Bundesliga Match Day 1: Wrap-Up
Borussia Dortmund did what anyone with half a brain expected it to do: Exert its will on FC Augsburg. BVB smashed Die Fuggerstädter 5-1 in what was an utterly convincing display of how good this team could be this season.
Paco Alcacer had a brace (3', 59'), while Jadon Sancho (51'), Marco Reus (57'), and Julian Brandt (82') provided the scoring for what should be an absolutely terrifying Dortmund offense. To emphasize how deep and talented this squad is Brandt and Mario Gotze entered the game as substitutes.
Think about that.
Now that you are already packing in the season for YOUR Bundesliga team, you can relax a little. BVB is good...damn good, but how that team evolves, how Lucien Favre manages that talent, and how healthy Reus can stay all will play vital roles in what the end result is for Dortmund this season.
Florian Niederlechner had the lone goal for Augsburg.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 4, FC Augsburg 1 (W)
(Courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
(Courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
Bayern Munich 2, Hertha Berlin 2: Bayern Munich was a deflected ball and a clash of heads away from a clean sheet, but ultimately settled for a tie with Die Alte Dame. Robert Lewandowski's brace (24', 60') carried the Bayern offense in what was a dominant, yet unfulfilling effort from Die Roten. It was truly an odd, almost unlucky contest for the Bavarians.
For Hertha Berlin, Dodi Lukebakio (36') and Marko Grujic (38') provided the scoring, but it was an encouraging effort by Die Alte Dame who look like they could be a very challenging squad within the Bundesliga this season. Niklas Stark turned in a superb effort and showed the rest of the Bundesliga the blueprint for achieve success via roughing up the Bayern forwards.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3, Hertha Berlin 1 (L)
Wolfsburg 2, FC Koln 1: The Wolves picked up where they left off last season and grabbed a nice win over the promoted Billy Goats side. Max Arnold (16') and Wout Weghorst (60') pushed Wolfsburg out to a 2-0 lead before Koln's Simon Terodde added an extra time goal to give the game its final margin.
Wolfsburg looks like it could still be on an upward trend and while the Wolves might not be in the running for a league title, they should absolutely be contending for another top-six finish.
Prediction: Wolfsburg 2, FC Koln 1 (W)***
Fortuna Dusseldorf 3, Werder Bremen 1: This was the shocker of the weekend. I have been of the mindset that Werder Bremen is going a very formidable side this season, so it was only natural that they got boat-raced in the season opener.
Rouwen Hennings (36') gave F95 a first-half 1-0 lead, but Werder Bremen's Johannes Eggestein knotted the contest with a 47th minute tally. From there, however, Fortuna Dusseldorf added two more goals from Kenan Karaman and Kaan Ayhan to stun Die Werderaner.
Prediction: Werder Bremen 4, Fortuna Dusseldorf 2 (L)
SC Freiburg 3, Mainz 0: A trio of late second-half goals from Lucas Holer (81'), Jonathan Schmid (83'), and Luca Waldschmidt (87' - PK) carried Breisgau-Brasilianer to an extremely impressive opening win over Mainz 05. Freiburg could be one of the fun teams to watch this season. With Christian Streich manning the helm once more, Freiburg is going to be entertaining and Luca Waldschmidt gives the squad one of best young players in the league.
Prediction: SC Freiburg 3, Mainz 2 (W)
Bayer Leverkusen 3, SC Paderborn 2: In what was one of the better games of the weekend, Leverkusen outlasted SCP in a genuinely fun opener. Kevin Volland's nice goal in the 69th minute sealed the victory for Die Werkself and compliment earlier efforts from Leon Bailey (10') and megastar-in-the-making Kai Havertz (19').
For Paderborn, it was a really impressive and hard-fought start to the season. Sven Michel (15') and Streli Mamba (25') provided the scoring.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3, SC Paderborn 0 (W)
Borussia Monchengladbach 0, Schalke 0: A scoreless draw is pretty fitting for these two squads at this stage. Each club has so much to learn about these individual teams. My hunch is that both are formidable by midseason, but it could take a while to iron out some of the kinks.
Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach 2, Schalke 1 (L)
Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Hoffenheim 0: Die Adler scored just three minutes into the game when Martin Hinteregger volleyed home a corner and that tally would ultimately be enough to give Eintracht Frankfurt the victory.
For Hoffenheim, it was not the type of result the squad wanted to kick off the post-Nagelsmann era, but TSG1899 did show the type of fight and effort that we have become accustomed to seeing over the last few season.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Hoffenheim 2 (L)
RB Leipzig 4, Union Berlin 0: Die Roten Bullen started their season out like a true contender and dismantled Union Berlin. Behind goals from Marcel Halstenberg, Marcel Sabitzer, Timo Werner (#TimoTime), and Christopher Nkunku. RB Leipzig showed the world it was ready to compete for a Bundesliga crown. Do they have enough talent and depth to battle with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund? I think so.
As for Union Berlin -- it was an awesome return for a well-deserving club. Better days are ahead, but it was good to get that first one in the books.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 4, Union Berlin 1 (W)
Weekly record: 5-4
Season record: 5-4
Perfect calls***: 1
