The Bundesliga Diaries Editorial – Match Day 07

It is difficult to recall the last time Bayern finished a matchday outside the top four positions in the league. But the fact is, the Bavarians have been playing with fire for a few weeks now. The start of last season already provided warnings that the squad was ageing and that new alternatives were needed. Carlo Ancelotti was sacked, Jupp Heynckes saved the season (partially) and now Nico Kovac has been given the task to give the oldest squad in the league a new identity, with just the single signing of Leon Goretzka and the return of loanees Renato Sanchez and Gnabry as new additions. For the second week in a row, Bayern lost, this time at home at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach (0-3). The most alarming aspect was not the defeat itself, but the lack of reaction and ideas that the team showed. It is still too early in the season to rule Bayern out, but something needs to change if they are to have a successful season.

Above Bayern, and with the same amount of points as Monchengladbach, we find Hertha BSC, who achieved a valuable draw away at Mainz (0-0). Also on 14 points are Werder Bremen, who continue to impress after beating VfL Wolfsburg by 2-0 at the Weserstadion. It was a great performance by Florian Kohfeldt’s men, led by Davy Klassen, their record €13 million transfer who looks rejuvenated with die Grün-Weißen.

In second position sit RB Leipzig, who are beginning to display the rampaging attacking football that put them on the map 2 years ago. This weekend they put six past FC Nuremberg (6-0), who will welcome the international break so that they can try and solve the defensive problems that are hurting them.

The team leading the league, with a four-point gap over Bayern, are Lucien Favre’s BVB. They delighted fans in one of those games that perfectly defines what the Bundesliga is all about. They earned a dramatic 4-3 victory against a very good FC Augsburg side, who once again displayed an impressive performance away from home. Paco “Paquito” Alcacer and Jadon Sancho proved that they deserve more playing time, leading the comeback for a side that has already scored 23 league goals this season.

At the other end of the table, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Hannover 96 and VfB Stuttgart are level with only five points. The latter two met on Saturday at the HDI-Arena, a game which saw Hannover grab their first win of the season (3-1) ,which triggered the dismissal of Stuttgart’s manager Tayfun Korkut. The former Real Sociedad player had led the Swabians to an impressive resurgence during the second half of last season, guiding them to an unexpected seventh league position. However, this season, he was unable to find the key to turning his side into the robust, defensive powerhouse they used to be. Markus Weinzierl will take over.