Table toppers Bayern München will take on the Bundesliga’s only permanent fixture, Hamburger SV, on Saturday at 15:30 CET in what will be a milestone game between the two sides. The German record holders lead the way in their previous meetings, with 58 wins, 19 losses and the other 22 games ending in draws. Bayern are still yet to lose at home this season and have only dropped points in front of their fans during their 1-1 draw with FC Schalke 04. Franck Ribery and Rafinha have been back at team training this week following their injuries and could make a return to the squad for the game against HSV. Manager Pep Guardiola will definitely be without World Champion Jerome Boateng, who will have to watch from the stands as he continues to serve his suspension.
HSV have won their last two games and have now opened up a four point gap between themselves and 16th. They have 23 points and are in twelfth, but still have the worst attack in the league with only 14 goals scored in 20 games. They’ll be encouraged by the fact that their last five goals came in only two games- a 3-0 win in Paderborn followed by a 2-1 win last weekend in the northern derby against Hannover 96 in front of their own fans. There’s a good possibility that Hamburg would take a 0-0 draw, which was the result between the two sides in the game during the first half of the season.
Werkself to face the Wolves
Three games, four points, two goals: Bayer Leverkusen’s attack is not quite firing on all cylinders yet ahead of their game against VfL Wolfsburg (15:30 CET). Striker Stefan Kießling has only scored four goals so far this season. Their attacking crisis has also had an effect on the table, with the Werkself dropping from third to sixth after last week’s games.
But the situation is a whole lot different for VfL Wolfsburg. The team who currently sit in second, are unbeaten in their last eight games and have picked up seven points from their last three games. The game will see Andre Schürrle return to his former club, Bayer Leverkusen, for whom he played 83 games. The World Champion shone on his debut for VfL, as he provided two assists in their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim.
Even though the table speaks for itself, the game won’t be a sure-fire success for Dieter Hecking’s side. The last time the Wolves won in Leverkusen was on 29th January 1977- and at that time both clubs were playing in the 2. Bundesliga.
The 82nd Rhein derby between Gladbach and Köln
Carnival is underway in Köln but 1. FC Köln will make the short trip to take on local rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (15:30 CET) in the 82nd Rhein derby, which is a game Gladbach have dominated in the past (44 wins, 16 draws, 21 losses). After winning their first two games after the winter break, fifth placed Gladbach went down 1-0 to Schalke last Friday evening. Lucien Favre, who has never lost to Köln, and his side have 33 points and are only a point off the Champions League places.
Köln, who got promoted last season back into the Bundesliga, currently have the second best away record in the league and are the only side not to have conceded since the winter break. However, they’ve only scored 19 goals so far this season and therefore have the second weakest attack, with only HSV scoring on fewer occasions (14). The game between the sides before the winter break finished 0-0. Nevertheless, before the season started they said their aim was to stay up, and currently that is looking likely, as they sit in eleventh on 24 points.
Will Stuttgart come out on top in the battle of the two out of form sides?
1899 Hoffenheim have started their second half of the second with three defeats and a goal ratio of 2:8. Markus Gisdol’s side have slipped to seventh after failing to pick up a point since the winter break. You could say that bottom of the table VfB Stuttgart will be the ideal opponents on Saturday (15:30 CET) but even though TSG have won the last two meetings between the sides, they have lost ten out of their last 13 games against VfB.
Table toppers Bayern München will take on the Bundesliga’s only permanent fixture, Hamburger SV, on Saturday at 15:30 CET in what will be a milestone game between the two sides. The German record holders lead the way in their previous meetings, with 58 wins, 19 losses and the other 22 games ending in draws. Bayern are still yet to lose at home this season and have only dropped points in front of their fans during their 1-1 draw with FC Schalke 04. Franck Ribery and Rafinha have been back at team training this week following their injuries and could make a return to the squad for the game against HSV. Manager Pep Guardiola will definitely be without World Champion Jerome Boateng, who will have to watch from the stands as he continues to serve his suspension.
HSV have won their last two games and have now opened up a four point gap between themselves and 16th. They have 23 points and are in twelfth, but still have the worst attack in the league with only 14 goals scored in 20 games. They’ll be encouraged by the fact that their last five goals came in only two games- a 3-0 win in Paderborn followed by a 2-1 win last weekend in the northern derby against Hannover 96 in front of their own fans. There’s a good possibility that Hamburg would take a 0-0 draw, which was the result between the two sides in the game during the first half of the season.
Werkself to face the Wolves
Three games, four points, two goals: Bayer Leverkusen’s attack is not quite firing on all cylinders yet ahead of their game against VfL Wolfsburg (15:30 CET). Striker Stefan Kießling has only scored four goals so far this season. Their attacking crisis has also had an effect on the table, with the Werkself dropping from third to sixth after last week’s games.
But the situation is a whole lot different for VfL Wolfsburg. The team who currently sit in second, are unbeaten in their last eight games and have picked up seven points from their last three games. The game will see Andre Schürrle return to his former club, Bayer Leverkusen, for whom he played 83 games. The World Champion shone on his debut for VfL, as he provided two assists in their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim.
Even though the table speaks for itself, the game won’t be a sure-fire success for Dieter Hecking’s side. The last time the Wolves won in Leverkusen was on 29th January 1977- and at that time both clubs were playing in the 2. Bundesliga.
The 82nd Rhein derby between Gladbach and Köln
Carnival is underway in Köln but 1. FC Köln will make the short trip to take on local rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (15:30 CET) in the 82nd Rhein derby, which is a game Gladbach have dominated in the past (44 wins, 16 draws, 21 losses). After winning their first two games after the winter break, fifth placed Gladbach went down 1-0 to Schalke last Friday evening. Lucien Favre, who has never lost to Köln, and his side have 33 points and are only a point off the Champions League places.
Köln, who got promoted last season back into the Bundesliga, currently have the second best away record in the league and are the only side not to have conceded since the winter break. However, they’ve only scored 19 goals so far this season and therefore have the second weakest attack, with only HSV scoring on fewer occasions (14). The game between the sides before the winter break finished 0-0. Nevertheless, before the season started they said their aim was to stay up, and currently that is looking likely, as they sit in eleventh on 24 points.
Will Stuttgart come out on top in the battle of the two out of form sides?
1899 Hoffenheim have started their second half of the second with three defeats and a goal ratio of 2:8. Markus Gisdol’s side have slipped to seventh after failing to pick up a point since the winter break. You could say that bottom of the table VfB Stuttgart will be the ideal opponents on Saturday (15:30 CET) but even though TSG have won the last two meetings between the sides, they have lost ten out of their last 13 games against VfB.
VfB Stuttgart’s last goal came in their 1-0 away win in Hamburg and have gone 408 minutes without scoring a goal, which is a club record. They currently sit in fourth in the away form table. VfB haven’t lost any of their last four away games under Huub Stevens and haven’t conceded a goal in their last two away from home.
The two in form sides go up against each other
SV Werder Bremen will host FC Augsburg on Saturday (15:30 CET) at the Weserstadion, as the two top teams since the winter break go up against each other (first against third). Bremen haven’t lost at home since matchday 9 when they lost 1-0 to 1. FC Köln. Led by midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic (four goals and seven assists), they are unbeaten in their last four. A further reason to their success has been Germany Under-19 international Davie Selke, who has scored in four of his last five games. Take note: The last three goals Bremen have conceded have all been headers.
Despite throwing away a two goal lead against Eintracht Frankfurt (2-2), FC Augsburg are still the surprise package of the season so far. They’re currently in fourth on 34 points, level with Schalke. Markus Weinzierl’s side have won four of their last five games. A man in form at the moment is Raul Bobadilla, who has scored in all of his last four games. However, Augsburg will have to do without captain Paul Verhaegh, who will be out for at least four weeks due to a muscle tear.
Can Schalke defend their way to their next three points?
Even though Eintracht Frankfurt came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in their last game, Thomas Schaaf’s side are without a win in six. It’s unclear why, as they have top scorer in the Bundesliga, Alexander Meier (14 goals), in their side. Their defence is where the problem lies: 41 goals conceded, 13 alone in their last five games, is too many as Frankfurt currently find themselves in mid table on 25 points.
Roberto Di Matteo’s Schalke have improved dramatically over the last few weeks and have turned into one of the top teams in the league. They’ve won three out of their last five games, drawing the other two, including a 1-1 draw against Bayern München. Their tactics are clear to everyone: be solid at the back and play simple football- but it works. Schalke occupy one of the automatic Champions League places with 34 points to their name. The game against the Eagles on Saturday (15:30 CET) comes at a convenient time, as the Royal Blues have only lost one of the last 17 meetings between the two sides.
