By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
With the first international break of the season now in the rearview mirror, the Bundesliga comes roaring back into action this weekend with Matchday 3.
Kicking things off is a blockbuster of a Friday night fixture, that sees a blockbuster match when Bayer 04 Leverkusen, with new head coach Kasper Hjulmand in the dugout, welcome in-form Eintracht Frankfurt. Former Denmark national coach Hjulmand is no stranger to the Bundesliga after a stint as team manager at 1. FSV Mainz 05 about a decade ago. With just one point from two matches, Leverkusen have some catching-up to do, while Frankfurt are sitting in second place in the table with a perfect record so far.
There are no such problems for Die Adler, who have flown out the traps and are one of three teams with a perfect record after two matchdays. Their coach, Dino Topmöller, is rapidly building on last season’s success that earned a third-place finish, and it was summer signing Ritsu Dōan who stole the show on Matchday 2 as he hit a double in the 3-1 victory at TSG Hoffenheim.
Both sides may well emerge as two of FC Bayern München’s closest rivals this season, but it’s the defending champions who currently lead the way on goal difference.
Like Frankfurt, Bayern have won both their opening fixtures, with their front three of Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise setting a frightening pace. They have scored eight of Bayern’s nine goals between them so far and will certainly provide promoted Hamburger SV with their toughest test since their return to the top flight.
HSV are still looking for their first win of the season, and claiming all three points in the first Nord-Süd-Gipfel – or North-South Summit – since 2018 would prove a significant statement. This was once one of the biggest fixtures in German football, and HSV supporters will not only be hoping it’s the first of many to come, but that their team can ultimately reclaim their position as a Bundesliga heavyweight in the years ahead.
The same could be said for 1. FC Köln, who are already looking like their former selves since coming up as Bundesliga 2 winners last term. The Billy Goats are the third and final team with a 100 percent record after two weeks, having seen off 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Sport-Club Freiburg already.
Summer addition Marius Bülter has scored in both wins and looks a superb signing, and he will again lead the line on Saturday afternoon away to unbeaten VfL Wolfsburg. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also in action at 3:30pm CEST on Saturday, with their respective trips to FC Heidenheim 1846 and Mainz part of a packed weekend in the Bundesliga.