Borussia Dortmund will look to maintain their perfect Bundesliga start against Werder Bremen, Lens host an unbeaten Lyon side in France, while West Ham face Queens Park Rangers in what has unexpectedly become a genuine Championship top-of-the-table clash.
We take a closer look at the state of play ahead of all three matches.
Dortmund vs Werder: Leaders dealing with fitness concerns
Borussia Dortmund head into Matchday 5 with a perfect Bundesliga record. Four matches, four wins and just two goals conceded leave BVB top of the table. Across all competitions, Dortmund have now won six games in a row.
The long international break did not leave them completely unscathed, however. Niko Kovač had already criticised the heavy workload of four international matches within a matter of weeks. Several players returned either carrying knocks or not quite at full fitness. Julian Ryerson is a doubt after suffering a rib injury with Norway, while there are also question marks over Nico Schlotterbeck. Konstantinos Karetsas, Daniel Svensson and Ramy Bensebaini have also recently dealt with minor fitness issues or illness.
Kovač will therefore have to make some late decisions over which of his internationals are ready for a full workload again.
Werder travel to Dortmund with seven points from four games and currently sit eighth. Just before the break, they recorded an emotional 3-2 victory over Augsburg, although a heavy 7-0 friendly defeat against Twente followed during the international window.
Daniel Thioune is unlikely to attach too much importance to that result. Goalkeeper Karl Hein also returned from Estonia duty with minor problems, but is expected to be available in Dortmund. Felix Agu, on the other hand, will miss out due to renewed calf issues.
One particularly interesting subplot is the return of Niclas Füllkrug. The 33-year-old is back at Werder after less successful spells with West Ham and Milan and has already scored three goals in his first four league appearances. Looking back on his 2023/24 season at Dortmund, Füllkrug recently described it as the “best and most successful year” of his career. That campaign ended with a place in the Champions League final.
The striker therefore continues to look far more comfortable in the Bundesliga than he ever did abroad.
Lens vs Lyon: Contrasting starts to the season
In France, two teams meet whose starts to the Ligue 1 campaign could hardly have been more different.
Olympique Lyon are still unbeaten after five matches and sit second with 11 points. Les Gones have recorded three wins and two draws so far and currently boast the best defensive record in the league. Immediately before the break, OL swept Rennes aside 4-0.
Lens, by contrast, have collected only four points from five games and sit 15th. Their spectacular 5-2 opening-day win over Auxerre has been followed by four league matches without victory. Most recently, they drew 2-2 with promoted Le Mans before losing 2-1 away to leaders Monaco.
Lens coach Yannick Cahuzac accordingly described Lyon as a “very dangerous opponent” and one of the heavyweights of Ligue 1.
The international break brought mixed personnel news for the hosts. Abdallah Sima returned injured from Senegal duty and will be out for a longer spell. Maik Nawrocki is already sidelined long term. On the positive side, Samson Baidoo, Saud Abdulhamid, Jhoanner Chávez and Yassine Titraoui are available again. Jonathan Gradit has also returned from a lengthy absence.
Lyon will be without another Senegal international in Moussa Niakhaté. The centre-back suffered a thigh injury and is unavailable on Friday.
There is also an interesting subplot involving Loïs Openda. The current Lyon forward previously enjoyed a highly successful spell at Lens and now returns to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis as an opponent. Given Lyon’s defensive strength so far, Lens face a particularly demanding task.
West Ham vs QPR: London derby becomes a genuine Championship showdown
A few years ago, the idea of West Ham against Queens Park Rangers being a Championship top-of-the-table clash would have seemed unlikely. After eight rounds of England’s second tier, however, that is exactly what it is.
The Premier League relegated side sit second with 15 points and are unbeaten in their last six league matches. Before the international break, the Hammers took 13 points from five games, most recently drawing 2-2 away at Millwall. At home in particular, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have looked dangerous going forward.
Captain Jarrod Bowen has been central to that form, recording six goals and four assists in nine competitive starts.
QPR are only two points behind West Ham in sixth place. Julien Stéphan’s side have lost just once in eight league games, although three consecutive draws mean they are now without a win in four.
West Ham will be without the suspended Mohamadou Kanté and the injured Keiber Lamadrid. Tomáš Souček, however, could make his first competitive appearance of the season. The Czech midfielder recently completed 65 minutes in a friendly after recovering from the ankle injury he suffered at the World Cup.
QPR will be missing the suspended Dennis Cirkin, while there are also doubts over Ilias Chair, Tariq Lamptey and Richard Kone.
The evening will also carry an emotional note because of a tribute to Luděk Mikloško. The former West Ham goalkeeper, who later also played for QPR, died in September and will be honoured with a special ceremony at the London Stadium before kick-off.
From a sporting perspective, the London derby therefore provides a high-quality conclusion to the first league evening after the long break: second hosts sixth, with only two points separating the sides.
