By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Borussia Dortmund have made a perfect start after four games of a season for only the fourth time and now occupy first place in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2023, but they have failed to win their last four fixtures when top of the table.
Dortmund kick off Matchday five on Friday evening welcoming SV Werder Bremen in eighth.
SV Werder Bremen’s haul of seven points is their best at this stage since returning to the Bundesliga in 2022.
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Dortmund winning 2-0.
Saturday sees Bavaria Derby with FC Bayern München travelling to FC Augsburg, while Hamburger SV in 16th will try to add some points to their current three at TSG Hoffenheim who sit in 14th.
Hoffenheim have scored a division-leading three goals from counterattacks this season (from only five shots) prior to hosting Hamburger SV, who finally opened their 2026-27 account at the fourth attempt last time out.
FC Augsburg have lost only one of 13 home league games since Manuel Baum returned and have set a new club record of 11 goals after four matches of a season. Bayern are unbeaten in 28 away fixtures in the Bundesliga, but their one loss in the last 47 league outings all told came against Augsburg in January.
Patrik Schick could equal Dimitar Berbatov (2005-06) and Stefan Kießling’s (2009-10) club record of scoring in Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s first five Bundesliga games of a season. 1. FSV Mainz 05’s Phillip Tietz joins him on four goals at the top of the scoring chart thanks to his unrivalled shot efficiency of +1.7.
SV Elversberg are sitting comfortably on seven points ahead of their first competitive meeting with 1. FC Union Berlin, who have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign (one point) and have set an unwanted Bundesliga record for goals conceded after four games (17).
Sixth-placed 1. FSV Mainz 05 go head-to-head with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in fifth, fearless SV Elversberg visit an 1. FC Union Berlin desperate for a first win of the season, and SC Paderborn 07 entertain VfB Stuttgart.
Paderborn 07 got their first goals and win back in the Bundesliga prior to the international break. VfB Stuttgart are on a club record run of scoring in 23 Bundesliga away games but have won only one of the last nine on their travels.
In the Saturday evening game, RB Leipzig host Eintracht Frankfurt, a clash that promises plenty of seat-edge drama.
Leipzig have never lost a Bundesliga home game in October (W13, D3) and could now win eight straight home games in the Bundesliga for the first time. Eintracht Frankfurt have scored in the first 10 minutes of all four matches this campaign (RBL: 0).
On Sunday, the Rhine Derby will see 1. FC Köln in combat with pointless Borussia Mönchengladbach, and in the closing match, third-placed SC Freiburg will take on FC Schalke 04 in 11th.
Mönchengladbach are pointless after four games for only second time in the Bundesliga. Alexander Blessin is the first Gladbach coach to make his debut in the derby against 1. FC Köln, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in 18 games and therefore, in all 11 under René Wagner.
SC Freiburg (three goals conceded) and FC Schalke 04 (four) boast two of the Bundesliga’s tightest defences this season. However, the former have won the last five Bundesliga meetings without conceding a goal. The last four in Freiburg have all been home wins, with the last three being by 4-0 scorelines.
