The seventh matchday of the Bundesliga saw the top teams flex their collective strength atop the table. Two matches showcased multiple goals by both squads and three others produced clean sheets. Despite Harry Kane’s hat trick, Omar Marmoush’s ninth goal on the season maintained his lead for the Golden Boot.
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: 1
Bundesliga Results: WWDDW + 5-0 win at VfL Bochum
After the devastating 4-1 Champions League loss to Barcelona, Bayern delivered the most complete performance of the season. Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala scored from set pieces in the first half, while Harry Kane, Leroy Sané, and Kingsley Coman scored in open play in the second half. Sané hadn’t scored a Bundesliga goal in exactly one year and is slowly starting to return to his world class form.
2) RB Leipzig
Previous Ranking: 2
Bundesliga Results: DDWWW + 3-1 win vs Freiburg
After conceding its first Bundesliga goal since August, Leipzig stepped on the gas and flew past a solid Freiburg squad. Loïs Openda’s movement continues to unlock the final third for Leipzig without sacrificing numbers forward. Péter Gulácsi subbed off early and his undisclosed injury will be monitored closely.
3) Bayer Leverkusen
Previous Ranking: 3
Bundesliga Results: WWDDW + 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen
After Victor Boniface scored in the 30th minute, Leverkusen gave back the lead (twice!) and Florian Wirtz’s blast hit the post in the 84th minute rather than putting the game out of reach. Leverkusen only produced five shots on goal, as Leverkusen continues to pay its dues to the football gods for the undefeated 2023/24 season.
4) Union Berlin
Previous Ranking: 7
Bundesliga Results: DWLWW + 1-1 draw vs Eintracht Frankfurt
In the 66th minute, Benedict Hollerbach’s breakaway equalized the match. Playing the last 15 minutes up a man, Tim Skarke appeared to win the match with a blast inside the box but was painstakingly overturned by VAR’s offside decision. Union Berlin’s defense continues to earn valuable points against tough competition.
5) Eintracht Frankfurt
Previous Ranking: 5
Bundesliga Results: WWWDL + 1-1 draw at Union Berlin
In his 300th Bundesliga game, Mario Götze opened the scoring line for Frankfurt. After Thursday’s Europa League win, Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike only combined for a single shot. Once Arthur Theate was handed a red card in the 76th minute, Frankfurt dropped deep to hold on to the point on the road.
6) Freiburg
Previous Ranking: 4
Bundesliga Results: WWLWW + 3-1 loss at RB Leipzig
Freiburg’s impressive pressure earned an opening goal from Ritsu Doan, but then Leipzig locked in and severely limited Freiburg’s chances for the rest of the match. For the next couple months, Freiburg has a favorable schedule and will need to string together wins to stay in the top five.
7) Werder Bremen
Previous Ranking: 8
Bundesliga Results: WLWLW + 2-2 draw vs Bayer Leverkusen
In the 74th minute, Marvin Ducksch snuck behind Jonathan Tah and headed in the 1-1 equalizer. In the 90th minute, Romano Schmid’s shot pinballed through the box and ended in the back of the net. Bremen outshot Leverkusen 8-5 but will be thrilled to earn the late point against the reigning champions.
8) Stuttgart
Previous Ranking: 10
Bundesliga Results: WWDDL + 2-1 win vs Holstein Kiel
Deniz Undav chipped the keeper in the 19th minute and El Bilal Toure blasted the game winner from outside the box in the 61st minute. It was a masterpiece performance until Julian Chabot picked up a second yellow card five minutes later. Stuttgart deserved the win and will only regret not winning by a larger margin.
9) Borussia Dortmund
Previous Ranking: 6
Bundesliga Results: WLWLW + 2-1 loss at Augsburg
Dortmund hasn’t won consecutive Bundesliga matches this season, delivering another languid performance. Donyell Malen got behind the Augsburg defense and scored in the 4th minute but other 10 Dortmund shots failed to connect. Nuri Şahin needs to coax more consistency out of his roster in the Bundesliga.
10) Borussia Mönchengladbach
Previous Ranking: 9
Bundesliga Results: LLWLW + 1-1 draw at Mainz
Since earning a call-up from Julian Nagelsmann and the German national team, Tim Kleindienst has been a lightning rod for Gladbach. After Stefan Lainer conceded a poor own goal, Kleindienst immediately brought the game back to level footing with a powerful header. Gladbach will be pleased with the point on the road.
11) Hoffenheim
Previous Ranking: 11
Bundesliga Results: LLLDW + 0-0 draw at Heidenheim
Hoffenheim created better opportunities but ultimately failed to earn more than a point. The result pushes Hoffenheim’s undefeated streak to three games as they continue to recover from the poor start to the season.
12) Augsburg
Previous Ranking: 15
Bundesliga Results: WLLWL + 2-1 win vs Borussia Dortmund
Despite only holding 24% possession, Augsburg still registered more shots than Dortmund. This included two beautiful goals from Alexis Claude-Maurice that proved to be the difference. Augsburg lacks depth and losing three players to injury will hover a dark cloud over the upset victory.
13) Mainz
Previous Ranking: 12
Bundesliga Results: LWLWL + 1-1 draw vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
Robin Zentner’s fantastic form continued as Mainz battled to an exhausting draw against Gladbach. Mainz’s goal was a weird own goal, but Mainz generously gave it back a couple minutes later. Mainz’s pressure in the first third of the game probably deserved a goal, but Jonathan Burkardt and the rest of the offense failed to find the right moment.
14) Heidenheim
Previous Ranking: 14
Bundesliga Results: LLWLL + 1-1 draw vs Hoffenheim
Heidenheim’s offense continues to sputter but luckily the defense has conceded multiple goals only once in the last six matches. Heidenheim has a prime opportunity to earn six points in upcoming matches against Holstein Kiel and Wolfsburg.
15) Wolfsburg
Previous Ranking: 13
Bundesliga Results: LLDWL + 0-0 draw at St. Pauli
Wolfsburg’s offense was virtually nonexistent against a tough St. Pauli. Kamil Grabara’s five saves bailed out Wolfsburg from losing the match altogether. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s first season at Wolfsburg has been abysmal and he’ll be lucky to still have the job next summer.
16) St. Pauli
Previous Ranking: 16
Bundesliga Results: LDWLL + 0-0 draw vs Wolfsburg
St. Pauli will be disappointed that they only earned a point. St. Pauli had significantly better chances, especially in the first half, but failed to convert. St. Pauli continues to hold its own in the Bundesliga but must find wins in games like these.
17) Holstein Kiel
Previous Ranking: 17
Bundesliga Results: LDLDL + 2-1 loss at Stuttgart
Kiel was thoroughly outclassed by Seb Hoeneß’s side. Armin Gigovic salvaged a goal in the 84th minute, but former Bayern academy prospect Jann-Fiete Arp ended the comeback attempt with an ejection in the 88th minute. Kiel is still in search of a Bundesliga win or clean sheet.
18) VfL Bochum
Previous Ranking: 18
Bundesliga Results: LDLLL + 5-0 loss vs Bayern Munich
Bochum was utterly helpless against Bayern, conceding 73% possession and 10 shots on goal. Bochum’s road doesn’t get any easier with Frankfurt, Leverkusen, and Stuttgart up next.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s 5-0 dismantling of VfL Bochum, plus some talk about why Max Eberl could be on his way to losing the fan base? Great, then we have you covered with our combination Bavarian Podcast Works Postgame Show / Flagship Show. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify or below:
