The Bundesliga had just finished its first matchweek, filled with non-stop action and drama. From late winners to red cards, Matchday 1 thrilled fans all over, and we at SBOTOP are ecstatic for more.
Obviously, not a lot can be predicted at this stage of the season, with everyone still figuring out a lot of things with regards to their squads and such.
But if you support one of the teams that have already played—in the league or otherwise—perhaps there’s already a formed thought about your club’s new signings: either you saw his debut as a sign of good things moving forward, or that he needs more time to acclimatise.
If you haven’t been tuning in, however, then we’re here to tell you just how the new lads are doing.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Olise, an electric winger with scintillating skills, was signed in hopes of helping Bayern wrestle the title back to Munich. Already a star with a blindingly bright future ahead, he was Crystal Palace’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2023 and had tallied 16 goals and 25 assists in his stint at the London-based club.
And now he aims to shine in Bavaria.
So far, Olise has played three matches with Bayern (two competitive fixtures and one friendly). In the first round of the DFB-Pokal against Ulm, Olise was subbed on in the 77th minute and immediately impacted the match. The winger was measured and controlled as he went by his defender and fired a low cross that was scored by Kingsley Coman.
He then started against Swiss side Grasshopper, in which he smashed in a beautiful volley in the 12th minute as he terrorised the Zurich club for 62 minutes before he was took off. However, he had an unsatisfactory start to his Bundesliga career after his team barely escaped Wolfsburg with a 2-3 win.
Started once again on the right flank, Olise made some good passes and created a huge chance for Harry Kane to score in the first half. But as the match went by, the winger faded and was subbed off for Coman in the second half.
Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund)
The 33-year-old Swiss Army knife of a player is one of the most reliable footballers in the sport. Back in his Brighton stint, Gross has virtually played any position his former managers asked of him and has delivered consistency week in and week out.
With 32 goals and 52 assists in his seven years in England, Gross is Brighton’s leading scorer in the English top flight. And now, he has the chance to continue his stellar career back home.
He had a pedestrian performance in Dortmund’s pre-season win against Aston Villa and was taken off in the second half. However, it was in his competitive debut with the club that he shone brightest, as he assisted twice in the DFB-Pokal match against Phonix Lubeck.
Gross was a machine in that match, where he registered 169 touches and completed 154/162 total passes.
His first assist was a pinpoint corner kick to Waldemar Anton. His second one was even more impressive, as he picked out a running Julian Brandt with a peach of a ball from the backline.
Dortmund’s next match is against Werder Bremen, where the Bundesliga 2024 odds favour the Black and Yellows. Yet another chance for Gross to show out.
Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)
Leipzig are known to take young talents and mould them into absolute world-beaters.
Joshua Kimmich, Christopher Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol are just some of the examples of players nurtured in Leipzig who are now well-respected in the sport.
And 19-year-old Antonio Nusa may be next to follow suit.
The wonderkid, straight out of Club Brugge, is highly commended among his peers as a future star. Bought from the Belgian club for €21 million, the Norwegian winger/midfielder is the second-youngest player to score in the history of the Champions League.
Those doubting his scoring touch—if there are any—were immediately made to eat their own words just two games into his Leipzig career after he scored in both meetings against RW Essen and Bochum.
Appeared as a substitute both times, Nusa netted in the second half of both games. His strike against Essen was a left-footed finish at the end of a counter-attack, whilst a thunderous volley with his strong foot proved to be the only difference between his club and Bochum.
He will hope to add to his Bundesliga 2024 highlights against Borussia Monchengladbach over the weekend.
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