Players of Borussia Dortmund celebrate scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
BERLIN, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yannik Engelhardt and Igor Matanovic struck twice each as Freiburg swept aside 10-man Borussia Monchengladbach 5-0 to claim a third victory in three Bundesliga matches and move top of the table on Saturday.
Gladbach made the brighter start, but Freiburg soon took control and forced goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas into early saves from Philipp Treu and Engelhardt.
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when Nicolas misjudged a corner and former Gladbach midfielder Engelhardt headed home his first goal for Freiburg against his former club.
Six minutes later, Matanovic marked his 50th Bundesliga appearance by converting Matthias Ginter's pass first time to double the advantage.
Gladbach briefly threatened through Tim Kleindienst, while Nicolas prevented further damage before halftime by denying Yuito Suzuki in a one-on-one situation.
The Foals were reduced to 10 men seven minutes after the restart when captain Kleindienst, already booked, received a second yellow card after fouling Philipp Lienhart.
Freiburg controlled possession without initially pushing for a third before accelerating again late on.
Matanovic headed in Jordy Makengo's cross in the 77th minute for his second goal, and Engelhardt followed two minutes later with a strike from 17 meters. Captain Maximilian Eggestein completed the scoring in the 86th minute, finishing after Nicolas had diverted Makengo's delivery into his path.
The victory extended Freiburg's winning start to three matches and lifted Julian Schuster's side to the top of the Bundesliga table, while Gladbach suffered a third defeat in as many matches.
Borussia also remain without a victory against Freiburg since April 2021. Freiburg next travel to Eintracht Frankfurt, while Gladbach host Mainz.
"I am very happy, especially with the way we did it. We knew Gladbach would start with a lot of energy, but we managed to take control, create chances and score the goals," said Schuster.
Elsewhere in the third round, Borussia Dortmund made it three wins from three with a 3-0 victory over promoted Paderborn but remained second behind Freiburg on goal difference. Augsburg surrendered top spot after a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Hoffenheim beat Stuttgart 2-1, Eintracht Frankfurt won 3-1 to Mainz, while Werder Bremen drew 1-1 at Cologne. ■
Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Serhou Guirassy (top) of Borussia Dortmund and Nahuel Noll, goalkeeper of SC Paderborn 07, compete during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Borussia Dortmund's head coach Niko Kovac gestures during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Steffen Tigges (top) of SC Paderborn 07 heads for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Jobe Bellingham (R) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Laurin Curda (L) of SC Paderborn 07 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Jobe Bellingham (rear) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Jano Ter Horst of SC Paderborn 07 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Joane Gadou (L) of Borussia Dortmund vies with Oliver Batista Meier of SC Paderborn 07 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Paderborn 07 in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
