Why Freiburg Are Bundesliga Leaders | Gladbach Sack Polanski & Elversberg’s Heroic Performance

Jan and Markus Fjørtoft review the latest Bundesliga action, including Bayern’s seven-goal demolition of Union Berlin, Alexander Blessin’s expected arrival at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund’s perfect start under Niko Kovač.Dortmund continue to be met with lazy “let’s pretend they’re good again” takes, despite averaging 2.17 points per game across Kovač’s 52 Bundesliga matches. Last season’s 73 points represented their fifth-highest total of the three-point era, while they also produced the league’s best defensive record. At what point does the evidence outweigh the reputation?We also examine Florian Wirtz’s difficult start at Liverpool and the growing criticism surrounding the German international. Is he genuinely struggling, or are people rushing to judge a young player adapting to a new league, a different team and enormous expectations?Finally, we turn to the Ballon d’Or debate. How much should individual numbers matter compared with trophies and decisive performances in the biggest matches? Harry Kane and Erling Haaland enter the conversation alongside the continuing influence of Lionel Messi’s legacy, as we examine the sporting merit, reputation and politics that shape football’s most prestigious individual award.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on all audio platforms:https://www.youtube.com/@thefussballchannelFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoftTimestamps:0:00 Intro1:57 — Why Wirtz Is Struggling8:32 — Bayern 7–0 Union Berlin8:59 — Ballon d’Or Contenders15:38 — Is Olise a Contender?16:08 — Can Dortmund Challenge Bayern?21:03 — Frankfurt vs Freiburg22:49 — Gladbach’s Defensive Crisis24:36 — Bundesliga Coaching Changes26:29 — Bremen’s Comeback Win28:04 — Leverkusen vs Leipzig29:26 — Paderborn’s First Win31:07 — Germany’s International Break

Jürgen Klopp has named his first Germany squad as Bundestrainer and a new era for the German national team officially begins. 🇩🇪Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft break down Klopp’s selections, the biggest surprises, new faces (16!) and notable omissions.We also look at how Klopp aims to rejuvenate national pride and unity within the team, emphasizing a concept he calls "positive patriotism." Germany begin the new UEFA Nations League campaign against the Netherlands before facing Greece, Serbia and Greece again during Klopp’s first international window.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis and interviews from across the world of football.  🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!  📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!  🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@thefussballchannelFollow us on social media:  📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft  📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft

Freiburg are top of the Bundesliga after three matches but Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV are already in crisis.On the latest Bundesliga Round-Up, Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft discuss Freiburg’s perfect start and the dismissal of Gladbach head coach Eugen Polanski following a devastating 5–0 defeat.HSV also suffered their second consecutive 5–0 loss, recording the worst three-match Bundesliga start in the club’s history. Can Merlin Polzin arrest the collapse?We also look at:⚽ Freiburg’s rise to the top of the Bundesliga🔻 Eugen Polanski’s dismissal at Gladbach😬 HSV’s historic start: no points, no goals and 12 conceded🧤 Loris Karius inspiring Schalke’s first Bundesliga win in 1,225 days🟡 Felix Nmecha’s decisive contribution for Borussia Dortmund🔴 Bayern Munich surviving a major scare against Elversberg🧱 Noah Atubolu extending his Bundesliga penalty-saving record🎯 Michael Gregoritsch becoming Augsburg’s record Bundesliga scorer🔥 Antonio Nusa leading RB Leipzig’s response⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis and interviews from across the world of football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!🎧 Listen to The Fussball Podcast on all audio platforms:👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fussball-podcast/id1635935563  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6fiEdUFIUH89lxy9WDPD5o  Follow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft  📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft **Timestamps:**  00:00 - Introduction  01:02 - Jan's weekend in England04:34 - Elvesberg's heroic performance against Bayern09:18 - Karius and Atabolu for Germany?10:50 - Eintracht Frankfurt's derby victory  12:10 - Polanski fired! Polzin in trouble!13:01 - Conclusion and wrap-up.

Norway has two clubs in the Champions League—and both begin their campaigns against German opposition.Viking travel to Stuttgart for their first match in the competition’s main stage, while Bodø/Glimt face Bayern München after another extraordinary European campaign.Markus and Jan Fjørtoft look at how Viking returned to the top of Norwegian football, the unusual partnership between joint head coaches Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen, and the importance of captain Zlatko Tripić.We also discuss the arrival of Erik Botheim, the departure of Edvin Austbø to West Ham and how Viking are attempting to balance European ambition with the financial realities of Norwegian football.Bodø/Glimt’s progress is no longer a short-term surprise. After reaching the Europa League semi-finals in 2024/25 and the Champions League last 16 last season, Kjetil Knutsen’s side now begin another campaign at the Allianz Arena. We examine the structure, playing identity and continuity that have allowed a club from above the Arctic Circle to compete consistently in Europe.Can either Norwegian club cause an upset against Bayern or Stuttgart? Let us know in the comments.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis, and interviews from across German and Scandinavian football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights & exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thefussballchannelFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft

Loris Karius produced an outstanding performance as newly promoted Schalke held Bayern München to a remarkable 0–0 draw. Bayern had 83% possession, 15 shots and an xG of 1.94, but Karius made five saves to secure Schalke’s first point of the season and end Bayern’s run of scoring in 47 consecutive Bundesliga matches.Markus and Jan Åge Fjørtoft review all nine matches and discuss the major stories from Bundesliga Matchday 2. Jan also catches us up on his weekend in England, where he interviewed Erling Haaland and spoke with Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.Elsewhere, Augsburg came from behind to win 4–1 at Eintracht Frankfurt and move to the top of the table. Frankfurt led through Jonathan Burkardt, only for Arijon Ibrahimović and Robin Fellhauer to score within two minutes of the restart before Alexis Claude-Maurice and Fabian Rieder completed the turnaround.Borussia Dortmund also recovered from two goals down to beat Hoffenheim 3–2, while Elversberg continued their extraordinary start by scoring a stoppage-time winner in a 4–3 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach.Werder Bremen beat RB Leipzig 3–1 despite having only 29% possession, Stuttgart defeated Köln 4–1 and Bayer Leverkusen responded to their opening-weekend defeat with a 4–0 win over Union Berlin. Freiburg maintained their perfect start at Paderborn, while Mainz put five past Hamburg.Let us know your player and performance of the round in the comments.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis and interviews from across German football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights and exclusive interviews!🎧 Listen to The Fussball Podcast on all audio platforms:👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fussball-podcast/id1635935563Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6fiEdUFIUH89lxy9WDPD5oFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoftTimestamps:0:10 — Premier League weekend update / intro2:05 — Premier League matches: Ipswich vs Liverpool, City vs Coventry, Everton vs Man United4:10 — How managers like Carrick and Lampard speak/lead6:23 — Bundesliga round begins6:51 — Stuttgart 4–1 Köln7:34 — Schalke vs Bayern / Loris Karius comeback story12:33 — Eintracht Frankfurt vs Augsburg14:37 — Mainz 5–0 Hamburg17:08 — Freiburg, Paderborn, Bremen, Leipzig, and other roundup results19:16 — Elversberg vs Gladbach / Elversberg’s identity and comeback21:40 — Leverkusen vs Union Berlin21:58 — Dortmund vs Hoffenheim23:52 — Wrap-up and looking ahead to Champions League preview

The battle for the future of FIFA is heating up! In this episode, Markus and Jan Aage are joined by Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris, who takes us behind the scenes of the escalating power struggle around FIFA President Gianni Infantino. As UEFA ramps up its legal pressure and the stakes rise, Rob provides exclusive insights into the motivations and machinations that could reshape the world of football.Join us for an eye-opening discussion that exposes the challenges facing FIFA and the fierce battle for "football's soul".Let us know what you think! Will Infantino hold onto power and win the next presidential election, or is the pressure simply too much?⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis, and interviews from across German football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights & exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thefussballchannelFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft0:00 — FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal and the backlash0:36 — UEFA’s strategy against Infantino1:30 — The legal action in the US and Switzerland2:46 — Election timing and candidate rules4:45 — FIFA power structures and committee patronage12:35 — The secretary general vs president power split14:31 — Advisers, ethics, and the people around Infantino19:22 — What happens next heading into March

Elversberg stunned Bayer Leverkusen in their first-ever Bundesliga match, while Bayern München’s five-goal victory delivered an ominous warning to the rest of the league.Markus Fjørtofts reviews every major story from the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season.Four seasons after competing in Germany’s fourth tier, Elversberg marked their Bundesliga debut with a remarkable 3–2 victory over Leverkusen. Lukas Petkov scored the club’s first top-flight goal before Cole Campbell and David Mokwa helped establish an extraordinary 3–0 lead.On the same afternoon, former Elversberg striker Younes Ebnoutalib scored a hat-trick for Eintracht Frankfurt. Ebnoutalib was playing Regionalliga football in 2024 before Elversberg reportedly signed him for approximately €50,000—and Frankfurt later paid a reported €8 million plus bonuses for him.Elsewhere, Bayern beat Stuttgart 5-1 despite Jamal Musiala being unavailable and Harry Kane recording neither a goal nor an assist. Joshua Kimmich and substitute Ismaël Saibari each provided two assists as Bayern demonstrated the frightening depth of their attacking options.Let us know your player and performance of the round in the comments.Subscribe for weekly Bundesliga analysis and German football stories from The Fussball Channel.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis, and interviews from across German football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights & exclusive interviews!🎧 Listen to The Fussball Podcast on all audio platforms:👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fussball-podcast/id1635935563Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6fiEdUFUH89Ix9WDPD5o?si=d835b6e515ec46f4Follow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft

The Bundesliga is back, so we're taking on all 18 clubs in 18 minutes. Markus Fjørtoft breaks down every Bundesliga team ahead of 2026/27: last season, key transfers, managers, players to watch and the biggest question facing each club. Who can challenge Bayern? Can Dortmund close the gap? How good are Stuttgart? Why should we be worried about Bremen and Union? And what can we expect from promoted Schalke, Elversberg and Paderborn?⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis, and interviews from across German football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights & exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thefussballchannelFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft

The Bundesliga transfer window has reshaped several of Germany’s biggest clubs ahead of the 2026/27 season. Markus and Keven Bader discuss Bayern Munich’s additions of Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown, Borussia Dortmund’s new generation following the departures of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt, and the significant rebuilds taking place at Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig.They also assess Dortmund’s failed pursuit of Saïd El Mala, Leipzig’s sale of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid, Schalke’s move for Robin Gosens and reports that Niclas Füllkrug could return to Werder Bremen.👇 Which club has had the best window? Who has taken the greatest risk? And has anyone built a squad capable of challenging Bayern? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.Please note: Füllkrug’s return has since been confirmed. ⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more English-language news, analysis, and interviews from across German football.🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights & exclusive interviews!🎧 Listen to The Fussball Podcast on all audio platforms:👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fussball-podcast/id1635935563Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6fiEdUFUH89Ix9WDPD5o?si=d835b6e515ec46f4Follow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoftTimetamps: 0:00 Intro02:00 Are Bayern's Transfer Business Complete?03:59 How will Wsmael Saibari fit into Bayern?05:56 Ole Book's Dortmund Rebuild: What Can We Expect?10:58 Leverkusen & RB Leipzig: The Rebuild13:29 Stuttgart & the importance of RETAINING Players15:52 Hoffenheim, Eintracht & Other Notable Transfers20:35 Niclas Füllkrug Tribute22:03 Top 5 Bundesliga Transfers

FSG has agreed to sell a close to 40% minority stake in Liverpool to a consortium led by Amit Bhatia and backed by investors connected to the Mittal family, Eduardo Saverin and Jeff Bezos.The Athletic’s James Pearce joins Markus to explain the agreement, what the investors can contribute under PSR and what Liverpool’s deal tells us about the changing direction of football ownership.👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.⬇️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more football content and ANALYSIS with special guests!🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!📲 Subscribe for more insights & exclusive interviews!🎧 Watch The Fussball Channel on YouTube and join our 50k+ community! https://youtu.be/DScpKLuLHyAFollow us on social media:📲 Jan Åge Fjørtoft: @janaagefjortoft📲 Markus Fjørtoft: @markusfjortoft00:00 Teaser01:22 What FSG has agreed with 1892 Holdings04:33 Is this the beginning of FSG’s exit?05:54 What the investors can contribute under PSR10:29 Why billionaires want to invest in football14:30 Is football moving towards an American ownership model?17:41 Sport’s value in the battle for attention18:27 Should football fans be concerned?