There are just two points separating the top four sides in the Bundesliga as we head into Matchday 9. Robert Lewandowski, who is gunning for his sixth Torjägerkanone, will be out to add to his 11-goal tally – a remarkable feat from just seven league appearances. The UEFA Men’s Player of the Year 2020 has Erling Haaland hot on his heels, and the young Norwegian is picking up speed after four goals in his last Bundesliga outing against Hertha Berlin took his total to 10 for the season so far.
FC Bayern München are top of the pile as they travel to VfB Stuttgart, and head
coach Hansi Flick will be taking nothing for granted after his reigning champions
were held to a draw at home to SV Werder Bremen last time out. Robert
Lewandowski, who is gunning for his sixth Torjägerkanone, will be out to add to his
11 goals in just seven league appearances so far.
Lewandowski has Erling Haaland hot on his heels though, on 10 goals, after the
Borussia Dortmund wunderkind hit a four-goal salvo in last week’s 5-2 win at Hertha
Berlin. The 20-year-old Norwegian will be intent on terrorising 1. FC Köln in similar
fashion this weekend, while the Bundesliga’s youngest ever player, Youssoufa
Moukoko, may have another opportunity to become its youngest ever goal scorer.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are currently the best of the rest behind Bayern and
Dortmund, sitting third in the table. Die Werkself entertain Hertha on Sunday and
Argentine striker Lucas Alario could well channel the spirit of Diego Maradona to add
to his seven-goal tally.
RB Leipzig are a point behind Leverkusen after they drew with Eintracht Frankfurt
last week. Julian Nagelsmann’s side boast the joint-best defence in the division, with
just five goals conceded, and will be looking to build from the back against DSC
Arminia Bielefeld. Yussuf Poulsen is expected to lead the line with left-back Angelino
also a considerable goal threat.
No question about this season’s surprise package: 1. FC Union Berlin are fifth and
flying high in just their second top-flight campaign. Ex-Germany striker Max Kruse
has been inspirational for the capital club, notching four goals and five assists, and
will now try to guide them past Frankfurt, who are chasing their first win since
Matchday 3.
Whilst Union Berlin are living the dream, FC Schalke 04 are hoping to wake up from
their nightmare start. The seven-time German champions (all pre-Bundesliga) are
still rooted to the foot of the table and the Royal Blues now face a tough trip to top-four hopefuls, Borussia Mönchengladbach, who haven’t lost at home since May.
The Matchday 9 curtain-raiser sees VfL Wolfsburg, who are just inside the European
places, host Bremen, who will surely be boosted by their spirited display at Bayern’s
Allianz Arena. Florian Kohfeldt’s squad has now registered five straight 1-1 draws
and will need to watch out for Wout Weghorst, who has scored in four of his last five
outings for the Wolves.
Sport-Club Freiburg will be determined to snap a three-game losing streak as they
head to FC Augsburg, who snatched a draw at Gladbach despite being down to 10
men. And finally, 1. FSV Mainz 05 will be hoping for more Jean-Philippe Mateta
heroics as they host TSG Hoffenheim; the Frenchman hit a first-half hat-trick against
Freiburg last week to secure the 05ers their first win of the season.
Story: Bundesliga
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