By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
FC Bayern München have a great chance to further bolster their title defence when they visit FC Köln on Friday night. Cologne was the setting for their dramatic title win on the final matchday of last season, and with the hosts in the bottom two after just one win so far this season, Bayern will be favourites to get the win needed to take them back to the top of the table overnight.
Eyes will be focused more than ever on Bayern’s strike sensation Harry Kane. Two more goals in the 4-2 win against 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 before he linked up with England on international duty took Kane to an incredible eight goals in his past three Bundesliga matches – and a staggering 17 goals for the season already, which breaks all manner of records.
Bayern’s unbeaten record so far has kept them hot on the heels of leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who have made the joint-best start in Bundesliga history at this stage. Coach Xabi Alonso was a player in the Bayern team of 2015-16 that previously had 31 points after 11 games. He takes his Leverkusen side to SV Werder Bremen on Saturday, who have found some form themselves on a run of three games without defeat.
Should Köln lose on Friday, they may provide some relief for struggling FC Union Berlin by replacing them at the bottom of the table on goal difference. There is sure to be an emotional atmosphere in the German capital on Saturday in Union’s first home match since the departure of their popular coach Urs Fischer.
There will be a piece of Bundesliga history whatever the result of the tie with FC Augsburg as Marie-Louise Eta will become the first female coach in the Bundesliga as assistant to Marco Grote. Augsburg have been boosted by a recent change of coach, as they remain unbeaten under Jess Thorup after four matches in charge.
There are three sides within three points of the bottom two in the lower reaches at the table, and all three face away trips on Matchday 12. SV Darmstadt 98, in 15th place, visit SC Freiburg after four matches without a win, but the hosts have also failed to take a victory in their past three.
VfL Bochum in 14th took their first win of the season at Darmstadt earlier this month but face a difficult trip on Sunday to Heidenheim, who have three home wins already since promotion to the Bundesliga. 1.
FSV Mainz 05 also have a solitary win so far this season and will need to be at their very best to get a result at TSG Hoffenheim, who are in sixth place after their good start to the season. The side coached by American Pellegrino Matarazzo are looking up to the European qualification spots.
Borussia Dortmund are two points ahead of Hoffenheim in fifth currently. They have a chance to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at VfB Stuttgart before the international break in a battle of the Borussias on Saturday as they host Borussia Mönchengladbach.
RB Leipzig are in fourth and face an intriguing trip to VfL Wolfsburg, whose only win in their past six matches in all competitions came in knocking Leipzig out of the DFB Cup with a 1- 0 home win at the end of October.
Stuttgart fans will be eager to see their team back in action as they resume in third place with club top scorer Serhou Guirassy – who has hit 15 goals already this season – fit again. They have a tough away trip to seventh-place Eintracht Frankfurt, who are on an eightmatch unbeaten run in all competitions, on Sunday.