Bayern Munich are not leading the Bundesliga after seven rounds of games, and their title defence has not particularly gotten to a solid start, with three wins, three draws and a defeat so far. It is Union Berlin, a team that was still in the Bundesliga 2 in 2018-19, that have taken this season by storm, heading into the international break unbeaten after five victories and two draws. The 2022-23 title race in the German top-flight is definitely going to be intriguing, and below are the results and talking points from matchday seven.
Friday, 16 September.
Mainz 1 Hertha Berlin 1
The hosts left it very late to snatch a point after Lucas Tousart’s header had put Hertha ahead after half an hour.
The visitors came close to doubling their lead through the provider of their opener Chidera Ejuke, but his effort was saved, and Mainz’s persistence eventually paid off, as Anthony Caci bundled home the equaliser seconds after they had a penalty appeal waved off.
Sandro Schwarz’s side are 13th in the table as a result of their third draw of the campaign, with just a win to their name so far, while Mainz are in eighth place after three wins, two draws and two defeats.
Saturday, 17 September.
Augsburg 1 Bayern Munich 0
The defending champions were shocked at the WWK Arena by Enrico Maaßen’s side.
Die Roten were heading into the game after three straight Bundesliga draws, and not even their 2-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League prior to weekend’s trip was enough to help them.
Bayern lost at Augsburg last season and Rafal Gikiewicz was ready to deny them another victory, saving the efforts of Sadio Mane, Leroy Sane and Manuel Neuer very late on in the game.
Following a goalless first-half that saw Augsburg register eight shots on target, Mergim Berisha grabbed the winner for the hosts 14 minutes into the second-half as a set piece undid the visitors for the third consecutive league game.
The hosts had lost their last three league games at home, but they were different against Julian Nagelsmann’s side, becoming the first side to stop them from scoring in the Bundesliga for the first time since February 2020.
The result means Bayern are fifth in the table, while Augsburg are in 11th after three wins and four defeats.
Bayer Leverkusen 1 Werder Bremen 1
Leverkusen were held by newly-promoted Bremen, continuing their struggles – which have seen them lose their first three home league games for the first time.
Jeremie Frimpong missed a chance to put the hosts ahead in the first-half after putting a rebound wide, but Kerem Demirbay continued his fine run in front of goal, curling an effort beyond Jiri Pavlenka 12 minutes after the restart.
However, Bremen came from behind with eight minutes left on the clock, with Milos Veljkovic drawing them level after Lukas Hradecky’s initial save.
The hosts came close to restoring their lead late on in the game, but Sardar Azmoun could only head into the bar under pressure, and the result leaves them in 15th place after a win, two draws and four defeats.
Ole Werner’s side are 10th in the table following two wins, three draws and two defeats.
Borussia Dortmund 1 Schalke 04 0
The Revierderby returned to the Bundesliga after 574 days, and the returning Schalke were not able to get something out of the clash despite some resolute defending in the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring through Jude Bellingham, but it was Youssoufa Moukoko, 17, who grabbed the headlines with his 79th-minute header after a fine cross from Marius Wolf.
The teenage sensation became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Revierderby, with Edin Terzic’s side making it four consecutive league wins over the Royal Blues.
Dortmund are second in the table after five wins and two losses, while Schalke are in 14th place following one win, three draws and three losses.
VfB Stuttgart 1 Eintracht Frankfurt 3
Stuttgart are still in search of their first victory of the campaign following the season’s second defeat at the hands of the Europa League winners.
Sebastian Rode put the visitors ahead after Florian Muller punched out Daichi Kamada’s free-kick six minutes into the game, and Kamada doubled his side’s lead directly from another free-kick just 10 minutes after the game restarted.
Tiago Tomas’ deflected strike gave Kevin Trapp no chance in the 79th minute, and while the hosts pushed for a late equaliser after halving the deficit, Frankfurt struck, with Kristijan Jakic heading in Kamada’s corner to lead his side to their third win of the season.
It leaves them in sixth place in the table after two other draws and defeats, while Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men are in 16th place having drawn five times.
A superior goal difference saw Stuttgart miss out on the relegation play-offs place last term, and they will need to start winning very soon to avoid another battle against the drop.
Borussia Monchengladbach 3 RB Leipzig 0
Daniel Farke’s side strolled to their third victory of the campaign, with Jonas Hofmann opening the scoring 10 minutes into the game after Peter Gulacsi parried Marcus Thuram’s header into his path.
The Monchengladbach duo combined again 10 minutes to the break, with Hofmann’s sublime finish after the Frenchman’s fine pass doubling their lead.
Gladbach showed why they are Bundesliga’s most lethal team when it comes to corners eight minutes into the second-half as Ramy Bensebaini made it 3-0.
The win leaves them sixth in the table following three other draws and a defeat, while Marco Rose’s side are 12th with two wins, two draws and three losses.
Sunday, 18 September.
Union Berlin 2 Wolfsburg 0
The league leaders continued their fine run against the struggling Wolfsburg, with the league’s current topscorer Sheraldo Becker assisting Jordan Pefok with a fine cross from the left wing nine minutes into the second-half.
The Suriname international striker bagged his sixth goal of the campaign in the 77th minute to keep his side top of the table, while Wolfsburg’s fourth loss of the season leaves them in 17th place after a win and two draws.
Bochum 1 FC Cologne 1
Heiko Butscher’s side are winless this term, and a late goal from the visitors broke their heart as they headed into the international break bottom of the table.
Bochum found the opener after Benno Erik Schmitz’s unlucky own goal nine minutes into the game, but Koln left it late to grab a deserved equaliser as Linton Maina scored in the 88th minute with a strong shot.
Bochum have lost six times so far, while Steffen Baumgart’s men are ninth in the table after two wins, four draws and a loss.
Hoffenheim 0 Freiburg 0
The only goalless game of the weekend saw both sides’ goalkeepers help their teams to a point apiece, with the hosts’ goalie Oliver Baumann making his 400th appearance in the German top-flight and keeping his 100th clean sheet.
The result leaves André Breitenreiter’s side in fourth place after four wins, a draw and two defeats, while Christian Streich’s men are third, with four victories, two draws and a loss to their name.
