Berlin (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel’s arrival at Borussia Dortmund following the departure of Juergen Klopp has revitalised the Westphalian club after a very underwhelming 2014-15 campaign.
Dortmund are the league’s early pacesetters, above Bayern Munich on goal difference, after thumping wins over Borussia Moenchengladbach, newcomers Ingolstadt and Hertha Berlin, with a trip to lowly Hanover awaiting them on Saturday.
However, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lukasz Piszczek all returned prematurely from international duty due to injury with their status for the weekend up in the air.
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Bayern outclassed Bayer Leverkusen, one of Germany’s four Champions League representative, last time out to maintain their perfect start this term and have a Bavarian derby against Augsburg to contend with on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola will be without Arjen Robben for a month though after the Dutchman picked up a groin strain during his country’s shock 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat at home to Iceland.
Augsburg have beaten Bayern twice in their last three meetings, albeit when Guardiola’s men had already wrapped up the title, but Bayern skipper Philipp Lahm is keen to set the record straight.
“We’re the home team, and we want the next three points,” Lahm said, in quotes published on the Bundesliga’s official website.
“We’ve started the season well and we want to carry on this way.”
Julian Draxler and Dante are in line to make their Wolfsburg debuts as last season’s runners-up visit Ingolstadt, who have just one point fewer than Dieter Hecking’s men after two wins in their first three outings.
Leverkusen will try to bounce back from their first loss as promoted Darmstadt, who have drawn their opening three games, make the trip to the BayArena.
Unbeaten Cologne go to Eintracht Frankfurt with Schalke hosting fifth-placed Mainz on Sunday.
Fixtures
Friday
Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-3 Hamburg
Saturday
Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Darmstadt, Hertha Berlin v Stuttgart, Hanover v Borussia Dortmund, Ingolstadt v Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt v Cologne
Sunday
Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen, Schalke v Mainz
