For the first time since its return two weeks ago, midweek Bundesliga is back, and Tuesday provided a packed slate of games including one of the season's defining tilts, Der Klassiker between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
As usual, there was also a lot for the casual soccer fan on this side of the Atlantic to keep an eye out for, with each of the four games on Tuesday featuring a US international, not to forget another strong showing for a certain star Canadian in the day's marquee match. Here's how it all went down:
Borussia Dortmund 0, Bayern Munich 1
In a massive rivalry clash between the top two teams on the league table, it was mighty Bayern Munich that got a 1-0 victory, delivered by a legitimate golazo in the first half from Joshua Kimmich.
Both sides showed why they're the class of the league throughout the match in a more entertaining, back and forth battle than the final scoreline might indicate. Former Vancouver Whitecaps homegrown star Alphonso Davies resumed his regular role as the starting left back for Bayern, and while he didn't match the output from his one-goal, one-assist performance in his club's last game against Eintracht Frankfurt, the 19-year-old sensation put in a solid overall shift to help his side to the clean sheet.
It was Kimmich who would provide the decisive blow in highlight-reel fashion in the 43rd minute, teeing up a gorgeous chip from just outside the penalty area that he placed perfectly over the outstretched arm of diving Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki.
Dortmund would push for an equalizer, and may have had a penalty shout in the 59th minute when star young forward Erling Haland teed up a shot that appeared to go off the elbow of Bayern defender Jerome Boateng, but the referee wouldn't oblige and Bayern would see out the massive result, pushing them seven points clear of Dortmund at the top of the table.
On the plus side for Dortmund and US men's national team fans, the match did see the return of Gio Reyna, who subbed on in the 72nd minute after sitting out the club's last match against Wolfsburg after tweaking his hamstring in pregame warm ups.
Bayer Leverkusen 1, VfL Wolfsburg 4
Needing a home victory with just one point separating them from Monchengladbach for fourth place on the table and the coveted last Champions League spot going into the match, Bayer Leverkusen were instead on the wrong side of a 4-1 rout at the hands of Wolfsburg, thanks in part to a strong showing from US international John Brooks.
Brooks was tasked with marshaling Leverkusen prodigy Kai Havertz and performed the role very well, keeping the youngster off the scoresheet after he had scored twice in each of Die Werkself's two games since the league's return. Brooks departed on 82 minutes, and Leverkusen would score their lone goal of the contest shortly thereafter.
The real fireworks were on the attacking end, highlighted by a dead-ball master class from German international Maximilan Arnold, who finished the game with a goal and a pair off assists that all came off set pieces.
Marin Pongracic started the onslaught for the visitors in the 43rd minute, cashing home a pinpoint free kick from Arnold for the 1-0 lead.
Arnold added the second off another set piece in the 64th minute, this time seeing his free kick take a deflection off the Leverkusen wall and into the net, before Renato Steffen cashed home a third with a headed finish just three minutes later. Arnold got his second assist of the day off yet another free kick, which he put on a platter for Pongracic to nod home again for Wolfsburg's fourth in the 75th minute, with an 85th-minute consolation goal from Leverkusen's Julian Baumgartlinger rendered a moot point.
LA Galaxy academy product Uly Llanez made the bench for Wolfsburg in this contest, but did not see the field and will have to wait for his first-team debut.
Eintracht Frankfurt 3, SC Freiburg 3
It was a wild one between Frankfurt and Freiburg, as the sides eventually drew 3-3 after Frankfurt mounted a furious rally with two goals in a three-minute span late in the second half to salvage the point.
US right back Timothy Chandler played the hero role for Frankfurt, scoring the leveling goal in the 82nd minute. Daichi Kamada and Andre Silva scored the other two goals for Frankfurt, while Vincenzo Grifo, Nils Petersen and Lucas Holer all netted for Freiburg. Check out Chandler's dramatic equalizer below.
The dramatic tally marked a return to scoring ways for Chandler, who enjoyed a rare purple patch in front of goal earlier this year with a haul of four goals in four games in January and February.
Werder Bremen 0, Borussia Monchengladbach 0
It was a decidedly less offensive affair between Bremen and Monchengladbach, as the sides battled to a scoreless draw over 90 minutes, combining for 18 shots, but none that resulting in an opening goal. Bremen picked up a valuable point against a Champions League contender as they look to stave off relegation, while Monchengladbach moved up to a tie with Leverkusen for the all-important fourth place spot, with both sides now at 53 points.
USMNT forward Josh Sargent started the contest and played 74 minutes for Bremen before subbing off for Davie Selke.
Fabian Johnson, who is trying to make a return to the USMNT, did not feature for Monchegladbach as he continues to rehab a hamstring injury.
