Romulo Cardoso scored twice as RB Leipzig thumped promoted Elversberg 4-0 on Saturday to climb to fifth in the Bundesliga, while Niclas Fullkrug's two penalties fired Werder Bremen to a thrilling 3-2 win at Mainz.
It was an afternoon that underlined the strange split personality of Martin Demichelis' Leipzig: irresistible at home, hopeless on the road. This was their fourth win from four at home this season — set against three defeats from three away.
Romulo runs riot as Leipzig stay perfect at home
Leipzig's second-half display blew Elversberg away, as reported by Reuters. Romulo Cardoso struck twice, with Tidiam Gomis also on target and Christoph Baumgartner scoring in his first Bundesliga game of the season after injury — a comeback goal that will feel almost as valuable as the points.
Elversberg, in their maiden top-flight season, have acquitted themselves well so far, but this was a reality check. Leipzig's home form is now the foundation of a European challenge: four games, four wins. If Demichelis can fix the travel sickness, this squad is a Champions League side. If he cannot, fifth may be their ceiling.
Fullkrug at the double in five-goal Mainz thriller
Bremen climbed to sixth with a 3-2 victory at Mainz that belonged to one man. Niclas Fullkrug converted two penalties inside the opening 25 minutes to give the visitors a dream start and take his season's tally to eight league goals.
Mainz pulled a goal back, but Ludovit Reis restored the two-goal cushion at 3-1. The hosts scored again to set up a nervy finish, yet Bremen held on. Fullkrug now leads the Bundesliga scoring charts outright, having found the net in each of his last six league matches — form also highlighted in Flashscore's Saturday tracker. For a striker whose career has been a story of late blooming and comebacks, this is a golden autumn.
Around the grounds: Philippe haunts Hamburg
The day's most poetic moment came at Paderborn, where Rayan Philippe — on loan from Hamburg — came off the bench to score an 88th-minute winner against his parent club in a 1-0 victory that lifted Paderborn out of the bottom three. Philippe pointedly did not celebrate.
There was a goal and a red card apiece as Augsburg and Union Berlin drew 1-1: Felix Uduokhai and Juma Bah were both sent off before Han-Noah Massengo put Augsburg ahead on 71 minutes, only for Janik Haberer to equalise three minutes later. Cologne and Schalke played out a 0-0 draw that dropped Schalke into the bottom three. The action followed Friday night's drama, when Borussia Monchengladbach's 3-2 win at Stuttgart set the tone for the weekend — and with Bayern Munich's defensive problems still unresolved, the top of the Bundesliga looks unusually open.
So what: home comforts and a golden boot race
Leipzig's split record is now the division's most intriguing subplot: no side in Germany is as predictable by postcode. Bremen, meanwhile, have a striker in the form of his life and a top-six place to protect. With Dortmund able to go top against Eintracht Frankfurt in the late game, Saturday's winners have applied real pressure.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: Leipzig do not need a new system — they need a suitcase version of the Red Bull Arena. And Fullkrug's renaissance is no streak: six straight scoring games from the penalty spot and open play alike make him, right now, the Bundesliga's most reliable finisher.
Can Leipzig fix their away form in time for a title push, and will Fullkrug finish as top scorer? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
