Borussia Mönchengladbach beckons the best start to a Bundesliga season so far, RB Leipzig is fighting against the false start and FC Bayern can draw on the full: everything important for the 3rd matchday.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – Hertha BSC (Friday, 8.30 p.m.)
Mönchengladbach almost had a perfect start to the season. After beating 1899, Borussia also led Schalke well into injury time – but after a late penalty it was 2-2 in the end. If Daniel Farke’s team manages to win their second home win against Hertha BSC, it would be seven points. Borussia only had that many points in their Bundesliga history after the third matchday three times (2018, 2011, 1995). If they won by two goals, it would even be the best start to the season for the Fohlenelf. Hertha from Berlin, on the other hand, is without a win after the first two games, as in the past season – after all, a draw was achieved recently.
But not everything went smoothly in the first two games at Borussia either. Twice there was an early deficit – and four of the five goals of the season came in the final stages. Borussia can rely on the strong form of Marcus Thuram. The Frenchman scored twice in the league and three times in the cup. At Schalke he also shone with a remarkable preparation with a heel.
At Hertha BSC, Dodi Lukebakio was in brilliant shape. He was involved in at least one goal in all three competitive games. In the Bundesliga he scored the first Hertha goal himself and prepared the second against Frankfurt.
FC Augsburg – 1. FSV Mainz 05 (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
At the first win of the season in Leverkusen, Rafal Gikiewicz was the outstanding Augsburger. With nine saves, he secured the happy victory for the guests. Now it is up to FCA to iron out the botched start in their own stadium (0:4 against Freiburg). And a look at the recent past should inspire FCA. 1. FSV Mainz 05 is something like Augsburg’s favorite guest. Enrico Maassen’s team has won all of their last five league home games against Rheinhessen.
However, the 05ers should travel to Augsburg with a lot of self-confidence. The season started well with four points – and there was already an away win in Bochum. Coach Bo Svensson’s team had to do without the injured top scorer Jonathan Burkardt in the first two games. The 22-year-old scored his first two goals in a Bundesliga game last season against Augsburg (but then in Mainz).
VfB Stuttgart – SC Freiburg (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
Last season, both teams also met on matchday 3 and delivered a spectacular first half. Freiburg were already leading 3-0 after 28 minutes, VfB can close the gap to 2-3 before the break – there were no more goals in the second half. Both teams are currently connected by a setback after late Joker goals. Stuttgart led on the last matchday in Bremen until injury time, but in the end had to settle for a 2-2 draw. Freiburg showed a strong game against BVB, but from the 77th minute BVB’s jokers struck three more times.
In the southwest duel on Saturday, two players could play the leading roles. Newcomer Michael Gregoritsch has already impressed in the first two games of the season for Freiburg. He headed the opening goal against BVB and in the opening win in Augsburg. He also provides an assist. Sasa Kalajdzic even prepared all three goals of the season for the Swabians. The Austrian is actually responsible for scoring goals.
Borussia Dortmund – Werder Bremen (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
With three joker goals, Borussia Dortmund turned the game around in Freiburg on matchday 2 and was the only team besides FC Bayern to win the first two league games. For Edin Terzic it was the continuation of an impressive series – it was his ninth Bundesliga victory in a row as BVB coach. The new, returned Dortmund coach (39 years old) now meets Ole Werner (34), the youngest coach in the Bundesliga. It is the second duel between the two coaches – in 2021 Werner met BVB with Holstein Kiel in the cup semifinals – and lost 0:5 in Dortmund.
When they meet again on Saturday, the balance clearly speaks for a victory for the Westphalians. In the last 14 duels in Dortmund, BVB has won twelve times. Werder only won once – in December 2017, Gebre Selassie and Maximilian Eggestein ensured the guests won 2-1.
Incidentally, Marvin Duksch, a native of Dortmund, is in the Werder squad. Duksch was trained at BVB and made his Bundesliga debut in 2013 at the age of 19. However, he could not assert himself in Dortmund.
VfL Wolfsburg – FC Schalke 04 (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
Neither team was able to win in the first two games. The “Wolves” got a point against Werder at the start and recently lost to Bayern. After the defeat in Cologne, Schalke was able to get their first point against Gladbach in their first home game. Schalke 04 last visited Wolfsburg in March 2021 – the Royal Blues lost 5-0 in the relegation season.
A lot has changed for both teams since then. With Niko Kovac and Frank Kramer, there are two new coaches on the sidelines, who are now meeting in a competitive game for the first time. Incidentally, Kovac and Kramer both have a past at Bayern Munich. While Kovac won titles with Bayern as a player and coach, Kramer kicked for Bayern’s second team.
There could be a duel between the two experienced players Simon Terodde and Max Kruse on the pitch. Both are 34 years old. Terodde is the record goalscorer in the 2nd division – but he has only scored ten goals in 60 games in the Oberhaus. Kruse was still missing in the cup due to muscular problems and was used twice as a joker in the league. Against Schalke he could be in the starting XI for the first time.
Bayer Leverkusen – 1899 Hoffenheim (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
The Werkself got off to a terrific start to the season – losing the cup was followed by defeats to BVB and Augsburg in the league. A look at the statistics shows where Leverkusen are lacking: against Augsburg alone there were 26 shots on goal, but only one goal. The lack of effectiveness is also reflected in top scorer Patrik Schick. The Czech had six shots on goal, including three great chances, in the first two games – he missed a goal. If Schick and Bayer find the key to exploiting opportunities, the turnaround should work.
Hoffenheim almost had a false start too. After the opening defeat, 1899 was already 2-0 down against VfL Bochum on the 2nd matchday, but won 3-2. The comeback quality of Hoffenheim is apparently continuing under the new coach André Breitenreiter. Last season, the Breisgauer won six games from behind.
Speaking of the past season: On matchday 33, Leverkusen won 4-2 at Hoffenheim and thus qualified for the Champions League.
1. FC Union Berlin – RB Leipzig (Saturday, 6.30 p.m.)
The two teams crossed paths three times last season. In the league, Union prevailed 2-1 in both games. Leipzig won the cup semi-final 2-1 – Emil Forsberg made it into the final in the third minute of injury time in April.
Now the cup winner is returning to Berlin – but Forsberg is likely to play a supporting role at best. The Swede only had five minutes of play on the first two matchdays. Forsberg’s advisor vented his anger about this week and criticized the sporting leadership of the Saxons – but he exempted coach Domenico Tedesco and club boss Oliver Mintzlaff from the criticism.
The two draws at the start should cause a little unrest in Leipzig. There is a risk of a false start to the season – especially since there was also a defeat in the Supercup against Bayern. And Union has all won the last three home games against RB. Leipzig returnee Timo Werner, who scored once on his comeback, should give hope. He was always accurate against Union. The international scored three goals in two league games against the “Iron”.
Eintracht Frankfurt – 1. FC Köln (Sunday, 3.30 p.m.)
The Europa League winner scored his first point at Hertha BSC on matchday two. But the wait for a Bundesliga victory continues for the Hessians – for ten games Eintracht has not managed a threesome across the seasons. And now, with 1. FC Köln, there is a team that has not started the season so well for a long time. After beating Schalke, Steffen Baumgart’s team got a point in Leipzig despite falling behind twice.
Both teams share the departure of formative players. Cologne’s top scorer Modeste was drawn to Dortmund. Filip Kostic left Eintracht for Juventus Turin. The FC was able to compensate for the departure quite well. Youngster Florian Dietz was twice in the starting XI and scored his first Bundesliga goal in Leipzig.
And when it comes to a win against FC, Eintracht only has to ask Mario Götze. The Eintracht newcomer played six times against the Rhinelanders and always won with BVB and Bayern. However, the last game so far was more than seven years ago.
VfL Bochum – Bayern Munich (Sunday, 5.30 p.m.)
Last year, VfL Bochum delivered an unforgettable game against FC Bayern. After being 1-0 down, the Revierklub turned up the heat and led 4-1 at the break – in the end Bochum won 4-2. But now FC Bayern have made their best start to the league in four years – and Bochum is in 17th place after two defeats. So the trend clearly speaks for the record champions. Especially since Kingsley Coman is available again for the first time at Bayern after his red suspension from matchday 33, so coach Julian Nagelsmann can use his full offensive power for the first time.
Incidentally, Robert Lewandowski scored the two Munich goals in Bochum last season. But that’s in the past. The agile Jamal Musiala is currently causing a sensation at Bayern. The 19-year-old has already scored three goals and had nine shots on target in two games – more than any other player in the league.