Bundesliga Matchday 5: Bayern battle Wolfsburg for top spot

Defending champions Bayern Munich will be looking to take top spot from early leaders Wolfsburg on Matchday 5 in the Bundesliga.

It has been a goal-filled start to the German top tier, with all but three sides averaging at least a goal per game after four matches — and three teams already into double figures.

The action begins on Friday evening when the two worst defences in the league meet, so another high-scoring weekend could certainly be in store.

Hertha Berlin vs Greuther Furth (Friday, 7.30pm)

Newly promoted Greuther Furth travel to Hertha Berlin after a disappointing start to the season.

Greuther are yet to win a game and have only managed one point so far, drawing with 10-man Arminia Bielefeld in August.

These two teams have not met each other very often but Hertha are unbeaten at home against Furth, having won two and drawn one of their encounters.

Midfielder Suat Serdar netted a brace against Bochum last weekend — securing a 3-1 win that gave Hertha their first points of the season following a difficult start.

The club from the capital have kept a clean sheet in their last three matches against Greuther Furth, while the visitors’ last goal against Die Alte Dame was scored by Fred Schaub, all the way back in 1981.

Bayern Munich vs Bochum (Saturday, 2.30pm)

Bayern will be eyeing a return to the top of the table ahead of their clash with Bochum at the Allianz Arena.

An opening draw with Borussia Monchengladbach means the giants have not taken their usual place at the summit of the Bundesliga yet but there is every chance they could be by the end of Matchday 5.

There is already the familiar sight of Robert Lewandowski at the top of the goalscoring charts thanks to six goals in four games, while Joshua Kimmich already has three assists to his name.

Bayern have only lost at home once in the Bundesliga to Bochum in 34 games (W25 D8), and you have to go all the way back to August 1991 to find that result.

The Bavarians are currently unbeaten in 29 home league games since November 2019 (W24 D5) and are in the midst of a five-game winning streak at the Allianz Arena.

Saturday’s other games

Augsburg vs Borussia Monchengladbach (2.30pm) 

Mainz vs Freiburg (2.30pm) 

Arminia Bielefeld vs Hoffenheim (2.30pm) 

Koln vs RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen (Sunday 2.30pm)

It has been a mixed start to the season for Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen but the visitors will fancy their chances at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

Only Bayern (13) and Borussia Dortmund (13) have scored more goals than Leverkusen (12) so far this season and their only defeat came in a 4-3 loss to the latter.

Moussa Diaby already has three goals to his name while Florian Wirtz has the same number of assists.

Stuttgart also pose a threat and their Bundesliga expected goals (xG) tally of 8.2 is only surpassed by Bayern (12.5) and Dortmund (10.2).

If they can convert their chances and tighten things up in defence, Die Schwaben could certainly cause Leverkusen problems.

Borussia Dortmund vs Union Berlin (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Borussia Dortmund continue to set their stall out as title contenders and know three points are a must against Union Berlin.

In Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, they have two of Europe’s outstanding young players in their respective positions — BVB just need to make sure they use this talent to challenge Bayern before those players are inevitably sold.

Union are still relatively new to top-flight football and continue to punch above their weight, even qualifying for Europe last season.

So far, all four Bundesliga duels between Die Borussen and Union have been won by the home side — Dortmund by 5-0 and 2-0, Union Berlin by 3-1 and 2-1.

Wolfsburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Sunday 6.30pm)

Wolfsburg go into their clash with Eintracht Frankfurt as league leaders and the only team with a perfect record after four matches.

They sit top of the pile thanks to their rock-solid defence — Mark van Bommel’s men have only conceded on one occasion so far.

Die Wolfe even held on to a 0-0 draw against Lille in the Champions League this week after going down to ten men in the 62nd minute.

Eintracht , on the other hand, are yet to win a Bundesliga game this season. 

They are managed by former Wolfsburg boss Glasner, though, who will hope to use his knowledge of the opposition to get SGE’s campaign up and running.