There are just two points separating the top four sides in the Bundesliga as we head into Matchday 9.
FC Bayern Munich are top of the pile as they travel to VfB Stuttgart, and head coach Hansi Flick will be taking nothing for granted after his reigning champions were held to a draw at home to SV Werder Bremen last time out. Robert Lewandowski, who is gunning for his sixth Torjägerkanone, will be out to add to his 11 goals in just seven league appearances so far.
Lewandowski has Erling Haaland hot on his heels though, on 10 goals, after the Borussia Dortmund wunderkind hit a four-goal salvo in last week’s 5-2 win at Hertha Berlin.
The 20-year-old Norwegian will be intent on terrorising 1. FC Cologne in similar fashion this weekend, while the Bundesliga’s youngest ever player, Youssoufa Moukoko, may have another opportunity to become its youngest ever goal scorer.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are currently the best of the rest behind Bayern and Dortmund, sitting third in the table. Die Werkself entertain Hertha on Sunday and Argentine striker Lucas Alario could well channel the spirit of Diego Maradona to add to his seven-goal tally.
RB Leipzig are a point behind Leverkusen after they drew with Eintracht Frankfurt last week. Julian Nagelsmann’s side boast the joint-best defence in the division, with just five goals conceded, and will be looking to build from the back against DSC Arminia Bielefeld. Yussuf Poulsen is expected to lead the line with left-back Angelino also a considerable goal threat.
No question about this season’s surprise package: 1. FC Union Berlin are fifth and flying high in just their second top-flight campaign.
Ex-Germany striker Max Kruse
has been inspirational for the capital club, notching four goals and five assists, and will now try to guide them past Frankfurt, who are chasing their first win since
Matchday 3.
Whilst Union Berlin are living the dream, FC Schalke 04 are hoping to wake up from their nightmare start. The seven-time German champions (all pre-Bundesliga) are still rooted to the foot of the table and the Royal Blues now face a tough trip to top- four hopefuls Borussia Mönchengladbach, who haven’t lost at home since May.
The Matchday 9 curtain-raiser saw VfL Wolfsburg, who are just inside the European places, beat Welder Bremen 5-3 at he Volkswagen Arena on Friday.
Sport-Club Freiburg will be determined to snap a three-game losing streak as they head to FC Augsburg, who snatched a draw at Gladbach despite being down to 10 men.
And finally, 1. FSV Mainz 05 will be hoping for more Jean-Philippe Mateta heroics as they host TSG Hoffenheim; the Frenchman hit a first-half hat-trick against Freiburg last week to secure the 05ers their first win of the season.
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