A record 138 goals were scored on the first four matchdays of the Bundesliga. This is due to some top strikers and an increased exploitation of opportunities, but also to ferocious defense lines.
In which season of the Bundesliga were the most goals scored? Even many die-hard fans probably can’t answer this question off the top of their head. This may be because the record playing time was a long time ago. The solution: The current record was set in the 1983/84 season. There were 1,097 hits at that time, an average of 3.58 per game.
Karl-Heinz Rumenigge scored 26 times for FC Bayern Munich, Klaus Allofs netted 20 times for 1. FC Köln. Rudi Völler (18 goals for Werder Bremen), Pierre Littbarski (17 goals for 1. FC Köln) and Dieter Schatzschneider (15 goals for Hamburger SV) are also among the top ten goalscorers.
Bundesliga on course for records
It’s hard to believe, but based on the current season’s average, the Bundesliga is heading towards a new record 40 years after the record year. An average of 3.83 goals were scored on the first four match days.
In total there were 138 goals in the still young season. This is the second highest value in history, only 39 years ago there were more after four rounds – namely 140 in the 1984/85 season.
With Guirassy, every shot on goal is possible
And why is that? Of course, this can be determined by individual players. The league’s current attraction is Serhou Guirassy and plays for VfB Stuttgart. The top scorer shot on goal eight times – the incredible rate: 100 percent! The last time a certain Peter Meyer scored eight goals after four games was for Borussia Mönchengladbach 56 years ago. Bayern players Gerd Müller or Robert Lewandowski couldn’t do that.
“He’s bursting with self-confidence right now and is of course benefiting from the run the team is currently on. Plus the efficiency, he doesn’t think in front of the goal, he just does it and is extremely variable.”explains Guirassy’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß.
Better ones Exploitation of opportunities than the Premier League
Or Jonas Wind. The Dane is the first Wolfsburg player ever to score five goals after four matchdays. Even Wolfsburg icons Grafite, Kevin De Bruyne and Edin Dzeko couldn’t manage that. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, Union Berlin’s Kevin Behrens and Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface have also scored four times.
They all ensure that the exploitation of opportunities is currently 10.3 percent. For comparison: in the entire last season only 9.8 percent of the chances were converted, and the year before only 8.7 percent. The Bundesliga is also in a brilliant position internationally. The highly praised English Premier League currently has an opportunity conversion rate of just 8.1 percent.
Not 0-0 yet
Boniface and his team are at the top of the table. This is because the “Werkself” not only trusts in him, but also has a broad base in midfield and attack. A total of eight players have scored the 13 goals so far. RB Leipzig has already scored 13 goals, and the Saxons also score well (seven different goalscorers). Thanks to Guirassy, Stuttgart already has 14 goals on their side.
This is the first time in Bundesliga history that three clubs have scored at least 13 goals each after four match days – a record. What’s striking is that there hasn’t been a 0-0 draw this season, which speaks for the teams’ offensive focus. This last happened in the 2013/14 season.
Wild defensive lines
Anyone who thinks that the flood of goals only has to do with the increased quality of the games and the teams is wrong. You can see that beautifully at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The “Fohlen” defense was wild twice in the 4-4 draw in Augsburg and the 3-3 draw in Darmstadt. The front is wow and the back is wow, that’s what they say. Just like Augsburg and Mainz, Gladbach have already conceded twelve goals and Darmstadt have conceded 13. Freiburg’s defense has also appeared unusually insecure recently, conceding a whopping nine goals in two games.
And will we see a new goalscoring record this season? As nice as it all is right now, probably not. It will come, the first goalless draw, and even with Guirassy, not every shot that hits the goal will always be a goal.