coming weeks, and for some clubs, this season may already be slipping away.