Other Leagues Watch – Bundesliga(GW5), Serie A(GW5), Ligue 1(GW6) 2022/23

Welcome to the new special on The Full Time Whistle Co., where we highlight the best and most intriguing, exciting, and entertaining games from the Bundesliga, Serie A & Ligue 1. This series highlights one game from each of the aforementioned leagues which we think are games that you simply must watch.

After another intriguing round of football this weekend in Europe, we discuss and dissect the most exciting games of the weekend from the German, Italian and French leagues.

In this edition of Other Leagues Watch we take a look at gameweek 5 of the Bundesliga and Serie A and gameweek 6 of Ligue 1.

Let’s get cracking!

Also read: Winners and Losers: Premier League Gameweek 6

Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 SC Freiburg

Kicking things off in Germany, SC Freiburg continued their best start ever start to a Bundesliga season, as they notched up their 4th win of the campaign by beating Bayer Leverkusen away from home to surprisingly sit atop the German top flight after matchday 5.

The BayArena, which is yet to see their club register a win at home this season, witnessed an enthralling game that saw the hosts take the lead in the 16th minute with Kerem Demirbay scoring the opener.

Leverkusen then dominated with further chances in the half as Patrick Schick had the chance to double the lead 10 minutes before the break but was denied by keeper Mark Flekken.

Freiburg however started the second half better with Matthias Ginter equalizing with a header 3 minutes into the half. The lead then switched hands after an error from Edmond Tapsoba. A failed back pass from the Leverkusen defender was collected up by Jeong Woo-Yeong and squared across for Freiburg’s joint top scorer Michael Gregoritsch to tap in his 3rd goal of the season.

Die Werkself’s new loan signing Callum Hudson-Odoi made an instant impact from the bench as his cross was headed home by Schick in the 65th minute to level things up once again.

But just 7 minutes later, Japanese forward Ritsu Dōan scored what turned out to be the winner to see Freiburg pick up their 3rd away win of the season in the standout fixture of the Bundesliga weekend.

Serie A

AC Milan 3-2 Inter Milan

Meanwhile in Italy, the ‘Derby della Madonnina’ lived up to its billing to provide a mouth-watering spectacle as one of the best Serie A games of the 2022/23 season so far. AC Milan came back from a goal down to seal a 3-2 win over arch rivals Inter in a main event clash on matchday 5.

Milan dominated the early stages of the game with Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni almost heading in an own goal only to be saved by the crossbar, while Rafael Leão saw his curling effort parried away by Samir Handanović.

However, some good hold up play from Lautaro Martínez in a quick move from the Nerazzuri saw Marcelo Brozović slot the ball past Mike Maignan to take the lead against the run of play. But the lead didn’t last too long with Leão equalizing just 7 minutes later.

The Rossoneri continued to dominate into the second half as Olivier Giroud scored Milan’s second goal. The Frenchman now has 3 goals in 2 seasons against the same opposition. Last season’s ‘MVP of the year’ Leão stole the show and increased the lead in no time with a sumptuously worked goal to take a 2 goal cushion.

But Edin Džeko pulled one back soon after to create an exciting last quarter of the game. Inter piled on the pressure in search of a leveler but Maignan proved to be imperious in goal with 2 great saves.

The champions somehow managed to hold on till the end to continue their unbeaten start to the season. After a thrilling derby at the San Siro, Milan now sit in 3rd place, 2 points ahead of Inter.

Ligue 1

Stade de Reims 1-1 RC Lens

And lastly, in France, Lens dropped points for only the second time this season against a Reims side who have never beaten Les Sang et Or in the 21st century.

Reims started the game more brightly when a quickly taken free kick put Folarin Balogun through on goal as he skipped past the Lens defenders to take a shot that was saved by Brice Samba. Minutes later, Loïs Openda took a long range effort that was just wide.

Things kicked into life in the second half as Lens struck the woodwork. Meanwhile, Samba was called into action again as Marshall Munetsi’s shot was parried away in a game which was becoming end to end.

Reims probed in a quick move which saw Deiver Machiado sent off for a cynical foul on Junya Ito which prevented a clear goal scoring opportunity.

After sustained pressure, Reims nicked the ball up the field to open the scoring for Les rouges et blancs in a neatly worked move. Kamory Doumbia’s pass sliced through the Lens defense which Balogun expertly finished with a great first touch to take it away from the keeper, increasing his goal this season tally to 5 goals.

Ten men Lens however equalized as Openda soon scored after a cross was headed back into the box by Florian Sotoca and then guided into the back of the net by the Belgian.

The hosts countered back with an acrobatic effort from Andrew Gravillon that saw his bicycle shot saved by Samba. Openda later had the chance to win Lens the game, but keeper Patrick Pentz was there to prevent him from getting a brace. Reims held on to secure a point in a thrilling game in Ligue 1.

Stay tuned for more editions of Other Leagues Watch only on The Full Time Whistle Co.

Also read: The Spanish Take: La Liga Roundup Gameweek 4