By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
FC Bayern München’s commanding 6-1 win at newly promoted Holstein Kiel put them to the top of the table as the only side to win each of their opening three matches. With Jamal Musiala scoring one of the fastest goals in Bundesliga history after just 15 seconds and Harry Kane smashing a hat-trick, Bayern will be confident of making that four out of four when they visit SV Werder Bremen on Saturday afternoon.
Bremen will not make it easy for Bayern, however, after taking their first victory of the season at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Matchday 3. They were also the victors the last time the sides met in Munich, securing a 1-0 triumph in January to end a nearly 16-year winless run in this fixture, which is the most played in Bundesliga history going into its 129th edition.
Three of Bayern’s major rivals for the title are in action on Sunday, meaning they will either be looking to pounce on a slip-up or keep pace with the Bavarians. Champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen responded to their first defeat in the Bundesliga since May 2023 with an impressive 4-1 win at TSG Hoffenheim, and three points will be expected again when they host VfL Wolfsburg.
Having been the first side to defeat Leverkusen in over a season, RB Leipzig were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to 1. FC Union Berlin on Matchday 3. A win at FC St Pauli, who will be desperately hoping to claim their first points after promotion, will be important to steer their strong start to the season back on course.
Borussia Dortmund are also in action on Sunday in the standout encounter of the weekend. A visit to VfB Stuttgart will be a severe test to their unbeaten start to the season under new coach Nuri Şahin and with ex-VfB duo Serhou Guirassy and Waldemar Anton in tow. Sebastian Hoeneß’s runners-up have just rekindled their wonderful form of last season with a 3-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Gladbach are in action on Saturday evening at another side looking to mix it at the top end of the table. Eintracht Frankfurt moved onto six points with a 2-1 away win at Wolfsburg, with Omar Marmoush scoring a brace to bring his tally to three for the season.
There are two other teams currently positioned on six points after strong starts to the season. 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and SC Freiburg, both known for their down-to-earth and stable approaches, face off in what is set to be a fascinating encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Plenty of attention will also be on VfL Bochum 1848 versus Holstein Kiel at the same time, with one of the sides certain to claim their first point of the campaign.
Union Berlin and Hoffenheim will also be eager for points, with the Berlin side getting the chance at their own ground to continue a fine unbeaten start to the season under new coach Bo Svensson.
His former club Mainz will hope to have landed their first win of the season by then but face a challenging task in the opening encounter of the matchday on Friday evening, visiting an FC Augsburg side that took a 3-1 win at home to St. Pauli last weekend.