Bundesliga matchday 8 review: Leipzig hit 6, Frankfurt don’t concede, Stuttgart win again and more | OneFootball

It was another weekend of goals, teams in fine form, and those still searching for their first win of the campaign. Here are all of the talking points from matchday 8 in the Bundesliga. 

RB Leipzig in Fine Form

When you look back to Leipzig’s 6-0 opening day defeat, it’s almost as if you’re looking at a different team. When Ole Werner’s side put six past FC Augsburg last weekend, perhaps it was the final farewell to that opening performance in Munich. 

Ole Werner has clearly got his side reading from the same hymn sheet; they’re playing fast-flowing attacking football, and look like they can compete at the top of the table. 

With six different goal scorers against Augsburg, there were many individual performances you could talk about. Perhaps one key player to keep an eye on is 19-year-old Assan Ouédraogo. 

The 19-year-old made just 59 appearances across all competitions for club and country last season because of injuries, and so the German playmaker was unable to establish himself within the club following his move from Schalke in the summer.

But with renewed energy, Ouédraogo has featured in all eight Bundesliga games for Leipzig this season, registering four goal contributions (two goals and two assists), of which a goal and assist came against Augsburg on Matchday 8.

Speaking after the game, Ouédraogo highlighted his team’s performance: “Everyone is running for each other, and the wins are obviously good. We’re incredibly stable at the moment and performing as a unit.”

Up next for Leipzig is a second round DFB Pokal tie against 3. Liga leaders, Energie Cottbus, before facing VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. 

Frankfurt Didn’t Concede! Burkardt For Germany?

After a 1-5 drumming in the Champions League in midweek to Liverpool, Frankfurt had conceded 23 goals in the last six matches. However, after beating St. Pauli 2-0 last weekend, it was the best response possible from Dino Toppmöller’s side. 

Summer signing Jonathan Burkardt grabbed himself a brace during the match, and maybe he is starting to ask questions when it comes to the selection of Germany’s strikers for the national team? 

Since joining from Mainz in the summer, the 25-year-old has taken like a duck to water. In seven Bundesliga games, he has six goals, and for the second weekend in a row has scored a brace (or döppelpack). It looks like Burkardt will be the next striker in the production line at Deutsche Bank Park. 

Striker has been a problem area for Germany for a while. While Nick Woltemade and Kai Havertz will probably be the number nine in the US next summer, it is fair to say that Burkardt could make a challenge not only to be in the 26-man squad, but also claim a starting position, as his skill set is completely different from the two, which could work in Germany’s favour. 

Stuttgart Win… Again!

Despite their 1-0 loss in the Europa League in midweek, when it comes to the Bundesliga, Stuttgart can’t help but win. Now five wins on the bounce, the Swabians are 3rd in the Bundesliga, and showing the potential they did two seasons ago when they achieved a top four finish. Despite the 2-1 against Mainz 05 on Sunday, Germany forward Deniz Undav admitted that it wasn’t a spectacular performance. 

“It was ugly,” Undav admitted when speaking to DAZN afterwards. “We knew that we just had to keep running and running until the right moment came. I was pretty exhausted by the last six or seven minutes.“

The “moment” Undav spoke of literally came out of nowhere. Stuttgart keeper Alexander Nübel launched a long ball in Undav’s direction. Mainz defender Stefan Bell misjudged it. Undav latched on and chipped the ball past Mainz keeper Robin Zentner. Keeper Nübel was able to register his second career Bundesliga assist on the play. 

Though it may not have been a classic, it’s a good sign when you can win ugly. Stuttgart remain in 3rd whilst Mainz stay in 16th, with just one win to their name so far. 

Around The Grounds

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, TSG Hoffenheim continue to surprise everyone. Their 3-1 win against FC Heidenheim moves them up to 7th and on the cusp of the European places. It’s been quite the turnaround in fortunes for TSG, who have been battling relegation for the past few seasons. 

Bayern Munich continue their winning start as they overcome 10-man Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-3 at Borussia Park. It was a valiant effort from Gladbach, who were down to ten in the first half. However, goals from Kimmich, Guerreiro, and Karl, gave Bayern all three points. It’s been quite the week for Lennart Karl (17), who scored his first Champions League goal midweek, followed by his first in the Bundesliga. 

Borussia Dortmund left it late to beat FC Köln 1-0 and keep them in 4th position on goal difference – Maximilian Beier was the matchwinner in the 96th minute. 

Elsewhere, there were wins for Werder Bremen (1-0 vs Union Berlin), VfL Wolfsburg (0-1 vs Hamburg), and Bayer Leverkusen (2-0 vs Freiburg). 

GGFN | Jamie Allen