Bundesliga Matchday 4 Review: Leipzig Remain Top

Matchday 4 in the Bundesliga saw an early 1 vs. 2 matchup (and a 19 vs. 20 matchup). It saw a battle between contenders Borussia Dortmund and wannabe contenders Bayer Leverkusen.

Union was looking to build on its momentum while Augsburg and Paderborn were looking for their first wins. All this and more right now:

The 1 vs. 2 matchup between leaders RB Leipzig and seven-time defending champions Bayern Munich in second place ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Robert Lewandowski scored to give Bayern an early lead in the third minute. However, Luca Hernandez’s takedown of Yussuf Poulsen in the box lead to Emil Forsberg scoring from the spot before halftime to make it 1-1. The second half was a keepers’ duel between Manuel Neuer of Bayern and Peter Gulacsi of Leipzig, each making clutch saves in the second half where Leipzig appeared the better of the two sides. Leipzig retain top spot while Bayern remain two points back in fourth.

Dortmund is not surprisingly one of the two teams in between them as they got an emphatic 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. Jadon Sancho had a hand three goals including setting up Marco Reus. Paco Alcacer, Raphael Guerrero, and Jacob Bruun Larsen also scored for BVB who put their shock defeat to Union Berlin well behind them.

Freiburg, also putting behind a loss to a promoted side in FC Köln, is surprisingly the other team between Leipzig and Bayern in third place after a 3-0 away win at Hoffenheim. Christian Günter, Jannik Haberer, and Nils Petersen got the goals for Freiburg who now have their best ever start to the season. Their ten goals in their first four matches is also a club record.

Paderborn scored first at the Veltins Arena, but Schalke would score the next five in their biggest win since David Wagner took charge. Amine Harit scored twice in the win for the Royal Blues.

Alassane Plea’s first half strike was enough for the Foals to get an away win in the Rhine Derby over FC Köln. 

Union Berlin completed the sweep of the promoted sides with a 2-1 home loss to Werder Bremen. The match ended with both teams down to ten as Union’s Neven Subotic and Bremen’s Nuri Sahin were sent off late. 

Augsburg got their first win of the year with a 2-1 decision over Eintracht Frankfurt. Marco Richter scored for the fourth time in four matches against the Eagles. It is also four goals in six career in the Bundesliga against the Eagles for Richter.

Another team who got their first win was Mainz who got off the bottom of the table and defeated Hertha Berlin, 2-1. Hertha now occupy the bottom after the defeat and are one of two teams yet to win this season along with Paderborn. Jeremiah St. Juste scored the winner for the 05s two minutes from time.

Finally, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Wolfsburg played to a 1-1 stalemate. The Wolves moved to fifth with the draw. 

Player of the Week:  We’ll give it to Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho who continues to create goals galore for BVB as they look to finally unseat Bayern this season.