Tipped for little more than mid-table mediocrity this season, the underrated men from the Black Forest are chopping down reputations to sit fourth just a point off early pacesetters RB Leipzig.
And Borrello, 24, has been front and centre - starting three league games and one in the cup before being rested after returning from Socceroos duty in Kuwait for last weekend’s 3-0 win at Hoffenheim.
The former Brisbane Roar flier is likely to return to the starting team against Augsburg and is feeling increasingly at home in one of Europe’s marquee competitions.
“Maybe a lot of people have been surprised how I’ve started the season but it’s everything that I could have expected and more,” Borrello told The World Game.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m going but of course I’d like to score some goals and be even more involved.
“I’m in a winning side at the moment and it can’t be much better.
“It’s early days but we’re playing some really good football and in the Bundesliga anything is possible because there’s no such thing as an easy game. We’ve started with a bang and we now need to build on that throughout the season.”
Borrello believes he’s been rewarded for a rigorous pre-season in which he has dispelled any doubts after the ACL injury he suffered with his previous club Kaiserslautern.
“I’ve shown that I’m ready to play at this level - the coach (Christian Streich) trusts in me and I’ve given him no reason to think otherwise,” he added.
“I think I’ve really put myself out there. It’s a physical and fast league. It takes adjusting to but I’ve had a year and a bit here to get accustomed to it in terms of training with the boys.
“And I’m at that point now where I feel comfortable in every game I play in.”
After picking up his second cap for Australia in Kuwait as Graham Arnold’s men got their Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 3-0 win, Borrello looked as at ease in the green and gold as Freiburg’s red and black.
“It’s not so easy playing those types of teams, especially in those conditions, but you never look for excuses,” he said.
“We had time to adjust to the heat and we're fit enough to run out the full 90 minutes.”
Part of a front three also comprising two-goal Mathew Leckie and K League 1-based Adam Taggart, Borrello won plenty of plaudits.
“I think we combined well and it just shows the depth that we have in what was the first time playing together,” he added.
“We have a lot of attacking options and can play different formations which I think is what Arnie really wants.
“No place in the team is safe and it will come down to how players are performing at club level.
“Arnie is not afraid to make the changes he needs to. We all need to keep a level head about it and keep going the way we’re going.
“The mentality of the team is to go out and win every match home and away, and create the best Socceroos team there’s ever been.”
