The first round of European competition is in the books for Germany's elite, but it's not looking likely to trip them up. Borussia Dortmund face a tricky trip to Mainz, but Bayern Munich should be able to handle the Bundesliga's worst team. Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, get the benefit of playing a team that had to play in the Europa League this week. However, they do have to go on the road.
Bundesliga preview, Week 4: Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg need bounce-back game
Week 4 of the Bundesliga features two of last year’s top five facing off, plus very winnable away trips for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Jamie McDonald
Hamburg vs. Bayern Munich
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. ET | TV: GolTV (US and Canada)
On the evidence of recent Hamburg performances, this could get pretty ugly. But Bayern Munich might be a bit worn out after a very tough Champions League outing against Manchester City on Wednesday, while HSV might get a bit of a bump from canning manager Mirko Slomka. It’s not terribly rare to see previously awful teams play very well after a coach is sacked, so there are certainly ingredients for a weird upset present.
There’s no good reason to pick Hamburg to get a point, though. Bayern really should beat them by multiple goals.
Mainz 05 vs. Borussia Dortmund
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET | TV: GolTV (US and Canada), BT Sport 1 (UK)
Even though beloved manager Thomas Tuchel has left Mainz, they haven’t really skipped a beat. They’re undefeated so far this season, sit in seventh, and have a perfectly respectable five goals to their name.
Like Hamburg, Mainz get the benefit of catching their favored opponents both at home and just a few days after a Champions League match. The bad news for Mainz is that Jürgen Klopp rotated his team mid-week, resting Lukasz Piszczek, Milos Jojic, Shinji Kagawa and Adrian Ramos. The XI that he fields should be a perfectly fresh one.
Mainz are unlikely to keep Dortmund scoreless, and are one of the few smaller clubs in the Bundesliga that might do well in a track meet with BVB. Shinji Okazaki has three goals on the season, and he’ll be a threat to add to that tally.
Wolfsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET | TV: GolTV (US and Canada), BT Sport 1 (UK)
Wolfsburg were thought to be a serious contender for top four after reinvesting in their squad this summer while keeping all of their best players, but they’re off to a very slow start. They’re yet to pick up a win in the Bundesliga and got smashed on Thursday, losing 4-1 to Everton in Europa League. Sunday’s match, at home against Bayer Leverkusen, presents an opportunity for them to turn their season around.
Bayer weren’t quite as shocking as Wolfsburg mid-week, but were very disappointing in a 1-0 loss away to Monaco, thought to be the weakest team in their Champions League group. Conceding away was no surprise, but it was a bit jarring that the highest scoring team in the Bundesliga couldn’t get one past Monaco.
This could turn into one of the most exciting games of the weekend, if earlier Bundesliga games involving these teams are any indication. Expect goals, from both teams.
Full schedule (all times ET)
Freiburg vs. Hertha Berlin - Friday, 2:30 p.m.
Schalke vs. Eintracht Frankfurt - Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
Augsburg vs. Werder Bremen - Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
Stuttgart vs. Hoffenheim - Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
Hamburg vs. Bayern Munich - Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
Paderborn vs. Hannover - Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
Mainz vs. Borussia Dortmund - Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Wolfsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen - Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
Köln vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach - Sunday, 11:30 a.m.
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