Two glaring misses, an injury-time penalty equaliser, Hoffenheim keeping a clean sheet, a stunner from Ivica Olic, Karim Bellarabi's nine-second, record-breaking, fastest-ever Bundesliga goal. I could go on. Isn't it great to have the Bundesliga back? Matchday Two should provide plenty more stories.
Matchday Two: Fixtures
Augsburg - Dortmund (Friday)
Werder Bremen - Hoffenheim (Saturday)
Stuttgart - Koln (Saturday)
Leverkusen - Hertha Berlin (Saturday)
Hamburg - Paderborn (Saturday)
Wolfsburg - Frankfurt (Saturday)
Schalke - Bayern Munich (Saturday)
Mainz - Hannover (Sunday)
Freiburg - Monchengladbach (Sunday)
Augsburg - Dortmund (Friday)
The bottom-two (yes I know it is very, very, very early days) open up Matchday Two at the SGL-Arena. Last season's surprise package Augsburg have started this campaign with a whimper, following up their shock first round exit at the hands of Magdeburg in the DFB-Pokal with a 2-0 defeat at Hoffenheim. They've brought in the likes of Tim Matavz, Shawn Parker and Caiuby as new forward options, but they appear to be struggling to create the opportunities to find the back of the net; a thorn in Augsburg's side which they will quickly want to shake off. Dortmund are also hoping to use Matchday Two as a platform to bounce-back from the disappointment of the opening weekend. They just didn't get going against Leverkusen, lacking any real tempo which we have become accustomed to, although Roger Schmidt's side have to be congratulated for their immense high pressure which stopped Dortmund from performing at their best. With the international break next weekend, the Black and Yellows cannot afford to drop more points, otherwise Bayern may already be too far ahead.
Prediction: Despite a number of first-team players missing, Dortmund should come away with the points here. Augsburg 1-3 Dortmund.
Werder Bremen - Hoffenheim (Saturday)
Their quick comeback in the capital last Saturday suggests Robin Dutt's Bremen have character amongst their group of players, which will be key in the Northerners' long road back to being one of the Bundesliga's best. They were consistent of being inconsistent on home soil last season, with six victories, five defeats and six draws. Bremen supporters will be hoping for much better peformances and results from their heroes this time around at the Weserstadion. Hoffenheim travel north with an opening weekend win and a rare clean sheet. Defensive solidarity will be the key to Hoffenheim's fortunes this season, whilst also maintaining their thrilling attacking style, and their Matchday One victory over Augsburg indicated that they have the capability to do both under the management of Markus Gisdol. Like Bremen at home, Hoffenheim were hugely erratic on their travels last season. They could win 5-1 at Hamburg or they could lose 6-2 at Stuttgart. Eradicating this will be key in 2014/15.
Prediction: Both made good starts to their new campaigns. Hoffenheim's good start will turn into a great one. Werder Bremen 1-2 Hoffenheim.
Stuttgart - Köln (Saturday)
Stuttgart were moments away from a surprise opening day win, only for World Cup winner Christoph Kramer to snatch a point in the dying embers for Gladbach. This highlighted last season's problems for Stuttgart, not being able to close out victories and suggesting that another season of inconsistency, frustration and disappointment may well be in store. Saturday's opponents Köln began life back in the top-flight with a goalless draw at home to Hamburg, although they would have been much happier with their Matchday One point. Peter Stöger's men simply want to keep their heads above water after two years away from the Bundesliga, and by picking up points on a regular basis, they will do more than enough to stave off relegation.
Prediction: Stuttgart and Köln will both remain winless, but both will be unbeaten after Matchday Two. Stuttgart 1-1 Köln.
Leverkusen - Hertha Berlin (Saturday)
Life as Leverkusen manager couldn't have started any better for Roger Schmidt. Into the 2nd round of the DFB-Pokal, into the Champions League group stages, top of the table after an impressive win at Dortmund and star striker Stefan Kießling already close to double figures in terms of goals (and we are not even at the end of August!) Not the best of times then for Hertha to make the trip to the BayArena, having thrown away a two-goal advantage against Bremen. What would have pleased Jos Luhukay however would have been the performance of Julian Schieber, who has began his career at the Olympiastadion with three goals in his first two competitive appearances. Yet injuries are already ravaging the Hertha squad, meaning expectations are low to nigh on none this weekend.
Prediction: The front-four of Bellarabi, Son, Calhanoglu and Kießling could be in for a field day here. Leverkusen 4-0 Hertha Berlin.
Hamburg - Paderborn (Saturday)
Both these sides began their respective league campaigns with draws; Hamburg picking up a point in Koln, whilst Paderborn suffered last-minute heartbreak in their first ever Bundesliga game against Mainz; Ja-Cheol Koo's injury-time spot-kick denying Andre Breitenreiter's men a famous opening victory. The only ever-present Bundesliga side Hamburg are thankful to begin the campaign against the two newly promoted sides, having come evr so close to losing that historical record. Paderborn are just grateful to be competing against Germany's best, but signs in that Mainz game suggests they may well be the underdogs this season, but they will put of a fight no matter what.
Prediction: Hamburg are back on home soil and should take the three points. Hamburg 3-1 Paderborn.
Wolfsburg - Frankfurt (Saturday)
They were a Junior Malanda one-yard miss away from a point in Munich. Bayern of course had plenty of chances to add more goals, but Wolfsburg gave the champions quite a game in the 2014/15 Bundesliga opener. They were expected to come away with nothing, but if Dieter Hecking's team can show that level of performance for the majority of the campaign, they will be knocking on the door of the Champions League places for sure. Haris Seferovic's match-winning debut against Freiburg means Frankfurt head to Lower Saxony brimming with confidence, and with a fairly respectable set of fixtures to start their season, Thomas Schaaf and co. could well be amongst the top-half sides as we head into the Winter months.
Prediction: Despite their opening day exploits, Frankfurt will come away with nothing from the VW-Arena. Wolfsburg 2-0 Frankfurt.
Schalke - Bayern Munich (Saturday)
Saturday evening's encounter in Gelsenkirchen undoubtedly headlines the Matchday Two line-up. The pressure is already on the shoulders of Jens Keller. Having seen his players dumped out of the Pokal by Dynamo Dresden, Schalke then threw away a lead as they went down 2-1 to Hannover. The fixture list hasn't been kind to Schalke at the start of this season. With a trip to Gladbach to come following the international break, it's paramount they get something this weekend. But it doesn't help that the champions are in town, with the Veltins Arena a happy hunting ground for them. Already with a three-point advantage over their seemingly only title rivals Dortmund, and with Mehdi Benatia signed (and with Xabi Alonso to come), despite their injury problems, Bayern already look formidable.
Prediction: Two wins out of two for Bayern after their trip to Schalke. Schalke 0-3 Bayern Munich.
Mainz - Hannover (Sunday)
On the brink of an almost embarrassing defeat to Bundesliga newboys Paderborn, captain Ja-Cheol Koo saved the day with a cool penalty in injury-time. That spot-kick was essential not just for the result, but possibly for Kasper Hjulmand. Had that penalty not nestled in the back of Lukas Kruse's net, the Dane would have been hanging onto his job by a thread, following exits from the Europa League and the Pokal before the season had even begun. Hannover's away record in 2013/14 was, in all honesty, abysmal. Just 13 points were picked up on the road, clearly indicating where they need to improve. Last weekend's success over Schalke implies Hannover are looking to push on and get themselves back amongst the fringes of the European positions.
Prediction: The Coface Arena is never an easy place to go, but despite their away day troubles, Hannover could well get something here. Mainz 1-1 Hannover.
Freiburg - Mönchengladbach (Sunday)
Matchday Two ends in the south-west, with two sides who had less than impressive opening weekends. Freiburg were poor at Frankfurt, and highlighted why they are always one of the favourites for the drop at the start of a campaign. The arrivals of Marc Torrejon and Dani Schahin in the past week will bulk up their defensive and attacking options. He was awarded for his summer exploits with World Cup winning Germany, and Christoph Kramer showed his thanks by saving Gladbach's bacon against Stuttgart. The Borussia-Park faithful saw a sluggish performance from their players, with tiredness possibly a factor having had to travel to Bosnia to play Sarajevo in the Europa League play-off round, first leg. Lucien Favre's men will hope to finish off the job, but then not to be lethargic come late Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: The dessert of Matchday Two should be sweet. Freiburg 2-3 Mönchengladbach.