Bundesliga Matchday 4 Preview 27 August - 1 September

Bundesliga Matchday 4 will be stretched from Tuesday to Sunday in consideration of Bayern Munich's Champions League Supercup encounter with Chelsea on Friday August 30.  There is also midweek activity for Eintracht Frankfurt against Quarabag and VFB Stuttgart against Rijeka in the Euro Leauge Playoff round.  Thursday FC Schalke 04 travels to PAOK in the Champions League Qualifying round.  The Champions League Group Stage draw will be made on Thursday as well.

This week's Bundesliga opener will be on Tuesday with FC Bayern traveling to Freiburg to continue on its path of a perfect record in four matchday.  Freiburg will have a voice in this and with only one point will be determined to defeat Bayern at home.  Bayern's new acquisition Thiago will be out for seven weeks due to a ligament injury, which requires surgery.  Mario Goetze made his debut with Bayern against Nuernberg, but still requires game fitness.  Pep Guardiola will also have to take Friday's game against Chelsea into consideration.  Bayern is the clear favourite in Freiburg and should win by two goals.

Four teams, Dortmund, Leverkusen, Bayern and Mainz have earned all three points in three matchdays.  Dortmund travels to Frankfurt on Sunday and is the clear favourite.  If Dortmund can take care of its defensive side, the Borussen should win by at least two goals.  Leverkusen travels to Schalke on Saturday.  Schalke has a match on Thursday and has not played up to its potential so far this season.  The extra stress of the Euro League will be a factor for Schalke and Leverkusen seems to be firing on all cylinders.  The nod has to go to Kiessling and company.

FSV Mainz travels to Hannover on Saturday and this match could go either way.  A slight home game advantage goes to Hannover.  VFB Stuttgart and Eintracht Braunschweig are still chasing their first point, having lost the first three season matches.  Stuttgart, which plays on Thursday in the Euro Leauge also hosts Hoffenheim on Sunday.  This is a game that could go either way and may end up in draw.  Braunschweig travels to Hamburg on Saturday.  Braunschweig has lost its first three matches, while Hamburg only has one point.  A slight advantage goes to Hamburg.

The remaining two matches see Nuernberg hosting Augsburg.  Nuernberg has drawn two matches and lost one, while Augsburg lost two and won one.   This is another Bavarian derby match and should provide ample entertainment to fans.  No matter how it turns out it should be close with home team advantage to Nuernberg. Gladbach hosts Bremen and Bremen has won two matches and lost one.  Gladbach won one and lost two.  This should be another nail biter.  Berlin travels to Wolfsburg for a match that should be interesting.  Can Berlin continue to remain undefeated. With seven points in three starts, Hertha has had an excellent start in the Bundesliga. 

This week's question is whether or not the front runners can win their fourth consecutive match and if Stuttgart and Eintracht Braunschweig can finally win some points. All eyes will be on Friday's FC Bayern vs Chelsea game, when the Bundesliga once again measures itself against the Barclay's Premier League.   Bayern will be ready. 

Tuesday 27 August

SC Freiburg vs Bayern München 1-1

Saturday 31 August

Bor. Mönchengladbach vs Werder Bremen
Hannover 96 vs FSV Mainz 05   
VfL Wolfsburg vs Hertha BSC   
1. FC Nürnberg vs FC Augsburg   
Hamburger SV vs Eintracht Braunschweig  
Schalke 04 vs Bayer Leverkusen

Sunday 1 September
 
VfB Stuttgart vs 1899 Hoffenheim   
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund

    
Place-----Team-----------------------GP---W---D----L---GF/GA ---Pts
1--------FC Bayern Muenchen--------4----3----1-----0-------7-2-------10
2--------Borussia Dortmund-----------3----3----0-----0-------7:1--------9
3--------Bayer Leverkusen-------------3----3----0-----0-------8:3--------9
4--------Mainz 05-----------------------3----3----0-----0-------7:3--------9
5------- Hertha BSC Berlin------------2----2----1-----0------9:3---------7
6--------Werder Bremen----------------3----2----0-----1------2:1---------6
7--------Hannover 96--------------------3----2----0-----1------4:3---------6
8--------1899 Hoffenheim---------------3----1----2-----0-----10:6--------5
9--------VFL Wolfsburg-----------------3----1----0-----2------4:4---------3
10-------Borussia M'gladbach-----------3----1----0-----2------5:7--------3
11--------Eintracht Frankfurt------------3----1----0-----2-------3:7--------3
12--------FCAugsburg-------------------3----1----0-----2--------2:6--------3
13-------1. FC Nürnberg-----------------3----0----2-----1-------4:6---------2
14-------SC Freiburg---------------------4----0----2-----2-------6:9---------2
15-------Hamburg------------------------3----0----1-----2-------5:8---------1
16--------FC Schalke 04-----------------3----0----1-----2-------4:9---------1
17--------VFB Stuttgart------------------3----0----0-----3-------3:6---------0
18--------Eintracht Braunschweig------3----0----0-----3-------1:5---------0