Werder Bremen have started the season like the contenders they said they would be. A 3-1 win and another strong performance against Hertha Berlin suggests the first signs of something special happening along the Weser.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Rose
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At the beginning of the season, Werder Bremen's Sporting Director Frank Baumann said the club's goal this season was to qualify for Europe. In a league short of competition and declarations of serious intent, this was a refreshingly bold statement to make. Although it's early in the season, it seems to be paying dividends.
Along with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund (ahead of their game against Nuremberg on Wednesday), Werder Bremen are the only undefeated side in the Bundesliga. While the rest of the league struggles to meet expectations, Werder have been performing like a side that fully believes they will qualify for Europe.
Their tempo and tenacity was high right from the start against Hertha Berlin on Tuesday and, although they scored in fortunate circumstances, the lead was fully deserved. They stayed solid and, even when they conceded, always looked capable of scoring again, which they did. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt has developed a system that has all the parts working correctly and while Werder have had their fingers burnt before with exciting young head coaches, there's a difference this time.
All smiles in Bremen, and with good reason tooImage: Getty Images/AFP/A. Stollarz
Buying smart
That difference can largely be found in the recruitment of Baumann and the cultural change both he and Kohfeldt have enforced. That combination off-the-pitch and a better crop of players have enabled them to take the kind of developmental strides the club has craved for years.
With Nuri Sahin or Philipp Bargfrede holding in midfield, cover is provide for the side's potential weak point: the defense. This cover allows Maximilian Eggestein and Davy Klaassen more room to roam, which is why the former keeps having (and taking) chances to score and the latter keeps pulling the strings. With almost all of their strikers capable of dropping deep to involve themselves in play more often, Werder have an attack that is a strength worth playing to - and they have done just that so far this season.
This game plan is matched with belief. Leading 3-1 with three minutes to play, Klaassen worked extra hard to win the ball back in the corner and try and keep an attack alive. It demonstrated the kind of commitment and determination the Bundesliga has grown accustomed to seeing when watching Bayern Munich. They won't be champions but they are striving for Europe.
Bundesliga Matchday 5 in pictures
Dortmund burst into life at home against Nuremberg, while Gladbach and RB Leipzig climbed the table. In the midst of Oktoberfest, Bayern hosted Augsburg and Bremen played Hertha in a top-four clash.
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Fortuna Düsseldorf 1 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen
A Kevin Volland brace helped Leverkusen to a second consecutive victory after a poor start to 2018-19, but their hosts will feel hard done by. Volland stabbed home from close range against the run of play shortly after the break before profiting from some excellent work from Kai Havertz. Düsseldorf created plenty but only found the net in injury time through Rouwen Hennings' penalty.
Image: Getty Images/L.Baron
RB Leipzig 2-0 Stuttgart
Stuttgart remain winless after their trip to Leipzig failed to yield any points. Willi Orban tucked in a rebound at the end of the first half, with Ron-Robert Zieler likely disappointed. Zieler made a brilliant save to deny Yussuf Poulsen and Timo Werner, but then Jean-Kevin Augustin came off the bench to double the score and leave RB Leipzig deserved winners.
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Freiburg 1-0 Schalke
The winless start continues for Schalke, after Florian Niederlechner stabbed home a rebound from a long-range shot that Ralf Fährmann spilled. Two efforts off the post in the first half were the only thing Schalke had to show for their toil, and in the second Freiburg took their chance to seal the win. Schalke face Mainz next, with Domenico Tedesco increasingly desperate for points.
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Gladbach 3-1 Frankfurt
Gladbach climbed into the top four with a relatively comfortable home win against Frankfurt. The away side might have been more in the game had they shown more composure at key times during the game, but a fantastic goal by Alassane Plea as well as two tidy efforts from Thorgan Hazard and Nico Elvedi left Ante Rebic's strike as little more than consolation in a game Gladbach deserved to win.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
Borussia Dortmund 7-0 Nuremberg
Lucien Favre's side delivered their best performance of the season to embarrass Nuremberg. Christian Pulisic lead the way with a strong solo display, highlighted by a brilliant assist for Jacob Bruun Larsen's opener (his first ever pro goal). Marco Reus scored a brace and Achraf Hakimi scored a low drive before Manuel Akanji, Julian Weigl and Jadon Sancho all scored to lift BVB into second.
Image: Getty Images/M.Hitij
Bayern Munich 1-1 Augsburg
Bayern dropped points for the first time this season after a late equalizer from former Bayern Munich defender Felix Götze (brother of Mario). Bayern took the lead thanks to Arjen Robben after great work by Serge Gnabry to set up the goal, but the home side paid the price for their lack of composure in front of goal - with Sandro Wagner and Renato Sanches guilty of missing big chances.
Image: Reuters/A. Gebert
Mainz 0-0 Wolfsburg
Both sides made strong starts to the season, but neither could find a winner in a game decided by the woodwork and the VAR. Josip Brekalo hit the post and missed a chance for the Wolves, and then Jean-Philippe Gbamin's long-range goal was ruled out for offside. Daniel Ginczek hit the post and then Ridle Baku hit a rasping effort in the final minute, only to see that too denied by the crossbar.
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Werder Bremen 3-1 Hertha Berlin
The return of Martin Harnik made all the difference for Bremen, as they continued their unbeaten run with a strong home win against fellow strong starters Hertha. Harnik scrambled in the opener and Milos Veljkovic headed the second. Javairo Dilrosun grabbed one back but Max Kruse's penalty - Bremen's first since the 2016/17 season and the fifth Hertha have conceded this term - ended the contest, .
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Hannover 1-3 Hoffenheim
Julian Nagelsmann's charges stormed to a win in an attacking game that saw over 30 shots. A first goal from Joshua Brenet (pictured) was followed up by a strike from fellow wingback Pavel Kaderabek, as Hoffenheim took control. Hannover came back into it thanks to a Niclas Füllkrug penalty. It wasn't enough though, with Ishak Belfodil adding the cherry on top for the visitors.
