Bundesliga Matchday 7 Recap

The Bundesliga has returned with excitement! Matchday 7 featured the much-anticipated Der Klassiker, an impressive performance by Harry Kane, thrilling 7-goal matches, a resurgence from Stuttgart, and Borussia Monchengladbach still in search of their first win. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights from this round of fixtures.

Kane Shines in Klassiker

Bayern Munich finally secured a victory in Der Klassiker after enduring three previous defeats, triumphing over Borussia Dortmund. The first half was dominated by Bayern, who led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a header from Harry Kane, who has now scored 12 goals in 7 Bundesliga appearances.

Dortmund struggled to escape their half during the opening 45 minutes. Bayern’s relentless pressing combined with Dortmund’s sluggish passing led to the goalkeeper Gregor Kobel resorting to kicking the ball out for a corner, while Bayern hit the woodwork but managed to net just one goal.

The second half saw Dortmund improve significantly. Defensive changes, including the substitution of Niklas Sule for a more central position for Nico Schlotterbeck, allowed BVB to show greater confidence and control over the ball. However, Bayern extended their lead to 2-0 due to a mistake from Jobe Bellingham, combined with a goal from Michael Olise.

Julian Brandt did manage to score in the dying moments after just coming on, but the spotlight remained on Harry Kane.

Kane’s versatility was on display as he not only played a crucial attacking role but also tracked back into defensive positions. He assisted Bayern’s second goal with a superb cross-field pass and helped secure the win by defending diligently near his own area. This performance solidified Bayern’s position at the top of the table, maintaining their perfect record, while Dortmund fell to fourth place after suffering their first loss of the season.

Leverkusen on a Roll

Bayer Leverkusen extended their winning streak to three matches, narrowly defeating Mainz 05 4-3. Particularly in the first half, Leverkusen demonstrated their quality, indicating they are likely contenders for a top-four finish this season.

Alejandro Grimaldo stood out as a key figure, scoring twice. Meanwhile, Christian Kofane has impressed in the absence of Patrik Schick, adding to his tally of three goals in as many matches. Jonas Hofmann appears to have turned his career around after concerns about his future at the club. In addition, the midfield partnership of Aleix Garcia and Equi Fernandez showed great promise. Martin Terrier made a notable return from injury by scoring, marking the performance as a much-needed statement from Leverkusen.

Stuttgart’s Resurgence

VfB Stuttgart climbed to 3rd place in the Bundesliga following a convincing 3-0 victory over Wolfsburg. After a rocky start to their season, Stuttgart has now secured four consecutive wins.

The partnership between Angelo Stiller and Chema Andres has impressed, appearing as if they’ve played together for years. Summer signings Bilal El Khannouss and Tiago Tomas also delivered strong performances; El Khannouss created the most chances in the match (five), and since his loan arrival from relegated Leicester, he has tallied three goals and one assist in seven games, proving to be a valuable addition for Stuttgart.

Stuttgart will be facing Fenerbahçe in midweek before hosting Mainz, who are struggling, in their next match.

Match Results Across the League

In other Bundesliga action, FC Köln drew 1-1 with FC Augsburg, with Köln’s Said El Mala making headlines. In just 245 minutes of play, the German U21 scored three goals and notched one assist despite starting only once in seven games. His performance has caught the attention of clubs like Bayern Munich, PSG, and Inter Milan.

Borussia Monchengladbach remains without a win this season, having lost 3-1 to Union Berlin on Friday night.

Additionally, TSG Hoffenheim achieved a 3-0 victory against St. Pauli, while SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt played to a 2-2 draw, as did FC Heidenheim and Werder Bremen.