Before turning their attentions to Der Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund next week, Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich must first overcome a very tricky hurdle on the road in Freiburg.

Taking top spot after a 6-1 drubbing of RB Leipzig last time out, Bayern may well feel normal service has resumed, especially after having spent a Bundesliga record 67 consecutive matchdays as league leaders until their Matchday 2 stalemate away at Schalke.

However, so far this campaign, no team has won on a matchday they began in first place. Granted, if any team knows how to do it, it’s the record champions. But with Freiburg’s Europa-Park Stadion providing the backdrop - which as yet has proved a hitherto impenetrable fortress for visiting teams this term - Julian Schuster’s side have cause for a healthy self-assuredness that this tendency can continue.

After all, Bayern have already dropped as many points in 2026/27 (four) as they did in the entire first half of last season. Tellingly, both slip‑ups came away from home (0–0 at Schalke, and 2–2 in Augsburg).

Freiburg have won all five prior home games across all competitions at the Europa-Park Stadion this term. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto

Meanwhile, Freiburg have won all three of their Bundesliga home matches so far this campaign, scoring 11 goals and conceding just twice in the process. That record extends beyond the confines of the league as well, with Schuster’s charges likewise winning their opening two European fixtures against Motherwell and Jablonec at home.

What’s more, Freiburg’s 15 league goals this season - the fifth‑best tally league-wide – represent a new club record at this stage of the campaign. Even more impressive is the fact that this feat has been achieved whilst maintaining the highest finishing efficiency (+3.8) of any side in the Bundesliga. 

The Breisgauer's attacking threat has not only been ruthlessly clinical, however, but also incredibly varied. The Black Forest club lead the way for headed goals (four), which represent a potential pressure point for Bayern, considering the reigning champions rank second-bottom for aerial duels won (69).

Igor Matanović has led the line impressively for Freiburg so far this season. - IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Standing at 6'5'', Igor Matanović will likely be the man Freiburg will look to for this aerial threat, with the Croatian having found the net on three occasions so far. Indeed, Matanović's all-round game has become irreplaceable for Schuster's side, with the striker consistently tasked with instigating Freiburg's press - a duty which has led him to win the second-most duels in the league (83).

Nevertheless, as was on full display against Leipzig, Bayern aren't exactly without firepower of their own.

Complimenting Luis Díaz's stunning hat-trick, both Harry Kane and Michael Olise also found themselves on the scoresheet, taking the trio's joint haul up to 13 for the campaign so far - just two shy of Freiburg's overall total. However, a hamstring injury sustained by Díaz against Arsenal in the Champions League means one of Ismael Saibari, Lennart Karl or Alphonso Davies should feature on the left-hand side in his stead.

Watch: Bayern 6-1 Leipzig - highlights

Nevertheless, confidence remains high among the Bayern squad following their emphatic win against Leipzig. “We played from the start and took our chances right away. That was a problem in the last few games, not taking our chances. That was different today. And when we get going, then it’s very difficult against us, especially at home,” said summer signing Nathaniel Brown after the game.

Fortunately for Freiburg, however, getting going away from home is where Bayern have struggled this season - at least by their standards anyway - as only four of their 22 goals this campaign have come on their travels. 

Where standards haven't slipped for Bayern, though, is in terms of their work rate. Kompany has continued to instil an insatiable hunger for running in his players, reflected in the fact that the Bavarians have covered the most ground of any Bundesliga outfit (747.6km).

Nathaniel Brown (c.) was pleased with how his side took their chances in the 6-1 thrashing of Leipzig. - IMAGO/Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON

At the heart of Bayern's engine room is the rock-solid partnership of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović, who rank first and second at the club for distance covered. However, after missing Bayern's draw with Arsenal due to a family bereavement, it remains to be seen whether Kimmich will feature against Freiburg. Tom Bischof, who performed admirably in the 31-year-old's absence against the Gunners, could get the nod once again to partner Pavlović in the middle. 

Likely facing off against them will be Freiburg's tenacious duo of Maximilian Eggestein and Yannik Engelhardt, who themselves have struck up a formidable partnership in the middle of the park.

The pair likewise have contributed goals, boasting five between them, and are also no slackers when it comes to putting in the graft, with Eggestein himself ranking sixth league-wide - above both Kimmich and Pavlović - in terms of distance covered (71.3km).

Freiburg duo Yannik Engelhardt (l.) and Maximilian Eggestein (2nd.r) have struck up a formidable partnership in midfield. - IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK

Top scorer Yuito Suzuki (four goals) will also be available once again after serving a one-game suspension in the 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last time out, following a yellow-red card dismissal in the win over Schalke the week prior.

History may not be on the Breisgauers’ side, having only once before started a Bundesliga season with four straight home wins (in 2016/17 under Christian Streich) and with just one victory against Bayern in their last 46 league meetings, but if the likes of Suzuki, Eggestein and Matanović are firing, anything is possible for Schuster's charges.

After all, history is written by the victors and - as Freiburg have consistently shown so far this campaign - records are made to be broken.