With five matchdays of this still young Bundesliga season completed, there's not much separating the leaders at the top of the league. Bayern will travel to Cologne this weekend and must be careful not to slip up so they stay in contention at the top. fcbayern.com takes a look at the battles concerning the German record champions' neighbours in the table and their next opponents.
Arminia Bielefeld – Borussia Dortmund
Kick-off: Saturday, 31.10.2020, 15:30 CEST
Significance: With twelve points, BVB are level with the Bavarians and now, ahead of der Klassiker against the Reds on Matchday 7 (Saturday, 7 November, 18:30 CEST) they have an way game at newly-promoted Bielefeld. On Wednesday, the Black and yellows picked up their first points in the Champions League in a 2-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg and are looking to take that momentum into the league.
Key stat: The young guns in the Dortmund attack, led by Jadon Sancho or Erling Haaland are often the main topic at BVB, but actually the defence is their guarantor for success at the moment. Dortmund have the best back line in the Bundesliga, having conceded just two goals in this still young season and with four clean sheets to their name.
Quote of the game: "We were able to prepare ourselves for the multitude of games. I think we'll be able to handle them. But we can also rotate a lot." Lucien Favre (head coach Borussia Dortmund)
In the DFL Supercup, Bayern and Dortmund have already fought one fierce battle this season, and before they meet again in the Bundesliga, BVB face a trip to Bielefeld on Saturday.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – RB Leipzig
Kick-off: Saturday, 31.10.2020, 18:30 CEST
Significance: After the best start in the club's history (13 points from five matches), RB Leipzig are currently leading the pack in the Bundesliga and now have to defend first place in the crunch match at fifth-placed Mönchengladbach (8 points). This away trip is a tough one, and in their unlucky 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League during the week, Gladbach proved they can take on the big names in European football. For Julian Nagelsmann's team, on the other hand, their 5-0 defeat to Manchester United in Europe's premier club competition is water under the bridge, and now it's all about making amends in the Bundesliga.
Key stat: The stats point very clearly to a result for the team from Saxony. Leipzig are the only team against whom Mönchengladbach have not scored a single point in the Bundesliga at home.
Quote of the game: "Even if they didn't get off to a good start this season, I have regarded Borussia as one of the best clubs in the Bundesliga for several years now." Julian Nagelsmann (head coach RB Leipzig)
SC Freiburg – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
On Thursday evening, the </em>Werkself<em> suffered a defeat in the Europa League. Bayer lost 1-0 to Slavia Prague and were down to ten men after just 22 minutes.
Kick-off: Sunday, 1.11.2020, 15:30 CET
Significance: With nine points, the Werkself are in fourth place, within striking distance of FC Bayern and, after starting the season with three draws got back on track with two straight wins. In the Europa League, however, Leverkusen lost 1-0 to Slavia Prague on Thursday and they now travel to SC Freiburg, a team against whom Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz has never lost in the Bundesliga (two wins, two draws).
Key stat: Leverkusen are unbeaten in the Bundesliga after five matchdays for the first time in eleven years, making them the only team besides league leaders Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg.
Quote of the game: "Games against SC Freiburg are never easy. But we will approach the game as we always do. We want to win. And we have to project that. That's the attitude we're taking to Freiburg." Peter Bosz (Head coach Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Matchday 6 overview
Friday, 30.10.2020 | 20:30 CEST
FC Schalke 04 – VfB Stuttgart
Saturday, 31.10.2020 | 15:30 CEST
Eintracht Frankfurt – SV Werder Bremen
1. FC Köln – FC Bayern
FC Augsburg – 1. FSV Mainz 05
DSC Arminia Bielefeld – Borussia Dortmund
Saturday, 31.10.2020 | 18:30 CEST
Borussia Mönchengladbach – RB Leipzig
Sunday, 01.11.2020 | 15:30 CET
Sport-Club Freiburg – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Sunday, 01.11.2020 | 18:00 CET
Hertha BSC – VfL Wolfsburg
Monday, 02.11.2020 | 20:30 CET
TSG Hoffenheim – 1. FC Union Berlin
International: FC RB Salzburg – WSG Swarovski Tirol
During the week Salzburg lost 3-2 in the Champions League at Atlético Madrid.
Kick-off: Saturday, 31.10.20, 18:30 CEST
Significance: In the Champions League the Salzburg team are under pressure with only one point from two matches, but at home everything is going according to plan for the reigning double winners from Austria. Ahead of the clash at seventh-placed Tirol the Red Bulls top the Bundesliga in our neighbouring country after five matchdays with the maximum number of points.
Key stat: Can Salzburg regain their self-confidence for next week's CL clash with Bayern? The two previous Bundesliga meetings with WSG last season both ended 5-1 in favour of Jesse Marsch's team.
Quote of the game: "There will certainly be a few players in the team on Saturday who haven't had much game time recently. We're looking forward to the game and we definitely want to prepare for Bayern with a success behind us." Christoph Freund (Sporting director FC Salzburg)
Check out the best facts and figures ahead of Bayern’s game at 1. FC Köln on Saturday:
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