After a mixed week for Bundesliga sides in Europe (Dortmund 👀), the Bundesliga kicked off matchday 24 with Augsburg beating 1.FC Köln 2-0.   

Saturday afternoon was another big day at the bottom with Bayer Leverkusen hosting Mainz, Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Union Berlin, Werder Bremen against Heidenheim and St.Pauli travelling to Hoffenheim. 

Here are the three things we learnt:

Daniel Thioune wins first game as Werder Bremen head coach:

It has been a tough start to life at the Weserstadion for Thioune; his first game in charge was against Freiburg, the next was against Bayern Munich, and last weekend they were unlucky to lose to fellow Bundesliga strugglers St.Pauli. 

Even today, at times it did not look like Bremen were actually going to win, as the likes of Romano Schmid and Jovan Milosevic missed more or less an open goal, and it just seemed like one of those days where luck was not on their side. 

However, in the second half, Milosevic would open the scoring before a very late own goal would secure the win, in a game where Heidenheim offered the hosts very little.

Considering how the teams around them were playing, this was a big three points for Bremen as they maintained pace with everyone. 

Who was the biggest loser out of all this? 

Wolfsburg have now dropped down into 17th, and with a tough game away at Stuttgart on Sunday, the odds are not exactly in their favour. 

Borussia Mönchengladbach end their seven-game winless run:

Heading into the game against Union Berlin, Gladbach were winless in seven Bundesliga games, their last being a win at home against Augsburg in January.

In a game where die Fohlen comfortably dominated Union, they were unable to find the back of the net, and with the results of the teams around them, it looked as if they had actually slipped closer to the relegation zone. 

However, up step Kevin Diks.

The Indonesian defender had a goal ruled out for offside earlier in the game, but following a VAR decision, Gladbach were awarded a very late penalty. The 29-year-old would coolly convert past Frederick Rønnow to secure the three points for Gladbach. The goal also makes him Gladbach’s second-highest scorer of the season (four), which is a problem. 

Eugen Polanski’s side moved up to 12th in the Bundesliga, three points clear of the relegation spot.

Mathias Pereira Lage finally scores:

Mathias Pereira Lage joined St.Pauli in the summer from Brest on a free transfer. After 22 games, the 29-year-old has finally scored. 

In an Athletic article earlier in the year, Lage was one of the most wasteful finishers in Europe’s top five leagues with 24 shots and zero goals. 

Now, with his 33rd shot in the Bundesliga, the striker scored in added time of the second half in what was the only goal of the game as St.Pauli beat Hoffenheim 1-0. The win takes Alexander Blessin’s side up to 15th, just above the relegation playoff.

If this goal can kick-start a run of form for Lage, that would be a big help for St.Pauli’s Bundesliga survival.