While Bayern Munich’s flawless start has dominated headlines, RB Leipzig are quietly piecing together a strong Bundesliga campaign of their own.
After being humbled 6-0 by Bayern on the opening day, Leipzig have rebounded impressively, collecting 22 of a possible 24 points to sit second in the table — five points behind the champions — ahead of Saturday’s trip to Hoffenheim.
Without European commitments this season, Leipzig have been able to focus entirely on domestic matters, using the extra time to integrate a host of new faces following the summer departures of stars such as Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko, and Lois Openda.
Coach Ole Werner, appointed from Werder Bremen after Marco Rose’s dismissal by Red Bull football chief Jürgen Klopp, has quickly forged a cohesive and confident side.
“The short duration it took for the team to come together on the pitch is a bit surprising,” Leipzig CEO Johann Plenge said. “It’s remarkable how they responded after that heavy defeat on the first matchday — it actually brought them closer together. The more they’ve won, the more belief they’ve built. The coach is confident, and the team is becoming a well-oiled machine.”
Among the standout new arrivals is 18-year-old Yan Diomande, signed from Leganés for €20 million. The Ivorian has made an instant impact, recording two goals and three assists in his last two matches.
“We knew he was a top talent with a strong mentality,” Plenge added. “But we didn’t expect him to adapt so quickly. He’s going to be one of the faces of our club in the coming seasons.”
Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, is still finding his rhythm at Werder Bremen. He registered an assist just six minutes into his debut but has since gone quiet in front of goal.
Despite the lack of output, Boniface insists his value extends beyond scoring. “When you score, bam, you’re Ronaldinho,” he joked. “But people don’t always watch the games. I’m still settling into the club and the city — sometimes it just takes time. If you really watch, you’ll see what I bring to the team.”
Friday Werder Bremen v Wolfsburg (7:30pm)
Saturday Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig Bayer Leverkusen v Heidenheim Hamburg v Borussia Dortmund Union Berlin v Bayern Munich Borussia Mönchengladbach v Cologne (5:30pm)
Sunday Freiburg v St Pauli Stuttgart v Augsburg (4:30pm) Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz (6:30pm)
