Matchday 3 Friday - as it happened
1. FC Köln set the Matchday 3 bar with an impressive win over SC Freiburg that takes them top of the table - for now at least. Recap the Friday night action below...
Matchday 3 fixtures
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(All times given are CEST)
Friday 16 September
1. FC Köln 3-0 SC Freiburg
Saturday 17 September
FC Bayern München vs FC Ingolstadt 04 (15:30)
Borussia Dortmund vs SV Darmstadt 98 (15:30)
Hamburger SV vs RB Leipzig (15:30)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs VfL Wolfsburg (15:30)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (15:30)
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs SV Werder Bremen (18:30)
Sunday 18 September
FC Augsburg vs 1. FSV Mainz 05 (15:30)
Hertha Berlin vs FC Schalke 04 (17:30)
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23:39 - That's a wrap!
The brings an end to our coverage for now. A memorable night for Köln bodes well for the rest of the weekend. How will defending Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München respond? Join us on Saturday to find out! In the meantime, follow this link for more reaction to the Billy Goats' table-topping exploits at the RheinEnergieSTADION.
22:49 - Modest Modeste
Köln goalscorer Anthony Modeste, speaking to Sky: "It was a superb night for the team and the fans. We'll have to see [about qualifying for Europe]. We're taking each game as it comes."
22:44 - Streich sees positives
Freiburg coach Christian Streich, speaking to Sky: "It's not an excuse, but we had no central defender in training. Obviously it's hard when you concede goals like that, but I'm not unhappy with our performance because we had chances."
Full-time - Köln 3-0 Freiburg
So Köln go top, temporarily at least, for the first time since Matchday 3 of the 1996/97 campaign. Freiburg made a fist of it, but Köln were worthy winners after a clinical first-half showing that produced all three goals.
79' - Horn to the rescue
Freiburg are not done yet and but for a superb double save from Timo Horn, Niederlechner would have scored. Not been his day, has it?
71' - Agonisingly close for Freiburg!
There goes Freiburg's chance. Nils Petersen collects from Vincenzo Grifo, but his dinked effort grazes the crossbar and that'll be a goal kick. Streich is livid.
62' - Freiburg up against it
Freiburg have lost all 13 of their previous Bundesliga games in which they have gone in at the break trailing by three or more goals. With less than 30 minutes to go in Cologne, it doesn't look like they're going to get anything out of this one either.
50' - Bittencourt crocked
Köln's Leonardo Bittencourt goes off with what looks like a thigh problem. Simon Zoller comes on in his stead.
46' - Second half
Nils Petersen comes on for Freiburg, who almost pull one back within seconds of the restart. As was the case at the start of the first half, though, Niederlechner can't work the goalkeeper.
45' Half-time - Köln 3-0 Freiburg
A near-flawless half from Köln, who lead Freiburg 3-0 at the RheinEnergieStadion. What does Christian Streich say to his men at the break?
42' - Stat-attack
How about this for a stat? Four of Leonardo Bittencourt's ten Bundesliga goals have come against Freiburg.
35' - Köln on the prowl
The Billy Goats have their tails up as Jonas Hector darts in towards the back post and threatens a third, but Freiburg defender Manuel Gulde does just enough and the chance is gone.
30' - Köln double up!
Unbelievable! Two goals in under 90 seconds and Köln are in dream land! Yuya Osako collects from Modeste and does really well to shake off his marker, before putting the easiest of goals on a plate for Leonardo Bittencourt. Can Freiburg come back from this?
14' - Risse lets fly!
Fantastic piece of combination play involving Jonas Hector. The Germany international feeds Marcel Risse, who dances past a handful of outstretched Freiburg legs, before lashing narrowly wide with Alexander Schwolow beaten.
5' - Niederlechner chance!
Oooh, Köln switch off as a through ball finds its way to Florian Niederlechner. It's travelling with some space, though, and the Freiburg forward is unable to get enough power behind his first-time effort to seriously trouble Timo Horn.
1' - Away we go!
Can Köln go top of the Bundesliga for the first time in 20 years? Stay tuned to find out!
20:24 - Nearly there!
The players are out on the pitch. Stay with us for live match action and then reaction! Can Köln go top?
20:04 - Frantz leads out Freiburg
Mike Frantz once again dons the armband ahead in the absence of club captain Julian Schuster. Nils Petersen is on the bench despite a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach last time out.
19:37 - Köln welcome back Horn
The line-ups are in! 1. FC Köln welcome back Germany's Olympic silver medallist Timo Horn after a adductor problem. Artjoms Rudnevs has a pulled muscle, so Yuya Osako partners Anthony Modeste in attack.
19:30 - Five things...
...to look out for this weekend! Joshua Kimmich has been in dazzling form ahead of FC Bayern München's Oktoberfest celebrations. What else should you look out for on Matchday 3? Click this link to take a closer look.
18:19 - It's Matchday in Cologne...
...and they're excited. The Billy Goats could go top of the Bundesliga for the first time since 1996 with a win tonight. That said, Freiburg have won all four of their meetings with Köln under Christian Streich's management.
18:03 - Selection headache?
Are you an Official Fantasy Bundesliga manager fretting over your line-up for the weekend? Click here to make some last-minute transfers! Meanwhile, bundesliga.com has prepared all the team news ahead of tonight's encounter: just click here for those.
17:42 - A rather special club...
Just click on the video below to get goosebumps ahead of tonight's action.
17:30 - Excited?
We certainly are. Click here for an in-depth pre-match preview.
17:10 - A "minor injury" for Goretzka
The Schalke midfielder is hopeful of featuring against Hertha Berlin at the weekend.
17:08 - Possible line-ups?
Get all the pre-match team news on Dortmund's clash with Darmstadt right here.
16:50 - Chicha's special message
In case you'd forgotten...
16:16 - New Werkself strip
Leverkusen unveiled their new fourth kit today. What do you make of it?
15:59 - Big weekend in Munich
It also promises to be a big weekend for this man, Joshua Kimmich. Guaranteed to start against Ingolstadt, the youngster has scored four goals in his last three competitive appearances.
15:17 - BVB have a new supporter...
...at least, it looks that way!
14:57 - More from Tuchel...
"The progress Mario Götze is making is clear to see. The key thing now is to maintain that level of progression."
14:07 - Augsburg captain on Mainz clash
Augsburg skipper Paul Verhaegh has been speaking to the media ahead of Die Fuggerstädter's clash with Mainz:
13:39 - Milestone for Martin
13:22 - Birthday fun
Douglas Costa looks like he enjoyed his birthday on Wednesday...
12:55 - Andre Schubert presser
Some of the best bits from Mönchengladbach's pre-match press conference...
12:40 - Kimmich to keep his place
Good news for Joshua Kimmich fans…
12:29 - Mixed news for Bayern
Philipp Lahm, Thomas Müller and David Alaba have all been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Ingolstadt with an illness. Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed, though, that Mats Hummels has recovered from the head injury sustained against Rostov in midweek, while Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben are also included in the Italian's matchday squad following injury.
12:02 - BVB stars wish Scuderi speedy recovery
Dortmund youngster Dario Scuderi suffered a dislocated knee while playing for BVB's U19 side. Mario Götze, Marcel Schmelzer and Felix Passlack have taken to Twitter to wish the 18-year-old a speedy recovery.
11:46 - Royal Blue cool-down
It's all smiles at S04 following yesterday's win at Nice.
11:35 - Wolves duo to miss Hoffenheim trip
Wolfsburg have just confirmed that Daniel Didavi and Luiz Gustavo will miss Saturday's match at Hoffenheim through injury. Didavi has undergone minor surgery on a knee problem, while Gustavo has a groin injury.
10:18 - HB, Dominik!
What a win for RB Leipzig last Sunday! This weekend, Ralph Hasenhüttl's side travel to Hamburger SV looking to prove the narrow win over Dortmund was no flash in the pan. Can the Bundesliga newboys maintain their unbeaten start at the Volksparkstadion? It'd make birthday boy Dominik Kaiser a very happy chappy.
10:11 - Cologne-bound
09:51 - Nice win for Schalke; Mainz held at the death
Schalke made a winning start to their UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday as Abdul Rahman Baba's first goal for the club earned the Royal Blues all three points at Nice.
Mainz, meanwhile, looked on course to beat Saint-Etienne at the OPEL ARENA before Robert Beric struck late to deny Martin Schmidt's charges.
09:13 - Köln vs. Freiburg: info
The last time Köln climbed to the top of the Bundesliga table, they did so by beating - yep, you guessed it - SC Freiburg. Read more here.
Don't forget to check out our preview on tonight's Matchday 3 opener. All you Official Fantasy Bundesliga managers might want to take a look at this, too.
Thursday highlights
16:47 - Freiburg respectful
Freiburg coach Christian Streich has warned his players to expect a tough time in the Carnival city:
"Köln will be hungry, aggressive and try to control the game. They work very hard."
"Köln are very stable and tactically well organised - both with and without the ball."
16:02 - Köln wary
Billy Goats boss Peter Stöger struck a cautious tone at his pre-match press conference ahead of his side's match against Freiburg:
15:07 - Oktoberfest time
With October fast approaching, Bayern gearing up for the annual festivities in Munich...