FC Bayern München ended Hertha Berlin’s perfect start to the season and kept their own intact as they defended their position at the top of the Bundesliga. World Champion Jerome Boateng returned to the record champions starting eleven on matchday 4, as Bayern recorded a 3-0 victory. Schalke are still looking for their first points of the season as they were defeated 3-1 by 1. FC Köln, who are in second place and hot on the heels of the defending champions.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen had three points ripped from their grasp late on. Champions League participants Borussia Mönchengladbach had to come from behind to draw the game 1-1in Leipzig after an early goal from Germany U21 international Timo Werner. Werder Bremen were even more unfortunate under interim coach Alexander Nouri in their first game following their split from former head coach Viktor Skripnik. The Green-Whites went 1-0 up in the match but in the end conceded two goals late in the second half to fall to a fourth defeat of the season against 1. FSV Mainz 05. It all ended 0-0 in Leverkusen as Bayer 04 were held by Augsburg, however the hosts could have won the game if Charles Aranguiz had converted from the spot after a foul.
FC Bayern had too much firepower for Hertha going into tonight’s top of the table clash, with the Bavarians not taking their foot off the gas for the entirety of the encounter in Berlin, recording a 3-0 win. Franck Ribéry opened the scoring in the 16th minute before goals from Thiago and Arjen Robben, who was returning after six months out through injury, put the game to bed, continuing their perfect start to season in which they have picked up the maximum of 12 points from their fixtures. For Hertha, it was a missed opportunity to make it to the top of the tree for the first time since 14th February 2009, which they managed by beating Bayern 2-1 at the time – their last victory over the record champions.
Schalke moved deeper into crisis under new head coach Markus Weinzierl by losing their fourth match of the season to Köln, leaving them still to find their first points. The Royal Blues went in front when Klass-Jan Huntelaar ended his 305 minute goal drought in the 36th minute, however, Yuyo Osako equalised for the team from North Rhineland Westphalia. Antony Modeste hit the back of the net for the fourth time this season to turn the game for Köln before Simon Zoller rounded off the scoring. Köln are flying high after four matches with ten points, while Schalke continue to struggle with no points close to the bottom of the Bundesliga.
Timo Werner, who moved to RB Leipzig from VfB Stuttgart in the summer, put the Bulls into the lead with an early goal and put in a passionate performance until he was substituted late in the second half, just before Fabian Johnson equalised for the Foals in the 84th minute. The draw means that the newly promoted side, who beat Dortmund 1-0 in their first home game this season, stay above Gladbach in the table. It was a marquee day for André Schubert, who celebrated one year at Borussia today - unfortunately, he couldn’t cap it off with a victory.
Plenty of fighting spirit and bravery - but still no points for Werder as they switched off for five minutes on interim coach Alexander Nouri’s debut and paid the price by conceded two late goals. Izet Hajrovic, making his first start for Werder, gave the Green-Whites the perfect start when he scored with a long-range effort in the twelfth minute. Bremen held off Mainz for long periods but fell apart in the closing stages as Yunus Malli and Pablo De Blasis scored in quick succession to deliver a knockout blow.
Bayer Leverkusen couldn’t break the deadlock against Augsburg and are starting to have a slight penalty crisis after Charles Aranguiz missed their second penalty in a week in the goalless draw after Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez hit the post four days ago in the loss to Frankfurt. Head coach Roger Schmidt’s team now sit twelfth with one win from four games, while Augsburg are one place below, also with four points from their start to the season.