After an unusually defensive Matchday 2, Matchday 3 only saw one draw and two clean sheets, and they both occurred in the same match. Only one team scored multiple goals and still lost (Heidenheim).
Five teams remain undefeated, but only the new number one in the Power Rankings has won all three matches thus far. That would be Bayern Munich, of course!
This series will recap each team’s performance and rank the Bundesliga teams following each matchday. The ranking system is based on the quality of performances, opponents, and recent matches.
1) Bayern Munich
Previous Ranking: 2
Result: 6-1 win at Holstein Kiel
Bayern’s high press created three turnover-driven goals in the first 13 minutes. Harry Kane scored his fifth hat trick for Bayern and Michael Olise scored his first competitive goal for the Rekordmeister. A late goal ruined the clean sheet for Manuel Neuer but it was another dominating performance.
2) RB Leipzig
Previous Ranking: 1
Result: 0-0 draw vs Union Berlin
Loïs Openda was the difference maker in the upset over Leverkusen, but he was the scapegoat today as he scuffed his penalty kick in the 74th minute that would’ve won the match and kept the perfect season alive for Leipzig. Péter Gulácsi made three big saves to post another clean sheet.
3) Bayer Leverkusen
Previous Ranking: 3
Result: 4-1 win at Hoffenheim
Following the international break, Leverkusen looked rejuvenated. On both of his goals Victor Boniface toyed with the defense and added a tap-in assist to boot. Florian Wirtz and Alejandro Grimaldo were spectacular all over the left side of the pitch.
4) Borussia Dortmund
Previous Ranking: 5
Result: 4-2 win vs Heidenheim
Dortmund finally allowed a goal but luckily it occurred after Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi had already given Die Schwarzgelben a commanding lead. Adeyemi calmly completed his brace right before halftime and Dortmund controlled the rest of the match with overwhelming possession.
5) Heidenheim
Previous Ranking: 4
Result: 4-2 loss at Borussia Dortmund
Heidenheim dug themselves into a massive hole, allowing two goals in the first 20 minutes. Goalkeeper Kevin Müller got a piece of both shots but came up empty in the big moments, only providing two saves on six shots on target. Heidenheim battled back with goals in the 39th and 74th minute but were never able to get over the hump. Heidenheim is very capable of upsetting the top squads in the Bundesliga, but will need to be more focused on defense.
6) Eintracht Frankfurt
Previous Ranking: 8
Result: 2-1 win at Wolfsburg
File this result under the “stolen points” category. Frankfurt’s attack focused mainly on the left flank and were rewarded with a beautiful cross and even better finish from Omar Marmoush. Marmoush slammed his penalty kick into the side netting to give Frankfurt the win.
7) Freiburg
Previous Ranking: 9
Result: 2-1 win vs VfL Bochum
Freiburg played the first half at its pace but found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime. In the 58th minute, Junior Adamu slipped behind the defense to finish a breakaway and even the score. Three minutes later, Freiburg were stonewalled three times at the goal line before Adamu’s header finally ricocheted through the defense for the game winner. It wasn’t always pretty, but Freiburg found three hard earned points.
8) Stuttgart
Previous Ranking: 12
Result: 3-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach
Rocking the sleek black jerseys, Stuttgart played with a different attitude this weekend. Ermedin Demirović continues to prove he’s worth every penny of his club-record transfer fee, scoring a pair of goals in quick succession to put the match out of reach. Bayern loanee Alexander Nübel stymied Gladbach with six saves.
9) Union Berlin
Previous Ranking: 11
Result: 0-0 draw at RB Leipzig
The Bundesliga’s toughest defense showed up again today to stifle Leipzig, besides an unlucky penalty kick that Frederik Ronnow laid out beautifully to block. Union Berlin’s offense showed better creativity in the final third but still lacks a reliable scorer and had to settle for the draw.
10) Wolfsburg
Previous Ranking: 7
Result: 2-1 loss vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Wolfsburg played a tight match that probably deserved a point. Ridle Baku scored a brilliant goal from the top of the box in the 76th minute that looked to earn the draw, but Cédric Zesiger’s unlucky handball in the 81st minute was the final domino.
11) Borussia Mönchengladbach
Previous Ranking: 6
Result: 3-1 loss vs Stuttgart
In an evenly matched game, Gladbach were inefficient in front of goal. In the 27th minute, Alassane Pléa was the beneficiary of poor marking and clearance from Stuttgart and was able to sneak in a header. As a midtable team, Gladbach flat out needs to be mentally tougher in these types of matches.
12) Werder Bremen
Previous Ranking: 13
Result: 2-1 win at Mainz
In a contentious affair, Bremen avoided disaster after Bayern Munich academy prospect Marco Friedl was ejected in the 60th minute on a “last man” tackle from behind. In the 69th minute, Romano Schmid found Derrick Köhn streaking up the left flank to bury the game winner. Bremen remains undefeated but that will be pushed to the limits when Bayern comes to town next weekend.
13) Hoffenheim
Previous Ranking: 10
Result: 4-1 loss vs Bayer Leverkusen
Hoffenheim’s high line cost them the lead early and they never really found their way back into the match. Even Andrej Kramarić failed to score, although his cross in the 37th minute somehow leaked its way through Leverkusen’s defense to Mergim Berisha for Hoffenheim’s only goal.
14) Augsburg
Previous Ranking: 15
Result: 3-1 win vs St. Pauli
Augsburg scored three left-footed goals from three different players. Marius Wolf’s curler was particularly savory. Despite losing the possession battle, Augsburg was much better in the final third and Nediljko Labrović only needed to make two saves to earn the victory.
15) Mainz
Previous Ranking: 14
Result: 2-1 loss vs Werder Bremen
Mainz gave away a silly penalty kick in the first 10 minutes and Robin Zentner wasn’t able to produce the save. Bremen returned the favor in the 27th minute when Michael Zetterer collided with his own defender, leaving an easy tap-in for Jae-Sung Lee. Mainz played the last 30 minutes up a man but were unable to find another goal, instead conceding the game winner.
16) VfL Bochum
Previous Ranking: 18
Result: 2-1 loss at Freiburg
Bochum found its first goal of the season on a nice redirection from Myron Boadu. Unfortunately, the dam broke as Bochum gave up two goals in four minutes. Given Bochum’s inability to get numbers forward, Boadu must find unique goals that go against the run of play.
17) St. Pauli
Previous Ranking: 17
Result: 3-1 loss at Augsburg
For the third consecutive match, St. Pauli won the possession battle but the offense was disturbingly inept. In the 74th minute, Carlo Boukhalfa’s redirected header earned St. Pauli’s first goal of the season but it was too little too late. Perhaps it’s time to make a tactical change that takes more attacking risk and focuses less on possession.
18) Holstein Kiel
Previous Ranking: 16
Result: 6-1 loss vs Bayern Munich
It’s one thing to get beat by a superior team, but it’s another to be absolutely in front of the home crowd. To start the match, Holstein Kiel conceded a goal in 15 seconds and three goals in 15 minutes. It doesn’t get much uglier than this for the club in last place. The lone bright spot was Armin Gigović scoring the club’s first ever Bundesliga goal at their home stadium.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s massive 6-1 blowout of Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga? Great, then we have just what you need with our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show, which is available on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
