J3 Bundesliga recap: FC Köln spoils the party, Danish win, derby and more

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An explosive third day in the Bundesliga

Matchday three of the Bundesliga gave us 35 goals, six-goal games, early victories and much more. Here is our review and highlights of the third day of the Bundesliga.

Cologne ruins the party for Wolfsburg

FC Köln continues their unbeaten start to the season by drawing 3-3 at Wolfsburg. Wolves were celebrating the club’s 80th anniversary. Manager Paul Simonis thought he had given the club three points not once, but twice.

Wolfsburg led 2-1 in the 90th minute, with a full 14 minutes of added time left. However, in the 91st minute, midfielder Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson scored his first goal for Cologne to make it 2–2.

Party ruined? Maybe not. Wolfsburg fans would have thought it was written in the stars when club legend Maximilian Arnold scored from a free kick in the 99th minute to make it 3-2. Players and fans could be forgiven for celebrating as if all three points had been saved.

However, Cologne became the ultimate killjoy in the 104th minute when midfielder Jakub Kamiński scored to equalize at 3-3. Since the exact minute of goals in injury time was recorded in the 1992/93 season, no professional from the German elite had scored so late.

Oh, and Kamiński plays for the Billy Goats on loan from Wolfsburg!

This draw extended Köln’s good start to the season and kept them in 3rd place. Wolfsburg also remains undefeated, but have now drawn two games and won one match. I’m in eighth place after a birthday thriller no one will soon forget.

First victory for Kasper Hjulmand in Leverkusen

Kasper Hjulmand made his Bayer Leverkusen debut in an impressive 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday evening. The former Mainz player didn’t have to wait long for his first goal, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring from a free kick after just ten minutes. Before the break, a penalty from Patrick Schick doubled B04’s lead.

Can Uzun reduced the lead for the Eagles, and when Robert Andrich was sent off for a second foul just five minutes later, Hjulmand must have been sweating.

Leverkusen showed what they are capable of, repelling Frankfurt’s attack and finishing the evening with another free kick from Grimaldo in injury time.

After the victory, Hjulmund expressed his joy at returning to football and to Germany: » I missed working in football. My last match with the national team was also here in Germany, but I missed German football. I really like the Bundesliga. Football here in Germany is for the people. There is a great passion for the game. I love it. It was really nice. »

B04’s first win of the season takes them to 10th place, while Frankfurt drops to 5th.

For both teams the focus is now on the Champions League. Hjulmand takes Leverkusen to his country’s capital, Copenhagen. Frankfurt hosts the Turkish team Galatasaray.

Happy Derby Day for Freiburg

SC Freiburg won the Baden-Württemberg derby by scoring three goals in 11 minutes to beat VfB Stuttgart. The visitors led for most of the match thanks to a spectacular back-heel goal from Ermedin Demirović. The former Freiburg player did not hesitate to express his current loyalty during his celebration.

However, a late rally, starting in the 81st minute, finally changed things. Igor Matanović equalized before Derry Scherhant gave Freiburg the lead just five minutes later. The match ended with Matanović’s second goal in injury time.

First double in German football for Matanović: the super substitutes showed their worth in the derby.

There was further drama when Johan Manzambi was sent off for Freiburg for dangerous play.

Freiburg’s first win is welcome and brings them level on points with Stuttgart.

Around the stadiums

St. Pauli continued their best start to the first division season with a 2-1 home win against FC Augsburg. The rebel club is now in 4th place and will travel to Stuttgart on Friday. With their city rivals yet to score a goal this season, it’s the right time to be Pauli loyal!

Furthermore, Hamburg suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat against Bayern Munich. The Bavarians simply had too much power, with Harry Kane scoring twice. The Englishman continues his scoring record against every Bundesliga club he has played against.

Victories also for Borussia Dortmund (0-2 against FC Heidenheim), RB Leipzig (0-1 against Mainz 05) and TSG Hoffenheim (2-4 against Union Berlin).