Dortmund could hardly have made a better start against FC Augsburg last week, hitting five goals in their season opener for the very first time. Paco Alcacer, Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus and new boy Julian Brandt all got on the scoresheet in a sensational 5-1 win, while promoted 1. FC Köln will be understandably nervous about hosting the black-and-yellow tornado on Friday, having already lost 2-1 to VfL Wolfsburg on their return to the top flight.
Bayern had won their last seven Bundesliga curtain-raisers before last week’s 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin, but Niko Kovac will be confident the champions can rediscover their swagger in Schalke, where they haven’t lost since 2010. Robert Lewandowski is already up and running after his brace against the Old Lady, while new loan signings Ivan Perisic and Philippe Coutinho could make their Bayern bows in Gelsenkirchen for Saturday’s big game.
RB Leipzig made a perfect start to life under Julian Nagelsmann by thrashing promoted 1. FC Union Berlin 4-0, with on-fire Austria attacker Marcel Sabitzer providing a goal and three assists. Eintracht Frankfurt should provide a sterner challenge after edging TSG 1899 Hoffenheim last time out, although the Eagles are in UEFA Europa League playoff action in Strasbourg on Thursday night, which could make for some heavy legs come Sunday afternoon.
Fortuna Düsseldorf were the surprise packages of Matchday 1, claiming a 3-1 away win at SV Werder Bremen with help from debutant American keeper Zack Steffen, who made a remarkable 10 saves. Friedhelm Funkel’s side are likely to have their work cut out again on Saturday at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who battled to a 3-2 win over SC Paderborn 07 with goals from Leon Bailey, Kai Havertz and Kevin Volland.
Elsewhere, Hoffenheim and Bremen will be out to recover from their opening-day losses as they face off at the PreZero Arena on Saturday afternoon. They were the two highest-placed sides to miss out on European football last term, finishing eighth and ninth.
Hertha will try to build on their positive result at Bayern as they entertain Wolfsburg on Sunday, with Dodi Lukebakio out to add to his debut goal at the Allianz Arena. Wout Weghorst also got off the mark as the Wolves overpowered 1. FC Köln, and the battle between the Belgian and the Dutchman should be a fascinating subplot in the capital.
SC Freiburg find themselves flying high in third after a remarkable late show against 1. FSV Mainz 05, with three goals in the last 10 minutes. They will be hoping for more success against Paderborn, who put in a spirited showing against Leverkusen in their first Bundesliga outing since 2015.
Finally, former roommates Sandro Schwarz and Marco Rose will pit their wits against each other as Mainz welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Augsburg and Union Berlin will be licking their wounds after those heavy losses to Dortmund and Leipzig respectively as they go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon.
