Bundesliga Round 4: Bayern Munich crushes, Gladbach's crisis spirals, Füllkrug shines as Hamburg escapes bottom

Bayern Munich's 7-0 victory over Union Berlin was not just a result — it was a statement. After four matchdays in the 2026-2026 Bundesliga season, the Bavarian club showed they had no intention of relinquishing their throne despite a turbulent summer. The win pushed Bayern to the top of the table with 12 points, while Freiburg were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by Frankfurt in what I call 'the round of systematic surprises.'

I have been following the Bundesliga since 2026, when I was a 16-year-old girl writing football analysis blogs from Lyon. That day, I rewatched every play in the UEFA Women's Champions League final just to write an 800-word article. The memory of watching Ada Hegerberg lift that trophy remains vivid — and it reminds me that in football, every moment can become the beginning of a bigger story. This fourth matchday was exactly one of those moments.

Freiburg and the lesson of the limits of a perfect start

Freiburg entered this matchday in second place, level on points with Bayern Munich. Christian Streich's team had an incredible start to the season, but the 2-2 draw in Frankfurt exposed a truth many didn't want to admit: Freiburg are not yet ready to compete for the championship at the highest level.

Let's talk about what happened. Younes Ebnoutalib, one of the new call-ups by coach Jürgen Klopp for the German national team, scored the opener just 10 minutes in after a team move. This goal exemplified the football philosophy Klopp is building for the national team — seeking young, energetic players capable of creating impact from unexpected situations. Ebnoutalib, at age 20, showed why he deserves a place in Klopp's 44-member squad.

But football is always a 90-minute sport, not just the first 10 minutes. Derry Scherhant, another name from Klopp's new generation, equalized for Frankfurt and more importantly, provided the assist for Yuito Suzuki's goal. This was a world-class assist, showing that Scherhant is not just a player called up for club reputation — he has the real quality to wear the national team jersey.

Jonathan Burkardt also scored in this match, completing the picture of Klopp's new players shining in their first match after the international break. This is what I call the 'Klopp effect' — a new coach brings new energy, and young players want to prove they deserve to be trusted.

However, from my perspective as someone who has followed Freiburg through many seasons, I see the risks clearly. Freiburg missed the chance to return to the top of the table, and this shows they still lack the consistency needed to keep pace with Bayern Munich throughout 34 matchdays. A 2-2 draw is not a disaster, but it is a reminder that football is not kind to those who dream too big too soon.

Bayern Munich and the return of a giant

While Freiburg struggled to keep pace, Bayern Munich showed they had no intention of waiting. The 7-0 victory over Union Berlin was what I call 'a lecture in domination' — there was no debating the gap between the two teams when Bayern scored with the frequency of a well-oiled machine.

Goals came continuously, not allowing the opponent any moment to breathe. This is the Bayern version the experts have been waiting for since the season started — ruthless, merciless, and determined to assert their dominance from the very first matchdays.

From my perspective as someone who has observed Bayern through many years, I noticed something important: this team is showing they have learned from last season's mistakes. No more hesitation, no more controversial tactical decisions — just Bayern Munich playing football the way they always knew how: absolute domination.

Werder Bremen and the story of Niclas Füllkrug's hardship

If Bayern represents domination, Werder Bremen represents the extraordinary amid hardship. The 3-2 comeback win over Augsburg was one of Werder Bremen's most impressive mental performances in recent years.

Niclas Füllkrug scored the equalizer in the 86th minute from distance — a goal that was not just technical but a symbol of his comeback. Füllkrug is a loanee from West Ham United, and his continued scoring in three consecutive Bundesliga matches shows something: wherever he is, true talent always finds a way to shine.

Mitchell Weiser completed the comeback with a stoppage-time winner, but it is Füllkrug I want to highlight. I have followed his journey since he was a young talent in the Bundesliga, and his departure to the Premier League only to return to Germany as a loanee is a story that experts often overlook. But for me, it is the clearest proof that modern football is not always fair to those who deserve to stay.

Füllkrug has now scored in three consecutive Bundesliga matches, and this raises an important question for West Ham United: do they want to keep a striker in such excellent form? Or will they let Füllkrug continue to shine in Germany and potentially lose him to another club? This is one of the transfer questions I will be closely monitoring in the coming weeks.

Hamburg: The story of a sleeping giant's recovery

Hamburg is one of the most historically prestigious clubs in German football, but in recent seasons, they have become a ghost of themselves. This matchday, Hamburg finally secured their first win of the season — a 2-1 victory over Cologne that lifted them off the bottom of the table.

Albert Gronbaek is the name I want to emphasize in this match. He provided assists for both goals by Nicolas Capaldo and Yussuf Poulsen — a performance I call 'the art of connection.' Gronbaek is not just a good player; he is someone capable of changing the course of a match with passes that can break any defense.

This victory means far more than three points. For a club like Hamburg, it is a reminder that they are still there, still capable of winning, and still able to escape the danger zone. But I must also admit that one victory cannot erase the reality: Hamburg is still in a relegation battle, and that battle will last until the final matchdays.

Gladbach: A crisis with no end in sight

If Hamburg is a story of recovery, Borussia Mönchengladbach is a story of complete collapse. The 4-3 loss to Mainz was Gladbach's fourth consecutive defeat, and what is even more notable is that they also missed a penalty in this match.

After the match, confirmation came that coach Eugen Polanski had been sacked days earlier — a decision I call 'the desperate reaction of a club losing control.' Sacking a coach is never a good sign, but in this case, it shows Gladbach is in a much more serious crisis than many imagined.

Gladbach are currently the only Bundesliga side without a point after four matchdays — a statistic no one could have predicted when the season started. This is one of the worst starts in the club's history, and it raises questions about the club's future.

I have witnessed similar moments in my football-following career — clubs falling into a losing spiral with no way out. But I have also witnessed clubs overcome crises by finding the right person, the right tactics, and the right timing. The question is: can Gladbach do it?

Contrarian view: What mainstream articles don't tell you

In football, we often focus on what happens on the pitch — goals, tactics, results. But there are stories hidden behind those numbers, and those are what I want to explore in this section.

First, let's talk honestly about the 'Klopp effect.' Klopp calling up 44 players to the German national team is a bold decision, but it also carries risks that experts often overlook. Young players like Ebnoutalib and Scherhant shone against Frankfurt, but what happens when they face the pressure of a major tournament? Can they maintain their form when every eye is on them?

Second, Füllkrug is a story about injustice in modern football. He is a talented striker, but for various reasons, he had to leave the Premier League and return to the Bundesliga as a loanee. Three consecutive goals is his answer to those who doubted his ability, but it also raises the question: why did he have to leave to prove it?

Third, Gladbach's crisis is not just a tactical issue. When a team loses four consecutive matches, the first thing destroyed is not the defense or attack — it is the spirit. Players start doubting themselves, coaches lose faith from management, and fans start turning away. This is a spiral very few clubs can escape, and I fear Gladbach is on the edge of that spiral.

The dominos about to fall

After this matchday, several major questions await answers. Can Freiburg overcome the shock of the draw and continue their race with Bayern? Will Füllkrug continue scoring and become a valuable commodity on the transfer market? Can Hamburg build on this victory to escape the relegation zone? And most importantly, who will be Gladbach's next coach, and can they save the club from the prospect of relegation?

I will continue to monitor every development closely, because in football, the truth always knows how to wait — and the real stories often don't appear in mainstream articles.

Conclusion: Football is about untold stories

The fourth Bundesliga matchday closed with valuable lessons. Bayern Munich once again showed they are the team everyone must beat if they want to win the title. Freiburg learned their limits after the draw with Frankfurt. Werder Bremen showed the extraordinary can emerge from the most difficult circumstances. Hamburg experienced the joy of victory after a long wait. And Gladbach faces a crisis whose outcome no one can predict.

But behind all those numbers and results, there are stories about people — players trying to prove their worth, coaches fighting to keep their positions, clubs searching for a way out of crisis. And that is why I love football — not because of the numbers, but because of the stories being written every day on pitches across Europe.

Rumors die when people stop believing, but the truth always knows how to wait. And I will continue to wait, monitor, and write about what I see — for those who want to hear the stories that mainstream media often overlooks.