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RB Leipzig are looking to maintain their spot at the top of the Bundesliga while they have teams like Borussia Dortmund, SC Freiburg, and Bayern Munich right behind them.
We also have our first Monday match of the season. Welcome to Matchday 5 (All times CT).
SCHALKE vs. MAINZ (Friday at 1:30pm, FS2):
The Royal Blues have won back-to-back games after a slow start. They have also scored eight goals in the last two matches. Weston McKennie started off the bench last week against Paderborn, but could return to the starting lineup this weekend.
Mainz got their first win of the year last week against Hertha Berlin. Sandro Schwarz will have a decision to make in goal with first choice, Florian Müller, pushing to be fit after a wrist injury, but Robin Zentner made an excellent case for himself against Hertha with seven saves. The 05ers have had a 0% record against Schalke in the Hinrunde. They also have the most charitable defense conceding 13 goals on the year.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. FC KÖLN (Saturday at 8:30am, FS1)
Bayern can return to the top for at least two hours with a win over the Billy Goats. They were comfortable winners in midweek in the Champions League over Red Star Belgrade. If Lewandowski scores, he will be the first Bayern player since Carsten Jancker in 2000 to score in the first five league matches of the year.
FC Köln have opened the season with three losses in the first four matches. Ellyes Skhiri has been involved in three of the Billy Goats’ four goals this season. FC Köln do have one stat over Bayern—they are the only team all-time in the Bundesliga whom Bayern have won less than 50% of the contests.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. UNION BERLIN (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)
Die Werkself is coming off a pair of losses—one to Dortmund last week and one to Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday despite some good performances. Worse, they lost Leon Bailey to a muscle tear and he is out for a month. Moussa Diaby or Lucas Alario may deputize.
Neven Subotic will miss the match for Union Berlin due to a red card last week. Kevin Schlotterbeck is expected to deputise. Sebastian Andersson is currently averaging a goal every 89 minutes. Marcus Ingvartsen and Marius Bütler are also expected to return for the Iron Men.
HERTHA BERLIN vs. SC PADERBORN (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)
Hertha sit bottom of the league after last week’s loss to Mainz. Marko Grujic has scored all three goals for Hertha thus far this season. However, it is three points that they are seeking and they are currently on a three-match losing streak after opening with a 2-2 draw with Bayern.
Like Hertha, Paderborn are also winless on the year. They are currently above Hertha in the table based on goals scored. Three of the five goals Paderborn have scored were put in by Streli Mamba. They are the first promoted side to open winless in their first four matches since Eintracht Braunschweig in 2013.
SC FREIBURG vs. FC AUGSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
Freiburg are the early surprise package this season and off to their best-ever start in the Bundesliga. A win over Augsburg may put them top of the table for at least two hours with Leipzig playing the later game on Saturday and Dortmund playing on Sunday. Luca Waldschmidt could return to the fold for Freiburg in this match.
Waldschmidt’s teammate on Germany’s U21’s, Marco Richter and Florian Niederlechner scored in Augsubrg’s 2-1 over Eintracht Frankfurt. Stephan Lichtsteiner is back from suspension, but Daniel Baier is a doubt with a calf injury.
WERDER BREMEN vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)
Josh Sargent could return to the starting XI for the Green-Whites after being on the bench in the win against Union Berlin. Yuya Osako is out for 4-6 weeks with a thigh injury. Osako joins a growing injury list for Brement while Nuri Sahin is suspended after being sent off against Union.
RB Leipzig retained their spot at the top of the table with a draw against Bayern. They also impressed with a win in the Champions League over Benfica in midweek with Timo Werner scoring both goals. Tyler Adams is still a doubt, but is working his way back to full fitness after a thigh injury.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Sunday at 8:30am, FS1)
Gladbach had a brutal night in the Europa League on Thursday falling 4-0 at home to Wolfsberg AC of Austria at Borussia Park. They are hoping Fortuna will give them better fortunes. They have not lost at home to Fortuna since 1984. Alassane Plea scored in last week’s win over FC Köln last week. However, he has scored just four times at home for the Foals.
Zack Steffen has a league-high 26 saves this year which is ten more than the next player on the list in Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann. Alfredo Morales is still out with a groin strain. However, Andre Hoffmann and Opoku Ampomah could come back after recent bouts of flu.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Sunday at 11am, FS1)
The Eagles have won both their league matches at home this season, but lost their Europa League home tilt against Arsenal on Thursday. Goncalo Paciencia leads Frankfurt with three goals. Timothy Chandler made his first start in over a year last week, but could be back on the bench on Sunday.
BVB responded to their shock defeat to Union Berlin with a 4-0 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen and a respectable 0-0 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League. Marco Reus did miss a penalty on Tuesday, but he, Jadon Sancho, and Paco Alcacer will be looking to keep BVB close to the top of the table.
WOLFSBURG vs. HOFFENHEIM (Monday at 1:30pm, FS2)
The Wolves are one of three unbeaten sides in the league along with Leipzig and Bayern. However, the injuries are many for Wolfsburg including John Brooks, Koen Casteels, Daniel Ginczek, Xaver Schlager and Ignacio Camacho. However, Wout Weghorst and Josip Brekalo are available to lead the attack.
Hoffenheim are dearly missing Andrej Kramaric this season. The Sinsheimers have just three goals on the year which is joint-worst with Hertha. It’s up to Robert Skov, Ihlas Bebou and Ishak Belfodil to get the goals in the meantime. They have already eclipsed last year’s number of matches with a goal with their third last week.
