The Bunesliga Recap: Bayern and Freiburg Fly#1516
Bayern 6 Frankfurt 1
The record champions opened up their season to kick off the Bundesliga on Friday night against the Europa League champions. It was trial by fire despite the passion shown by the super eagles. Joshua kimmich Hit a missile into the bomb corner. Coming off a free kick and Bayern Munich ran riot. Poor defending saw Benjamin pavard score, followed by a header from Sadio Mané, a tap-in from Jamal Musiala, and Gnabry opened a 5–0 first half. Frankfurt did get a goal back after a Manuel Neuer mistake. Only for the star of the night, Jamal Musiala, with some impressive footwork, completes his brace in what was a dominating 6–1 Munich victory as Frankfurt keeps their new striker on the bench as the same problems swallow them.
Dortmund 1 Leverkusen 0
A clash between the 2nd and 3rd finishers from last season went to battle at Signa iduna Park. Marco Reus opened up the scoring in the opening 10 minutes with a very fortunate goal as Dortmund took a 1–0 lead. Throughout the rest of the matchup, Leverkusen looked the much superior side. The attacking game plan and execution of Moussa Diaby and Patrick Schick continuously provided vulnerability to a Dortmund defense that performed very well. Kobel made two vital saves on Schick in the second half as uninspiring Dortmund came out flat and showed very little inspiration. Despite the victory, significant concerns and question marks surround the points while Leverkusen, in defeat, has something to hang their hat on.
Berlin Derby: Union 3 Hertha 1
Union Berlin hosted their crosstown rivals, and they’re opening Bundesliga game. Despite losing their top two goal scorers from the previous season, It looked like they didn’t lose a touch. A completely dominated 90 minutes in the derby shows their superiority over Hertha Berlin. The blue side of Berlin will be on the cusp of relegation this season, and we’ll have to do a lot to survive even though the defense held up. Eventually, the wall broke down, and Union Berlin pulled away in the second half. New striker Jordan Siebatcheu scores on his debut half an hour in before Sheraldo Becker and Robin Knoche score twice 4 minutes apart in the second half to take a three-goal lead lukebakio gets a consolation goal for Hertha Berlin in the end. Still, Berlin remains red in a comfortable victory.
Wolfsburg 2 Werder 2
Wolfsburg took on newly promoted Werder Brennan in the Bundesliga opener. After a difficult season last season, the Wolves have made several changes with a new manager and a couple of additions. The hope of not having a mentally challenging season yet again. They got on to a flying start when new signing Svanberg supplied Nmecha for an opening goal as the wolves took a 1–0 lead; however, the same old Wolfsburg collapses not all that long after. Fullkrug hits an absolute missile for the newly promoted side. Only for Leonardo Bittencourt 2 minutes later to double the lead. Wolfsburg throws away their lead so quickly. They push until the very end. They were hoping for at least a point, and eventually, they got it with 7 minutes remaining. Guilavogui rescues a point for the Wolves in what was a disheartening 2–2 draw for the Wolves.
Freiburg 4 vs Augsburg 0
Friedberg nearly made the Champions League last season, losing out on that final spot on the last day of the campaign. However, they were out to prove that they were still for real and a threat to European football. This upcoming season. They went on the road to take on Augsburg. They struggled to break down the opposition in the first half. Sure, they had chances but didn’t show the level of dominance you would have expected. At the start of the second half, they went crazy, and there was nothing Augsburg could have done about it. Michael Gregoritsch scored a minute into the second half against his former side before a free kick from Vincenzo Grifo 2 minutes later. Finished off with Matthias Ginter scoring on his second debut and new signing Ritsu Doan netting on his first game and what was complete domination in the second half as they show that they are to be feared in their second half explosion in what was a 4–0 victory.
Mainz 2 Bochum 1
Bochum had a very successful opening campaign to the Bunesliga last year. After being promoted. They would be going head-to-head to kick off their campaign against Mainz, a team with ambitions of pushing even further than they did last season. It was a rigid back and forth with two evenly matched teams going for it in one of the most exciting games of the weekend. Oniswo broke the deadlock finding the back of the net to get their season rolling even without Jordan Burkhart available. However, Bochum Hits back with one of the goals of the weekend as Kevin Stroger draws level right before the break. During the second half, it is a fight until the very end. However, we would find a winner in the 77th minute as Oniswo gets his brace, securing the winner in a dramatic finish.
Leipzig 1 Stuttgart 1
RB Leipzig opened up their season away to Stuttgart. Turned out to be one of the most fascinating matches of the opening week in German football. RB Leipzig controlled the early parts of the game before Christopher Nknku opened up his account on the new season as RB Leipzig took a 1–0 lead. However, Stuttgart is a much more healthy squad, and together might be a little better than people expect, and that’s exactly what we found out. Near the end of the first half, their 20-year-old midfielder Naouirou Ahamada scored his professional debut with a sweet strike to see all things level going into the second half. Even though Stuttgart had their chances and moments, RB Leipzig, with the ones with most of the chances and had opportunities to break it open and leave with all three points; however, they couldn’t break through a second time as a slightly disappointed. RB Leipzig leaves with just a point spared; meanwhile, Stuttgart handles themselves considerably well against one of the best-attacking sides in the league.
Koln 3 Schalke 1
Schalke made the return to the Bundesliga as the historic club opened up its season by making a trip to Cologne. An exciting and competitive matchup as colognes top striker could be on the move as he wasn’t featured. Setting up a precedent for the opener of the season. Bit of a dramatic start as it looked like the blues had converted to open up the scoring, welcoming them back to the Bundesliga with a bang. However, the initial goal was initially ruled out, and in doing so, not long after, they were reduced to 10 men as they saw red. It was a tense matchup in a goalless first half. However, in the final 45 minutes, cologne pulled away as it was carnival time in Cologne. Luca Killian opens up the scoring with a well-crafted goal before doubling it with Kaniz. Schalke did get back into it with a free kick conversion with a header at the back post, only for cologne to end it with another well-executed conversion in front of the goal that ended up seeing the goalkeeper in an unavoidable situation being ruled as an own goal. Schalke's return to the top flight didn’t go as well as they would have liked but still showed some quality. The inclusion of Jordan Larson to the blues next week could see them turn things around for match day 2, but today, it was no problem for Mainz earing a 3–1 victory.
