Six games into the Bundesliga season, and the league table is beginning to take shape! There is a fierce, multi-club battle for the title brewing at the top, while a gritty relegation fight unfolds at the other end of the table. With captivating storylines emerging from both ends, this season offers something for every fan.

To dig below the surface, we take a look at each of the 18 top-flight sides, highlighting one statistic that tells a deeper story. 

FC Bayern

FC Bayern appears to have struck gold with the midfield partnership of Aleksandar Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich. This duo is not only exceptional in possession—picking out incisive passes and controlling the game’s tempo—but also excels as a steady deep pivot on which Vincent Kompany can rely.

While their technical and tactical qualities are well known, the sheer distance both players cover each match often goes unnoticed. Despite FC Bayern’s dominance in possession, neither Pavlović nor Kimmich shies away from the gritty exhaustive work. 

After six Bundesliga matchdays, Kimmich leads the league in distance covered, while Pavlović is averaging an astonishing 13.12 kilometers per 90 minutes in the Champions League —the highest output amongst any player who has started both matches in Europe’s top club competition.

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig may be underwhelming in European competition, but Marco Rose’s side is on a historic course in the Bundesliga. RB Leipzig have not suffered defeat in their last 17 consecutive Bundesliga matches - a club record - and in over 400 Bundesliga minutes they have not conceded a goal - also a club record!

Advancing from the Champions League group stage may be challenging, but all will be forgiven if Rose can finally bring home the club’s first Bundesliga title.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt’s bewildering counter-attacking threat needs no introduction. In Hugo Ekitiké and Omar Marmoush, they have two of the most dynamic threats in world football, and with their reactive style of play, they sit just 1-point off of FC Bayern in top spot. 

The numbers underline Frankfurt's dominance on the break, as they lead all clubs in Europe’s top five leagues in shots (2.33 per 90) and goals (.83 per 90) created via a counter-attack.

SC Freiburg

SC Freiburg are off to a fantastic start under Julian Schuster. Die Breisgauer have won four of their opening six fixtures this season, equalling a club record set by Christian Streich in 2019 and 2022. 

With only seven goals conceded, Freiburg ranks among the Bundesliga’s most impressive defenses, a testament to their uncompromising physicality and quality in duels. In fact, SC Freiburg lead the Bundesliga in tackles won (66), and interceptions completed (65). 

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Bayer Leverkusen

It’s no surprise that Xabi Alonso continues to place major attacking demands on his wingbacks this season. The primary pairing of Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong are far more than traditional defenders, but rather, key attacking outlets whose surging runs, and playmaking poise often offers the first avenue to unlocking an opposition defense. 

Xabi Alonso’s tactical approach assigns his wingbacks a crucial role that goes beyond typical defensive duties. This season, Grimaldo has elevated this role to unprecedented levels. The Spanish international leads the 2024/25 Bundesliga with 33 touches in the opposition's penalty area—more than any other player in the league and six touches ahead of goal-scoring phenom Harry Kane.

Union Berlin

Union Berlin have enjoyed a remarkably strong season under Bo Svensson, After 6 matchdays they sit in 6th place, just 3 points off of FC Bayern at the top of the table. Svensson’s emphasis on coming quick out of the gates and retaining a high defensive fortitude have been crucial to Union Berlin’s success. 

Union Berlin have not trailed any of their fixtures at halftime, and are one of just three sides in Europe’s top 5 leagues - the others being Juventus and Liverpool - who have not conceded a goal in the first half of a league match this season. 

Borussia Dortmund

From misguided tactics to individual shortcomings, frustration is abounding in Dortmund. Among an ensemble of struggles, one glaring issue has largely flown under the radar: the club’s dismal performance on set pieces. Whereas last year only Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen surpassed Dortmund in set-piece goals, this season they are one of just four Bundesliga teams yet to score from a dead-ball situation.

While some might chalk this up to poor finishing, small sample size, or exceptional goalkeeping, the problem runs deeper. With just 15 attempts, Dortmund have registered the fewest shots from a set-piece in the Bundesliga, a troubling statistic that points to a lack of creativity in what should be key scoring opportunities.

VfB Stuttgart

VfB Stuttgart's remarkable transformation from relegation strugglers to one of Europe’s most exciting teams has captured widespread attention. Countless stars were ‘picked off’ by wealthier competitors in the summer, and national team coach Julian Nagelsmann is taking an increasing interest in the German talent flourishing under Sebastian Honeß’s command. 

In total, Nagelsmann called up 6 players from Stuttgart to the last national team camp - a record across Europe’s top five leagues for the most players from a single club representing one country. Even when we expand our search to the top 15 leagues on the continent, only Slavia Prague manages to match Stuttgart’s impressive achievement. 

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FC Heidenheim

FC Heidenheim have built a reputation for uncovering and developing overlooked and unrefined talent. This offseason was no exception, as they skillfully mitigated the significant losses of Eren Dinkçi, Tim Kleindienst, and Jan-Niklas Beste by focusing on smart recruitment from lower leagues.

One standout addition who has quickly made an impact is Sirlord Conteh. With a transfer fee of just €700,000, he’s proving to be a remarkable bargain. His exceptional speed and dynamism allow him to be a game-changing substitute in the closing moments of matches.

Conteh's blistering pace is backed by the data, with the 28-year-old recording a top speed of 36.67 kilometers per hour in a match against FC Augsburg this season. This achievement is groundbreaking, as it makes him the fastest player ever recorded since the Bundesliga began tracking this data in 2019.

Mainz 05

After a nail-biting season in which Mainz narrowly avoided relegation, they appear to be on a much more stable path this year. Die 05er are already just two points and two goals shy of matching their output at Christmas last season!

The improvement in Mainz's performance is impressive in itself, but even more striking is the dramatic boost in their goal-scoring efficiency. Last season, Mainz 05 needed an average of 12.5 shots per goal, but this season, they’ve slashed that figure to just 5.4 shots per goal: Whereas last season they looked hopeless in the final third, this year they are the most efficient attack in the entire league!

Werder Bremen

With the second-fewest shots in the division, and just 8 goals all season, Werder Bremen’s ability to compete for more than topflight survival will largely come down to their ability to elevate their attacking output. The disastrous form of Marvin Ducksch and the injury issues plaguing Justin Njinmah have hamstrung Ole Werner’s attack, but one player who is clearly pulling his weight is Romano Schmid. 

The 24-year-old has long been an unheralded star of the Bundesliga, putting up impressive performances that often only come to light below the surface. This season is no exception. While Schmid’s 1 assist in 557 minutes won’t make headlines, his 7 key passes that have led directly to a shot-attempt are very noteworthy. 

In fact, according to Hudl data, no player in the Bundesliga has recorded more key passes this season, with Schmid sharing the top spot with Michael Olise.

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VfL Wolfsburg

While VfL Wolfsburg may be bankrolled by Volkswagen, their football this season has clearly taken a page from the Red Bull playbook. Under Ralph Hasenhüttl, Wolfsburg is evolving into a high-speed transition powerhouse, echoing the energetic style Leipzig showcased in their early Bundesliga days. The data reinforces this transformation, particularly when it comes to possession: Wolfsburg completes the fewest passes per game in the league (242) with the lowest completion rate (69%). After years of playing cautious possession-based football under managers like Niko Kovač, Florian Kohfeldt, and Bruno Labbadia, Wolfsburg has pivoted 180 degrees toward uncompromising verticality.

FC Augsburg

The summer departure of star striker Ermedin Demirović has left a significant void in Augsburg’s attack. The Bosnian international registered a club-record 15 goals and 10 assists last season, accounting for 50% of the team's total goals in the Bundesliga last campaign. 

While the signing of Samuel Essende provides a valuable physical and aerial presence, there’s also a less-heralded recruit who could help fill the goalscoring gap left by Demirović.

 27-year-old Keven Schlotterbeck may be a centerback by trade, but his goal-scoring ability should not be overlooked. Since January 1, 2024, no center-back in Europe’s top five leagues has matched his six goals. 

In just 6 fixtures this season he has already scored twice for Augsburg, and it is safe to assume that more will soon follow with the 1,89m defender routinely showcasing an elite aerial presence and ball-striking power. 

Borussia Mönchengladbach 

Borussia Mönchengladbach has been a perplexing team to assess this season. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance in some unlucky outings, displayed maturity in select victories, and suffered one outright disastrous performance. This erratic pattern has characterized much of Gerardo Seoane’s tenure as head coach.

The Swiss manager has now been in charge for 40 Bundesliga games at Gladbach, with an underwhelming record to show for it. Forty points from 40 matches paint a bleak picture, and Seoane’s side has yet to string together two consecutive wins since his appointment almost 18 months ago —a telling statistic as his time with the club seems to be approaching a difficult end.

FC St. Pauli

St. Pauli’s lack of an established topflight goalscorer always appeared like a worry ahead of the season, but even the most pessimistic fan probably didn’t predict it would be such an elaborate challenge to capitalize on the countless chances the Hamburg outfit create each matchday. St. Pauli have taken more shots than RB Leipzig, and only two fewer than Borussia Dortmund, but turning this output into goals has proven incredibly difficult for the league’s most underwhelming and inefficient attack. 

On average, St. Pauli requires 19 shots per goal, a strikingly poor conversion rate that places them firmly at the bottom of the league’s attacking efficiency.

TSG Hoffenheim

TSG Hoffenheim are enduring a difficult spell defined by turmoil off the pitch and disappointing results on it. Few things can provide confidence at the moment for a European aspirant currently sitting in the relegation zone, but a small silver lining is the incredible youth academy that continues to produce elite talents for the first team. Last season TSG Hoffenheim won the U19 German league and cup double, with talents like Max Moerstedt and Tiago Poller bound to leave an impact on the first team very soon.

In fact, 10 players in Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga squad this season stem from the club’s academy. Alongside SC Freiburg, no club has more players from their own academy featuring in the first-team squad. 

Holstein Kiel

Holstein Kiel face a daunting survival fight, made even tougher by their habit of conceding early. 

Alongside Angers SCO, Kiel are the only club in Europe’s top five leagues to have conceded first in every league game this season. Even more concerning is their vulnerability in the opening 30 minutes, during which they’ve allowed a staggering 11 goals—at least three more than any other team across Europe’s top leagues.

VfL Bochum

Peter Zeidler has sought to reshape Bochum this season with a diamond midfield and a renewed emphasis on high pressing. However, one aspect that remains unchanged is the club's reliance on long-range passes. Whenever Bochum gains possession, they quickly look to target their towering forward, Philipp Hofmann.

The 31-year-old striker has yet to find the back of the net this season, but he is as important as ever with his unrelenting desire to engage in countless aerial duels every match. In fact, no player in Europe’s top five leagues contests more aerial duels per game than Hofmann, with the 1,95m German forward averaging an impressive 15.7 per 90 minutes. 

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