The Bundesliga returns after the international break with an unusual picture at the top of the table. Borussia Dortmund have won all four opening matches and lead the league outright, Bayern sit two points behind, while Augsburg have unexpectedly broken into the top four. Matchday 5 should tell us a lot about how sustainable those early-season positions really are. We break down the key fixtures and look at how the pre-match market at 888STARZ rates them.
After four rounds, Dortmund have a perfect 12 points. Bayern and Freiburg follow on 10, while Augsburg, Leverkusen and Mainz all have seven. Leipzig sit only ninth with six points, and Frankfurt are tenth with five.
Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen: The Leaders Open the Weekend
9 October
Matchday 5 gets underway on Friday at Signal Iduna Park, where Dortmund will try to extend one of their strongest starts in years.
Four matches, four wins, 12 points and first place. Dortmund have not opened a Bundesliga season with 12 points from 12 since 2015.
Werder arrive in eighth place with 7 points from four matches. They have already shown they can trouble strong opponents, while another subplot will be Niclas Füllkrug returning to Signal Iduna Park — this time wearing Bremen colours. At the other end, Serhou Guirassy will lead Dortmund’s attack.
888STARZ Odds
- Borussia Dortmund to win — 1.40
- Draw — 5.77
- Werder Bremen to win — 7.80
The market is firmly behind the leaders.
Dortmund are priced at just 1.40, while an away victory for Werder is close to eight.
That makes this the first obvious favourite to check in Monday’s results digest: will Dortmund preserve their perfect record, or will the international break disrupt their momentum?
Augsburg vs Bayern Munich: Second Against Fourth — But the Market Barely Cares
10 October
One of the most interesting fixtures of the round if you look only at the table.
Bayern sit second with 10 points, while Augsburg have surprisingly climbed to fourth with seven. The hosts’ start deserves attention: wins over Schalke and Frankfurt, a draw against Leverkusen and just one defeat, against Werder.
Bayern remain unbeaten with three wins and one draw, scoring 14 goals and conceding only two. Before the international break, they demolished Union Berlin 7–0, with Michael Olise scoring a hat-trick.
There is also a recent warning for Bayern: Augsburg beat them 2–1 in January.
But the 888STARZ line almost completely ignores Augsburg’s unexpectedly high position.
888STARZ Odds
- Augsburg to win — 12.30
- Draw — 9.05
- Bayern Munich to win — 1.21
The gap is enormous.
Bayern are overwhelming favourites even away from home, despite Augsburg sitting fourth and making a strong start.
That is exactly why this match is so useful for our preview → results format. If Bayern take the three points comfortably, the line will have reflected the true balance of power. If Augsburg get another result, we will have one of the biggest upsets of the round.
RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt: The Market Trusts the Hosts More Than the Table Does
10 October
The standings suggest these teams are very close.
Leipzig are ninth with 6 points, Frankfurt tenth with 5, and both sides have been inconsistent so far.
Leipzig have won both of their home games without conceding — 3–0 against Gladbach and 5–0 against Hamburg — but lost both away matches, 1–3 to Werder and 0–2 to Leverkusen.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, have scored nine goals in four rounds but conceded ten. One striking trend: they have scored inside the opening ten minutes of every league match so far.
Despite how close the clubs are in the table, 888STARZ sees a clear favourite here.
888STARZ Odds
- RB Leipzig to win — 1.58
- Draw — 5.13
- Eintracht Frankfurt to win — 5.29
Leipzig are rated much more strongly at home.
Their record at the Red Bull Arena helps explain that, but 1.58 is still an interesting price considering only one point separates the teams after four rounds.
On Monday, we will see what mattered more — the league table or Leipzig’s home advantage.
Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen: The Closest Market Among the Headline Fixtures
10 October
If you are looking for one of the major games without a huge favourite, this is it.
Both sides have 7 points from four matches. Leverkusen are fifth on goal difference, Mainz sixth.
Leverkusen opened the campaign with a surprise defeat to Elversberg, but gradually recovered: a 4–0 win over Union, a 2–2 draw with Augsburg and then a 2–0 victory over Leipzig before the break.
The market reflects how closely matched these teams are.
888STARZ Odds
- Mainz to win — 2.89
- Draw — 3.95
- Bayer Leverkusen to win — 2.41
Leverkusen are slight favourites, but 2.41 is clearly not the price of an easy away win.
With both teams level on points, this may be the most interesting fixture of the round purely from a market-value perspective.
What Else to Watch in Matchday 5
On Saturday, Hoffenheim host Hamburg. Both sides have had difficult starts: Hoffenheim have three points, while Hamburg also have three and have already conceded 13 goals.
Paderborn vs Stuttgart is another meeting between teams in the lower half. Stuttgart have managed only one win in four rounds.
Sunday brings extra attention to the Rhine derby between Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gladbach have had a disastrous start and remain the only Bundesliga side without a point: four defeats and 16 goals conceded.
The round ends with Freiburg vs Schalke. Freiburg have been one of the early surprises and sit third, level on points with Bayern.
Bundesliga Matchday 5 Schedule
9 October
- Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
10 October
- Hoffenheim vs Hamburg
- Augsburg vs Bayern Munich
- Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Union Berlin vs Elversberg
- Paderborn vs Stuttgart
- RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt
11 October
- Köln vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Freiburg vs Schalke
Unlike the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, the entire Bundesliga round will be completed by Sunday evening.
What the Market Is Telling Us Before Matchday 5
The German round gives us a particularly interesting mix of scenarios.
Dortmund lead the league with a perfect 12 points and are strong favourites against Werder — 1.40 compared with 7.80.
Bayern sit second, yet the market gives them an even bigger edge over fourth-placed Augsburg: 1.21 for Bayern compared with 12.30 for the hosts.
In Leipzig vs Frankfurt, the table suggests the teams are almost level, but the market is far more confident in the hosts — 1.58.
Only Mainz vs Leverkusen looks genuinely close: 2.89 against 2.41.
That makes Matchday 5 perfect for a post-round comparison with the 888STARZ market: three clear favourites and one genuinely balanced fixture.
On Monday, we will be able to review the complete Matchday 5 results without waiting for any additional games: did Dortmund stay top, could Augsburg surprise Bayern, and where did the 888STARZ pre-match market get it right — or wrong?
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