Düsseldorf (dpa) – With the fourth game day, the Bundesliga will continue after the international break – with the top match between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich on Saturday evening (6.30 p.m.).
Here is the overview of the games:
Bayer Leverkusen – Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Europa League starter Leverkusen is still undefeated with seven points and definitely wants to defend second place. BVB (6 points) need a win to move forward.
STATISTICS: Dortmund won nine of the last ten league games across all seasons. Dortmund won 33 out of 84 league games against Bayer so far, and 22 ended in a draw. In 42 games in Leverkusen, BVB managed ten wins, the last three years ago.
PERSONAL: The hosts have to do without their South American internationals Aranguiz and Hincapie, as well as the injured Fosu-Mensah, Tapsoba and Baumgartlinger. There is still hope for an appearance at the Argentinian Palacios. Dortmund has Reus and probably Hummels back on board, but has to do without Hazard, Can, Reyna, Schulz, Morey and Zagadou. Meunier’s commitment is questionable.
SPECIAL: Dortmund national player Brandt is likely to appear at his old place of work for the first time this season from the beginning. “He’s in a good mood,” said BVB coach Rose. From 2014 to 2019 Brandt played for Bayer and scored 42 goals (51 assists) for the Rhinelander in 215 competitive games.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – FSV Mainz 05 (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Mainz took six points from the first three games – as many as not since 2018/2019. Hoffenheim was recently annoyed by the 3-2 defeat in Dortmund and before that at home they couldn’t get past a 2-2 draw against Union Berlin.
STATISTICS: Mainz won the last two games at TSG 5-1 and 2-1. The 1: 2 on March 21 was the last home defeat for Hoffenheim so far. Back then, Robert Glatzel met after just 26 seconds for the guests.
PERSONAL: At Hoffenheim long-term injuries Hübner, Bicakcic and Nordtveit are missing. Akpoguma is in quarantine, Bebou is back in training after having previously tested positive for the corona. The Danish attacker Ingvartsen will probably make his debut for Mainz.
SPECIAL: Mainz striker Szalai returns to his former place of work (100 league games for Hoffenheim) under special circumstances. The veteran had tested positive on the international trip with Hungary, but then three times negative and should be allowed to play.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth – VfL Wolfsburg (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Three games, nine points: Wolfsburg got off to a great start and is the clear favorite with the newcomers who have not yet won.
STATISTICS: In the 19th attempt, the Fürth team finally want to celebrate their first home win in the Bundesliga. So far, there are 13 defeats and five draws on the balance sheet.
PERSONAL: The last-minute additions Viergever (defense), Griesbeck (midfield) and Itten (storm) should make Fürth better. VfL must show that they can compensate for the long-term loss of Schlager’s regular strength (cruciate ligament tear) in midfield.
SPECIAL: After Wolf (1998), Van Bommel is only the second Wolfsburg coach to win his first three games. No new VfL coach has achieved four successes at the start.
SC Freiburg – 1. FC Köln (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Both teams got off to a strong start into the season, Freiburg (7) are even a little better after three match days than Cologne (6). Whoever wins stays in there for the time being.
STATISTICS: Under coach Streich, the SC won eight of the eleven Bundesliga games against Cologne. But: The new FC coach Baumgart lost none of his last four league games in Freiburg.
PERSONAL: Höfler is battered, so the Breisgauer could rely on Haberer and newcomer Eggestein in the midfield center. The FC are still missing Hübers and Thielmann.
SPECIAL: In the current season, the Cologne defense stood on average 37.1 meters in front of their own goal line (only three teams defended even higher). The FC defense has to be careful at the beginning: the SC scored three of its five goals in the first nine minutes.
Union Berlin – FC Augsburg (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Union Berlin is unbeaten this season. A series of eight competitive games in three competitions gives you confidence. Augsburg screwed up the start of the season with three games without a win.
STATISTICS: Augsburg were the only team to score six points against Union last season. The 1: 1 in August 2019 is unforgettable for the Iron – the first Bundesliga point win.
PERSONAL: Union coach Fischer has no injuries to complain about. Puchacz should get a break after playing with Poland. Augsburg has defensive concerns. Gouweleeuw and Uduokhai are questionable.
SPECIAL: Union is undefeated 18 Bundesliga home games in a row. The last team to win in the Alte Försterei stadium was on September 19, 2020 with 3: 1 FC Augsburg.
RB Leipzig – Bayern Munich (Saturday, 6.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Bayern started solidly with seven points from three games under their new coach Nagelsmann. In Leipzig, however, Coach Marsch is under pressure, because three points and a midfield position are not enough for the demands of the Saxons.
STATISTICS: Leipzig and Munich have met ten times in the Bundesliga so far. Leipzig only managed one victory in March 2018. Against any other team, RB has such a weak record as against Munich.
PERSONAL: RB hardly has to cut back on personnel. National player Halstenberg has been missing for a long time anyway, goalkeeper Gulacsi is fit again. At Bayern, Pavard and Hernandez are ready to go again.
SPECIAL: Nagelsmann returns two and a half months after leaving Leipzig. A total of seven ex-Leipzigers are now employed by Bavaria.
Eintracht Frankfurt – VfB Stuttgart (Sunday, 3.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: For the first time in 13 years Frankfurt are without a win after three matchdays. With three points, VfB is in 13th place, while Eintracht is in 14th place with one point less.
STATISTICS: The Hessians have not lost in four games against Stuttgart and have been unbeaten in their own stadium for 20 league games. VfB was defeated in seven of the last ten games across seasons.
PERSONAL: Newcomer striker Lammers could make his debut for Eintracht. Captain Rode is still missing. The guests have to do without strikers Kalajdzic and Silas as well as new signing Führich. Mangala and Nartey return to the roster.
SPECIAL: Eintracht scored the most Bundesliga goals against Stuttgart (163). This also applies to the Swabians, who scored 176 goals against Frankfurt.
VfL Bochum – Hertha BSC Berlin (Sunday, 5.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: The zero-point Hertha needs a sense of achievement, otherwise it should be tight for coach Dardai. Bochum wants to use the euphoria of the fans to be carried to home success, as it did against Mainz.
STATISTICS: Bochum’s home record against Hertha in the Bundesliga is impressive. VfL won 16 out of a total of 23 games, the first twelve of which were in the Ruhrstadion. Hertha achieved three Bundesliga successes in Bochum.
PERSONAL: At VfL, Löwen, who came from Hertha in the summer, could be in the starting line-up. Among other things, the Japanese Asano will be missing. At Hertha, coach Dardai will start on the offensive with Belfodil, Richter and Maolida. Boateng is questionable.
SPECIAL: VfL won the last meeting in the Bundesliga in Bochum on August 23, 2010 1-0. At that time, Hertha coach Dardai was still on the pitch.
Bor.Mönchengladbach – Arminia Bielefeld (Sunday, 7.30 p.m.)
SITUATION: Borussia’s coach Hütter is still waiting for his first win with his new team. Bielefeld has been undefeated for six games across the seasons, but recently played three consecutive draws – four draws in a row would be a club record.
STATISTICS: Out of 16 Bundesliga games in Mönchengladbach, Bielefeld could only win one – and that victory was more than 50 years ago. Most recently, Borussia remained undefeated in ten games against Arminia, the last Bielefeld victory came on March 15, 2003.
PERSONAL: Ginter and Embolo return, the use of Bensebaini is still questionable. Netz could take over the left-back position for him. Vasiliadis and Fernandes are missing from the guests, Pieper’s commitment is still questionable.
SPECIAL: Hofmann returns to the Gladbach team after a successful appearance in the national team – but not as a right-back as in the DFB-Elf. “In the national team he can play in that position, but we need him in other positions,” said coach Hütter.
