Penalty heroes, record starts and managerial praise: The highlights of the Bundesliga weekend

2025-09-21 · Bundesliga

The Bundesliga weekend delivered thrilling stories around penalties, impressive player performances, and clear managerial voices. While goalkeepers Nikola Vasilj and Noah Atubolu shone with penalty heroics, Harry Kane continued his flawless streak, leading FC Bayern to a record start. Mainz celebrated Kaishu Sano as a match-winner, and coaches shared decisive post-match statements after intense games.

Penalties are generally considered sure chances, but the latest Bundesliga weekend turned this belief dramatically on its head. FC St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj once again demonstrated his specialty in saving penalties, expanding his impressive record: "Vasilj has saved six out of seven penalties in the Bundesliga—a success rate of 86 percent. No other goalkeeper with more than two penalties faced can match that." A title that earns him the proud nickname "Penalty Killer."

SC Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu also continued his personal Bundesliga story. In the 3:0 win in Bremen, the 22-year-old saved his fifth consecutive penalty—a Bundesliga first. "The saved penalty was, of course, the foundation for today’s victory," praised SCF coach Julian Schuster. Atubolu himself was overjoyed: "I’m not a football god. Saving five penalties in a row is crazy. I’m absolutely thrilled." With a flawless performance and his first clean sheet of the year, Atubolu made an undeniable statement.

On the other side of the pitch, Harry Kane shone for FC Bayern Munich in a different way. The Englishman not only scored a hat-trick in the 4:1 win over TSG Hoffenheim but also converted two penalties without a miss. "It’s nice to score again and help the team," Kane said modestly. Remarkably, Kane is the first player in Bundesliga history to convert 17 out of 17 penalties—the undisputed "Penalty King."

FC Bayern themselves continued their best-ever Bundesliga start with this victory. After four matchdays, they have 12 points and a +15 goal difference—surpassing even their record seasons of 2024/25 and 2016/17. Coach Vincent Kompany was proud: "Hoffenheim were better in the first half, but we played very well in the second." Even Hoffenheim’s coach Christian Ilzer had praise for Bayern: "We played against the by far best team in Germany."

For 1. FSV Mainz 05, the weekend also brought reason to celebrate. A commanding 4:1 away win against FC Augsburg secured their first league victory. Standout performer Kaishu Sano scored a goal and provided an assist, humbly reflecting: "I played for the team as always and was lucky to help with my goal." Coach Bo Henriksen was pleased with the efficiency: "We didn’t manage this in the last three games. But today, it was fun."

The coaches’ voices painted a clear picture of an intense matchday. Dortmund’s Niko Kovač praised his team’s performance after the Champions League game: "We were fresh, energetic, didn’t allow anything, and deservedly won." Wolfsburg’s Paul Simonis saw progress despite defeat: "I can live with the loss because I see the team’s development." Similarly realistic were comments from other coaches, like Eintracht Frankfurt’s Dino Toppmöller after a narrow 3:4 home loss to Union Berlin and RB Leipzig’s Ole Werner following a crucial 3:1 win over 1. FC Köln.

In the 3. Liga, outside the Bundesliga, exciting developments continued: MSV Duisburg remained unbeaten but had to settle for a draw at TSV Havelse after a last-minute equalizer by John Posselt. Coach Dietmar Hirsch was understanding: "The world isn’t ending for us. We’re a promoted team, and today we played in a promoted team’s duel." Meanwhile, SSV Ulm saw a managerial change that gave the team new momentum, while Jahn Regensburg continues to struggle—coach Michael Wimmer criticized his team’s mistakes sharply.

Not just in the Bundesliga, but also in women’s football, the weekend delivered dramatic moments. VfL Wolfsburg secured a late win against 1. FC Köln in the Frauen-Bundesliga but had to deal with an injury to Alexandra Popp. Coach Stefan Lerch was concerned: "She threw herself into everything and took some hard knocks. We know she can push through pain." Upcoming matches promise more thrilling duels in both leagues.

The Bundesliga weekend presented an impressive panorama of records, striker power, and tactical battles. Whether penalty heroes in goal, Kane’s scoring spree, or the first wave of managerial analysis—German football remains a fascinating stage of emotions and top athletic performances.