Bayern Munich begin life without their top scorer in the last eight seasons, Robert Lewandowski, after the Polish striker joined Barcelona following a protracted transfer saga. The Polish striker was Bundesliga Golden Boot winner for the five consecutive years, with his abrupt departure prompting mini panic at the Allianz Arena as to how the club will cope in his absence. Such fears proved to be unfounded in the German Super Cup last weekend when Julian Nagelsmann’s reigning champions dismissed RB Leipzig 5-3 in a pulsating encounter.
Sadio Mane, the player signed as a direct replacement for Lewandowski, was among five different scorers on the night. The newly crowned African footballer of the year is to once again lead the line when the Bavarians visit an Eagles side that’s won two out of the last three matches with the ten-time defending Bundesliga champions. Oliver Glasner’s Europa Cup winners will hope their customary good form in this encounter will serve as ample preparation for Wednesday’s Uefa Super Cup clash with Real Madrid. Former Allianz Arena favourite Mario Goetze is expected to feature for the hosts.
The pick of the weekend matches takes place at Signal Iduna Park where Edin Terzic’s Black and Yellows welcome another free scoring side, Bayer Leverkusen. Goals are the hallmark of this encounter that has averaged almost six per game in the last eleven matchups. Dortmund are still smarting from the enforced loss of twice top scorer Erling Braut Haaland who was sold to Manchester City and his £34m replacement, Sebastian Haller, who is out for six months following an operation to remove a cancerous tumor.
With big name summer signing Nicklas Sule also sidelined with injury, the onus is going to fall on long serving skipper Marco Reus to lead the line along with youngsters Youssoufa Moukoko and Giovanni Reyna. Leverkusen can meanwhile look to the steadying influence of top scorer Patrick Schick, his newly signed compatriot Adam Hlozek and the indefatigable Moussa Diaby, who has remained put despite repeated links to a big money move to Newcastle United.
Another fully appetising clash takes place at Borussia Park where five times champions Gladbach parade new coach Daniel Farke in their league opener against Hoffenheim. The former Norwich City boss is known for demanding an attractive brand of football. Fireworks can be expected as Farke boasts one of the best attacking tridents in Marcus Thuram, Breel Embolo and Alexandre Plea. Hoffenheim’s Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric is the best guarantor of goals for the visitors.
In the capital, Hertha Berlin’s veteran manager Felix Magath is certain to have a secret chip up his sleeve as he tries to end his team’s recent poor head to head record with neighbours Union Berlin who have sold top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi to Nottingham Forest. The rest of Match day One fixtures see Stuttgart clash with RB Leipzig at the Mercedes Benz Arena, Augsburg welcome Freiburg, Bochum host Mainz and Wolfsburg test newcomers Werder Bremen.
FRIDAY
Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayern Munich
SATURDAY
Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Gladbach v Hoffenheim,
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin,
Augsburg v Freiburg,
Bochum v Mainz,
Wolfsburg v Werder Bremen
SUNDAY
Stuttgart v RB Leipzig,
Koln v Schalke
