The top five talking points from Matchday 4
The midweek fixtures in the Bundesliga provided plenty of thrills including Dortmund scoring for fun, a Fabian-fuelled Frankfurt and much more besides...
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Dortmund’s sharpshooters train their sights
Another day, another goal-feast for Borussia Dortmund. Their 5-1 drubbing of VfL Wolfsburg meant Thomas Tuchel’s side have now plundered a staggering 17 goals in their last three competitive outings. Strange as it may seem for a side that picked up league and cup titles, but the main shortcoming of the Jürgen Klopp-era in Dortmund was the lack of proficiency in front of goal. On Matchday 4, however, the new-look Borussia exhibited clinical counter-attacking efficiency. And although last season’s top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched another brace in Wolfsburg, Dortmund are in no way reliant on the African Footballer of Year for goals. As if there hadn’t been enough firepower at the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK with the likes of Marco Reus and Shinji Kagawa, the summer signings Andre Schürrle, Mario Götze, Raphael Guerrerio, Emre Mor, Ousmane Dembele, Sebastian Rode and even defender Marc Bartra have all got on the scoresheet already this season. Opposition defenses beware!
Click here for the Wolfsburg v Dortmund Match Centre
Watch: Aubameyang delights in Dortmund victory:
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Fabian fuels Frankfurt ambition
What a week it has been for Marco Fabian. First he scored the winner against Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez in the battle of the Mexican brothers. Then on Tuesday, he put in a man-of-the-match performance to help Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in Ingolstadt. After taking a while to settle in since arriving last winter, the Mexican midfield maestro has now well and truly announced his arrival on the Bundesliga stage. "I have really taken on board the demands of the Bundesliga and the coach and my team-mates know they can rely on me to perform at any time," he told bundesliga.com recently. After only surviving by the skin of their teeth last season, Frankfurt have got off to a flier this term with three wins from their opening four fixtures. With an in-form Fabian pulling the strings, the Eagles have reason to believe they can soar this season.
Click here for the Ingolstadt v Frankfurt Match Centre
Watch: Fabian hails Frankfurt's start to the season:
Rocking Robben
Arjen Robben is back. After suffering a groin injury in FC Bayern München's pre-season win over SV Lippstadt 08 in July, the Netherlands winger made his long-awaited return to first-team action on Matchday 4. A standing ovation greeted the 32-year-old winger as he breathed Bundesliga air for the first time since March 2016 in the 65th minute of the top-of-the-table clash against Hertha Berlin, but that reception paled in comparison to the reaction that met his 78th Bundesliga goal. Robben had not even been on the pitch ten minutes when he received the ball on the right-hand side of the Hertha box, cut inside and unleashed a trademark left-footed finish to put the seal on a fully deserved 3-0 win. The flying Dutchman's first Bundesliga goal since 2 March 2016, it was well worth the wait. What is more, Bundesliga leaders Bayern are now a magnificent seven from seven in all competitions under Carlo Ancelotti.
Click here for the Bayern v Hertha Match Centre
Watch: Ancelotti and Ribery on Robben's comeback:
Old King Köln
Bayern's nearest pursuers, on ten points from four matches, are two-time Bundesliga champions 1. FC Köln. Not even conceding the first goal against FC Schalke 04 could deter the Billy Goats, who bounced back to record an impressive 3-1 win that means they are now unbeaten in nine matches dating back to last season. With a watertight defence, workmanlike midfield and a fit and firing forward line, Peter Stöger's well-oiled troupe are daring to venture where no Köln outfit has gone since the class of 1991/92 finished fourth under the late Jörg Berger.
Click here for the Schalke v Köln Match Centre