The Bundesliga is back from its international break and offers a thriller at the top of the table. Also: A historical duel in the basement, goalkeeper distress in Mönchengladbach – and a housewarming party with hangover potential in Freiburg.
Clouds over Cologne’s autumn sky?
After a strong start to the season, 1. FC Köln actually travel to Friday night’s match at TSG Hoffenheim as favourites. But on the way to the Kraichgau, there are likely to be a few clouds in the so far sunny FC autumn sky. The Rhinelanders will have to do without Ellyes Skhiri (knee injury), an absolute key player of the season so far – and they will be facing an opponent who has not suited Cologne at all recently: The Geißböcke have failed to win the last ten meetings, with the last six all going to TSG – including a 6-0 win in spring 2018, the highest victory in Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga history.
Rose, Svensson and the memory of 2007
For a whole three years, Bo Svensson and Marco Rose were once teammates at FSV Mainz 05. Will they be able to share memories of many shared experiences on the pitch before their clash with their respective teams from Dortmund and Mainz on Saturday afternoon? Probably not. Because during the three years between 2007 and 2010, Svensson and Rose were on the pitch together in just five games – all in the 2nd Bundesliga. They were even nominated for the starting eleven together only once – in a 1-1 draw in Paderborn in November 2007. FSV coach at the time: Jürgen Klopp.
Hertha in crisis – but at least Boateng is looking forward to Frankfurt
Neither of their neighbours in the table, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha BSC, can be satisfied with their respective starts to the season. But while the SGE recently celebrated a surprising first win of the season in Munich, the Capitals are deep in crisis ahead of the direct encounter, and now CEO Carsten Schmidt has also announced his resignation. At least Kevin-Prince Boateng should travel to Frankfurt with a good feeling: Not only did he win the Cup with Eintracht, he also celebrated his league debut against the SGE in 2005 and his goal-scoring debut in the top flight in 2006 – for no other current Bundesliga player are both so far behind.
Historically weak promoted teams in a duel
There is also a lot of pressure in the basement duel in Franconia. Fürth against Bochum, last against second last, weakest home team against weakest away team. Together, only five points and a goal difference of -26 mean, by the way, the worst interim result of two promoted teams after seven match days in the entire history of the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, the points tally will definitely be improved on Saturday.
Danger for Freiburg’s new living room?
The clash between Freiburg and Leipzig takes place in significantly higher table regions – and incidentally in a new stadium. The first match in the Europa Park Stadium could mark two anniversaries: Freiburg are on the verge of home win number 150 in the Bundesliga, and the first goal in the new arena would also be the 1000th Bundesliga goal in Freiburg after 999 in the Dreisamstadion. But there is not only something to gain for the new venue: Inaugurating the new living room with the first defeat of the season would not be an optimal start for the still unbeaten Freiburg team in a future feel-good zone.
Union, Wolfsburg and the history with Schalke
Also in action on Saturday afternoon: the two European Cup contenders Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg, who also currently find themselves in this very region of the table. In the four encounters between the two teams so far, the Köpenickers have not yet managed a win. That only happened to Union against two other teams: FC Bayern, of course – and Schalke 04.
Corona floods at VfB: Must the third goalkeeper take over?
Many teams can use the international break to reintegrate injured and stricken players into the team. VfB Stuttgart, who are likely to be without five professionals at the away game in Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening after a positive Corona test, are quite different – including regular keeper Florian Müller and his deputy Fabian Bredlow. The 20-year-old Florian Schock is available as a third goalkeeper. The conditions for the first away win of the season could be more favourable. But: The last success on a foreign pitch came on the 33rd matchday of the pre-season in Mönchengladbach.
Suspense in the top match – or not?
The matchday’s big hit awaits on Sunday afternoon: first place is hosted by second place, who are level on points, while Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcome FC Bayern. You can’t get more exciting at the top on matchday 8 – or can you? Because when you look at the numbers, the outcome actually seems certain. Leverkusen lost the last six duels with a league leader, Bayern, on the other hand, did not lose any of the last 14 duels between first and second. These games also include the pre-season clash at the BayArena, which the record champions won in dramatic fashion. Will it be as exciting again on Sunday? The neutral football fan would certainly not mind.
Augsburg vs. Bielefeld: Who wants the ball less?
The matchday will be concluded on Sunday evening with the duel between Augsburg and Bielefeld and the question: Who actually has the ball? The two teams with the lowest share of possession in the league will meet – both are even below the 40 per cent mark. Will standard situations then perhaps become the means of choice? Also rather doubtful, because FCA and DSC are the only two teams that have not scored from a free ball.
