Bundesliga Round 4: Bayern dominate at the top, Gladbach sink deeper in crisis, Füllkrug shines

A 7-0 match can change the entire race. Bayern Munich last weekend sent a clear message to the entire Bundesliga when they crushed Union Berlin in Berlin with a final score of 7-0. This was not just a victory — it was a declaration. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the standings, completely different stories were unfolding: Freiburg missed the chance to return to the top after a 2-2 draw at Frankfurt, Werder Bremen made a spectacular comeback from two goals down, Hamburg secured their first win of the season, and Borussia Monchengladbach continued to sink in crisis with their fourth consecutive defeat and a sacked coach. Bayern Munich started the 2026-2026 Bundesliga season with a dominant performance showing superiority over the rest of the league. The 7-0 victory over Union Berlin was not unusual for the Bavarian side — it was predictable when they played at their best. What was noteworthy was how they did it: pressing from the first minutes, controlling the midfield area, and exploiting the spaces that Union Berlin's defense left behind during their attacking moves. Bayern now lead the table with 10 points after 4 rounds, equal on points with Freiburg but ahead on goal difference. Freiburg, a team many expected to create surprises this season, could not take all three points in their away trip to Frankfurt. The 2-2 draw marked Freiburg's first dropped points of the season. However, more notable was the performance of newly called-up Germany national team players under head coach Jurgen Klopp. Younes Ebnoutalib scored the opening goal just 10 minutes in after a team move. Derry Scherhant then equalized and created Yuito Suzuki's goal, while Jonathan Burkardt also found the net. These are young, lesser-known faces but are proving their abilities at the highest level of German football. Their quick transition play and through balls created the difference in the match against Frankfurt. Werder Bremen had the most memorable comeback of this matchday. The team was down 2-0 against Augsburg but managed to turn the tide to win 3-2. Niclas Fullkrug's equalizer in the 86th minute from long range was one of the most beautiful goals of the matchday. Fullkrug, a striker on loan from West Ham United, has scored in three consecutive Bundesliga matches — an impressive run showing his quick adaptation to the pace of play in Germany. The stoppage-time winner by Mitchell Weiser secured three valuable points for Werder Bremen, pushing the team up to 7th place on the table. Hamburg, a club that was once a legend of German football and played in the Champions League, secured their first win of the new season. They defeated Cologne 2-1 in a tense derby. This was not just three points — it was a psychological release for the entire team after a disappointing opening run. Albert Gronbaek was the hero of the match, providing assists for both goals scored by Nicolas Capaldo and Yussuf Poulsen. This victory helped Hamburg escape the bottom of the table and created important momentum for the next phase of the season. However, a single win cannot erase the relegation threat — Hamburg still need many more positive results to successfully avoid relegation. Borussia Monchengladbach is experiencing the most serious crisis in the club's recent history. The 4-3 defeat to Mainz 05 was their fourth consecutive loss, and more concerning, they are the only team in the entire Bundesliga without any points after 4 rounds. Coach Eugen Polanski was sacked just days before this match, but the change in senior leadership did not produce immediate results. Additionally, Gladbach also missed a penalty in the match — a sign showing the psychological instability. This is one of the worst starts in the club's history, and without rapid improvement, a relegation battle will be a much more realistic goal than their initial ambitions. Tactical analysis from this matchday shows some notable trends. Despite not winning, Freiburg maintained their direct attacking style. Their quick transition system, with the involvement of young players called up by Klopp, shows the team has impressive squad depth. Werder Bremen under current coaching has shown the mettle of a mature collective — the ability to come back in crucial moments is a sign of psychological maturity. Conversely, Gladbach shows deeper structural problems beyond just changing coaches — the defense lacks cohesion, the midfield cannot control the pace of the game, and the forwards lack efficiency in converting chances into goals. On the transfer market, Fullkrug's goal-scoring streak is creating interesting signals. West Ham United loaned him to Werder Bremen hoping he would regain form, and so far, this plan is working. If Fullkrug continues scoring consistently, the question about his future at West Ham will become more complex — will the English club want to recall him, sell him at a higher price, or let him continue developing in Germany? Meanwhile, young players called up to the Germany national team by Klopp like Ebnoutalib, Scherhant, and Burkardt are raising their own transfer values. One senior national team cap can be a stepping stone for them to move to bigger clubs in the near future. The Bundesliga standings after 4 rounds show clear differentiation. Bayern Munich and Freiburg lead with 10 points each, followed by a group of teams with ambitions to compete for European spots. Werder Bremen, with an important victory, has risen to 7th place, showing they could be a noteworthy team this season. Hamburg escaped the bottom but remains in the danger zone, while Gladbach sits alone at the bottom with 0 points — a disastrous start unseen before. Looking ahead, the next matchday will be an important test for many teams. Freiburg needs to prove that the draw with Frankfurt was just a temporary slip, not a sign of decline. Gladbach needs a win to prevent the crisis from escalating — but with current mentality and a squad lacking stability, that is not easy. Fullkrug and Werder Bremen have the opportunity to continue their impressive run when their next opponents are not highly rated. Hamburg needs to capitalize on the momentum from their first win to accumulate more points, avoiding relegation at season's end. This season's Bundesliga is showing fierce competition at every level of the table. Bayern Munich remains the number one favorite for the title, but Freiburg, Werder Bremen, and many other teams are showing they cannot be easily overlooked. Meanwhile, the relegation battle has started earlier than expected with Gladbach and Hamburg — two clubs with glorious histories but facing the harsh reality of modern football. Only time will tell who will successfully avoid relegation and who will have to say goodbye to the Bundesliga.