Normal service resumed - cue a collective sigh of relief for Bundesliga fans all over the world. After 33 days of initial festivity, extensive training camps and friendly matches, the first Bundesliga Saturday is nearly upon us. With everything still to fight for, including relegation spots, European places and maybe even – although whisper it quietly – the league itself, there is no doubting the importance of getting an early three points on the board.
1. FC Köln vs. VfB Stuttgart
1. FC Köln, who finished the first half of the season in a very respectable ninth position, host a struggling Stuttgart side, who after recording their third-lowest ever points haul in the Hinrunde, will be hoping to hit the ground running. Both sides signed off at the end of December with impressive home wins over Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg respectively, making this encounter difficult to predict. Köln’s home advantage may, however, prove crucial, as they lost just two of their 18 home games in the Bundesliga last year. Stuttgart will know that their best chance will be to keep a clean sheet, as Augsburg and Hannover proved in 2015, both leaving North Rhine Westphalia with three points after clinching 1-0 wins. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CET.
FC Ingolstadt vs. 1. FSV Mainz 05
A team that knows a lot about 1-0 wins, FC Ingolstadt, welcome 1. FSV Mainz 05 to the Audi-Sportpark on Saturday. So far this Bundesliga season, Ingolstadt have been involved in seven matches that have ended 1-0, three in their favour. This relative solidity at the back means that only FC Bayern have conceded fewer goals this season - a noteworthy feat for a newly-promoted outfit. With 24 points on the board, Mainz are six points better off than at this stage last year, and as a team that traditionally race out of the blocks (unbeaten in their last 3 first fixtures of the New Year), will have their eyes set on European football. Martin Schmidt’s men cover the most ground on average out of any side (118.8 km per game), and will be hoping to get off to a running start against Ingolstadt, who have just one win in their last nine games. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CET.
Hannover 96 vs. SV Darmstadt 98
With a record low 27 points from their 34 Bundesliga matches in 2015 (excluding relegated and promoted sides), Hannover 96 will be hoping to start 2016 on the right foot. They face this season’s surprise outfit, SV Darmstadt, who are enjoying their best ever Bundesliga season so far (18 points). Both teams are currently struggling for form, with Hannover losing five out of six before the winter break and Darmstadt with just one win in eight at the close of 2015. The clash may well be won or lost in dead ball situations, with Darmstadt and Hannover scoring 59% and 39% of their goals from set pieces respectively this season. Percentages aside, it promises to be a hard-fought match, with both teams hoping it will be the catalyst for a string of good results that would ease relegation fears. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CET.
Hertha Berlin vs. FC Augsburg
Two teams that have not struggled recently are Hertha Berlin and FC Augsburg, who meet as the two in-form sides from the previous five Bundesliga matchdays. The match really could go either way; on the one hand the Swabian side have won their last three away matches in the league (scoring in each of their last twelve), but will be wary of the fact that they come up against a team who have won six of their last seven at home in the league. With both sets of players with their eyes firmly on the ball, it may be the little things that decide the outcome of the game. Salomon Kalou has grabbed the winner in the last two Bundesliga meetings between them, and will want to propel his side to another victory, as they look to secure Champions League football for next season. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CET.
TSG Hoffenheim vs. Bayer Leverkusen 04
If you are looking for a game which is perhaps more clear-cut on paper, then Bayer Leverkusen’s visit to Hoffenheim is a good place to start. Leverkusen have won 15 of the last 17 meetings between the two sides, and are currently 13 places better off in the table. As if that wasn’t enough, in his last 14 competitive games, Javier Hernandez has scored as many goals as Hoffenheim have in total this season (17). The dangerous little Pea, combined with an in-from Stefan Kießling (involved in six goals in his last three games), mean that Leverkusen have as intimidating a front line as anyone. With that said, Hoffenheim boast the best clear-cut-chance-conversion rate in the league this season and have scored six goals from counter attacks this term. This hit-and-run style, combined with the fact that they have kept as many clean sheets in their seven games under new manager Huub Stevens (3) as in their previous 21 league games, and Hoffenheim are a side to be contested with. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CET.
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Borussia Dortmund
Much like the Mittelrhein wine produced just south of Mönchengladbach, André Schubert’s side have matured as the season has grown older. After losing their opening five games under Lucien Favre, Schubert has notched up 29 points since taking over on matchday five. Their first Bundesliga match of 2016 will be one of his tougher challenges since taking over at the helm, as Borussia Dortmund come to Borussia Park, unbeaten in the last eleven years in their first game back from the winter break. There are also numerous sub-plots to what promises to be an exciting football match. Marco Reus, who scored 56 goals in 96 appearances for the Fohlenelf, returns to face his former club, and Jonas Hoffman will also be reunited with his old teammates after his €8 million move to Gladbach this January. In the race for the title, a win for Dortmund is almost a necessity given the cushion that Bayern have going into the second half of the season. Kick-off: 18:30 CET.
