Bundesliga Match Day 3: Wrap-up
- Chuck Smith
- Sep 2, 2019
- 5 min read
Of all the games on the Match Day 3 slate, Borussia Dortmund vs. Union Berlin absolutely seemed like the easiest on to call.
There was no way that Union Berlin was going to be able to slow down the burgeoning juggernaut in black and yellow. There was no shot that Union Berlin's pop gun offensive group would have the firepower to even pressure the Dortmund back-line even a little bit.
Until there was.
Union Berlin bounced Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in an absolute stunner that represents why you should never turn your head away from Bundesliga. Words cannot even do justice how big a win this was Union Berlin.
Marius Bulter had a brace (22', 50'), while Sebastian Andersson added an insurance goal in the 75th minute. Paco Alcacer had the long BVB goal, but Dortmund could not get much else going in what was a landmark performance for Union Berlin.
The win for Union Berlin represents hope for a club that not many expect to last long in the top flight. For Dortmund, meanwhile, this is the kind of loss that allows doubt to start to creep in. I still think BVB is a terrific squad, but others are already rounding into "I told you they would blow this" form.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 5, Union Berlin 0 (L)
(Courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
(Courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
RB Leipzig 3, Borussia Monchengladbach 1: It was #TimoTime at Borussia-Park as Timo Werner used his pace, tenacity, anticipation, and nose for the goal to power Die Roten Bullen to a big away victory. After what had to be an emotional week for Werner, the 23-year-old put all of his talent on display before heading off to play for Germany during the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Werner, of course, came to the harsh reality that he was not going to get the move to Bavaria that he wanted and re-upped with Leipzig. Clearly, the doubters -- including those in Bayern's own front office -- have been put on notice as Werner looks primed to have a HUGE Bundesliga season.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 2, Borussia Monchengladbach 1 (W)
Bayern Munich 6, Mainz 05 1: This one had blowout written all over it, but it did not come without at least a little bit of a scare for the Bavarians. After Benjamin Pavard lost his mark on Jean-Paul Boetius in the sixth minute to allow Mainz to jump out to an early 1-0 lead, Bayern looked very unsettled. Eventually, though, that confidence, talent, and depth of the Bavarians took over.
Pavard (36') David Alaba (45'), Ivan Perisic (54'), Kingsley Coman (64'), Robert Lewandowski (78'), and Alphonso Davies (80') were the goal scorers for Bayern during the rout. Thomas Muller also had two excellent assists after coming on as a substitute.
One interesting subplot to watch at Bayern is how Niko Kovac manages using Muller and Philippe Coutinho. On Saturday, Coutinho started and was okay prior to Muller entering the game like a bat out of hell. I'll examine this potential conflict, this week.
Prediction: Bayern Munch 5, Mainz 05 0 (W)
(Courtesy of @Bundesliga_EN)
Bayer Leverkusen 0, Hoffenheim 0: It looks like Hoffenheim is going to approach every game like it wants to strangle and try to beat up all of its opponents. So far, so good. Hoffenheim stifled the powerful Leverkusen offense and walked away with a point.
Die Werkself can use this game as a building block. The squad will have to find a way to battle through these kinds of games. For a squad with good young talent like Leverkusen, it will need to endure games like this so that it can eventually learn how to break through and win them.
It's a tough process, but an absolute learning experience.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3, Hoffenheim 1 (L)
FC Koln 2, SC Freiburg 1: An early own goal was not enough for Freiburg to hold off the Billy Goats, who received goals from Anthony Modeste (52') and Ellyes Skhiri (90+2'). Poor Freiburg, I thought they would at least be able to keep the fun going with a draw, but Koln was just too much on this day (I can't expect I'll writing that all too often).
Prediction: SC Freiburg 2, FC Koln 2 (L)
Wolfsburg 1, SC Paderborn 1: While this was a big letdown for the Wolves, it was a HUGE point for Paderborn. A 12th minute goal from Cauly Oliveira-Souza gave SCP an early lead that it would carry until the 56th minute when Josip Brekalo finally broke through for Wolfsburg.
Big credit to Paderborn for clawing its way to a point against a very good Wolfsburg side. The Wolves aren't going to lament this game too much...this kind of outcome happens over the course of a long and grinding Bundesliga season, but it will be very interesting to see how the Wolves respond after the international break.
Prediction: Wolfsburg 4, SC Paderborn 1 (L)
Werder Bremen 3, FC Augsburg 2: FINALLY! Werder Bremen broke through behind a goal from USMNT striker Josh Sargent and a brace from Yuya Osako against an undermanned (due to a red card) Augsburg side.
The emergence of Sargent could be huge for Die Werderaner. Sargent is still young (19), but has the potential to be an extremely impactful play in the Bundesliga this season. Regardless, the win was long overdue for Werder Bremen, which should be one of the "second level" teams in the Bundesliga this season. That group would include Wolfsburg and Werder at this stage as Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig, and Leverkusen make up the top-tier.
Ruben Vargas had both goals for Die Fuggerstädter, which turned in a gritty effort.
Prediction: Werder Bremen 3, FC Augsburg 1 (W)
Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Fortuna Dusseldorf 1: The story of this game was not as much the game on the field as much as it was about what happened in pregame. In a summer where Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic already left town, Ante Rebic essentially bowed out of the starting lineup in hopes that a deal with AC Milan would be finalized.
News from earlier today indicates that Rebic has undergone his physical and the deal should be finalized shortly -- with Eintracht Frankfurt receiving Andre Silva as part of the compensation. To think that Die Adler could lose those three players so quickly after the tremendous season they had last year is just disappointing.
Eintracht Frankfurt is a tough bunch and it has talent, but it cannot keep losing players like Rebic, Haller, and Jovic. Anyway, 32-year-old Rouwen Hennings have F95 a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute, but Bas Dost (57') and Goncalo Paciencia (86') came through to give Eintracht Frankfurt a much needed three points.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 2, Fortuna Dusseldorf 1 (W)*
Schalke 04 3, Hertha Berlin 0: I'm not even joking, I would have NEVER guessed this result based on the season's first two weeks. It's not that Hertha Berlin is really that good, it's that Schalke was that bad!
Okay, okay, so it's not like Die Königsblauen came out and just dominated the contest. Two first-half own goals and a second half tally from Jonjoe Kenny sent Hertha Berlin off with no points, but Schalke showed little-to-no semblance of life for most of the first two match days. Perhaps this bit of fortuitous luck is just what Schalke needed to get going.
I'm a bit disappointed with Die Alte Dame...they should be much better than this. Ante Covic needs to get this sorted out for Hertha Berlin ends up meandering at the bottom of the table for too long and makes itself unable to even contend for 7th place and shot at Europa League qualifiers.
Prediction: Schalke 04 2, Hertha Berlin 2 (L)
Season Record
This was bound to happen. There was no way, my string of good "luck" was going to continue without absorbing a week where not much went right:
Match day record: 4-5
Season record: 16-11
Perfect calls: 2
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