As the days draw longer and the afternoons get warmer, the Bundesliga grows older. Following an exciting international break, the Bundesliga clubs have been hard at work this week in training preparing for the final stretch of Bundesliga action before the summer break. The teams return to action this weekend on matchday 28, meaning there are just seven matches to go, and 21 points up for grabs - fine margins indeed. Hannover 96, Eintracht Frankfurt, TSG Hoffenheim, FC Augsburg, Werder Bremen and Darmstadt are all in danger of being relegated, and the longer the season goes on, the more comfortable the Bavarians become in the two-horse race for the title. Whatever the outcome, it promises to be an exciting, unpredictable period.
1. FSV Mainz 05 vs. FC Augsburg
One team for whom the international break came at a seemingly good time was Mainz 05, who have picked up just two points from their last three Bundesliga fixtures. They welcome Weinzierl’s Augsburg side to the Coface Arena on Saturday, and will be hoping to get their strong campaign back on track. The visitors are enduring their worst second half to a season in the club’s history having recorded just eight points from ten matches so far. They have paid the price too, slipping from the relative comfort of mid-table to just one place above the relegation spots. Weinzierl is approaching the game "optimistically," and claimed that "he thrives under the pressure." They face a tough test in Mainz however; Schmidt’s outfit already have more points than they did at the end of last season and have their sights firmly set on Europa League, and maybe even Champions League, football. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CEST.
SV Darmstadt 98 vs. VfB Stuttgart
Another team in desperate need of some points are Darmstadt, who despite a very impressive season in the top flight, have found themselves sucked into a relegation battle of sorts. They will want to follow the example of their opponents on Saturday, who produced a remarkable turn of form after the winter break, winning their first five games in the second half of the season. Though their form has since faltered, they currently occupy 11th place, and are therefore able to play without the direct relegation pressure other teams may suffer from. They are unbeaten in six against newly-promoted sides and face a side without a win in seven. Though the odds on paper may not favour Schuster’s men, their task could not be clearer. Within the coming weeks, they face relegation-rivals Stuttgart, HSV, Ingolstadt, Köln and Eintracht Frankfurt and have the opportunity to pick up the points needed to guarantee their survival. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CEST.
Hannover 96 vs. Hamburger SV
Hannover find themselves ten points adrift of 17th-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, and with the Eagles facing Bayern München this weekend, they simply need to use the opportunity to potentially close the gap. They welcome HSV to the AWD Arena, and have the upper hand historically. Hannover have taken 17 out of a 21 possible points at home against their guests, and have not been beaten there since 2007. With that said, they have lost 20 matches so far this season (a club record after 27 fixtures) and have lost 90% of games under Thomas Schaaf. Hamburger SV will want to get a confidence-boosting win on the board so as to alleviate any potential relegation fears. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CEST.
FC Ingolstadt vs. FC Schalke 04
At the other end of the table, a win tomorrow for Schalke would strengthen their hold on fourth place and a return to Champions League next season. They come up against Ingolstadt, who are unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga in 2016, the longest such run in their history. In what is a rather interesting statistic, Breitenreiter has never lost to Ingolstadt as a head coach, despite falling behind in every single match against them! He will be hoping keeper Fährmann puts in a similar performance to his one against Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he made seven saves during their 2-1 win. The match might also see the Matip brothers come head to head for the second time this season. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CEST.
Bayern München vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
During the international break, Thomas Müller and Mario Götze set the Allianz Arena alight with their performances in the 4-1 win over Italy and on Saturday, they return to their home turf in the Bundesliga. They face Eintracht Frankfurt, who have not managed to score against Bayern in 667 minutes and have lost nine out of their last ten matches away at Bayern. Though the odds may be stacked against them, new manager and former FCB man Niko Kovac has injected new life into the side, as they now cover 117.9km on average per game, a 6km increase from their previous 25 matches. There is no doubting the fact that they will have to work hard in Bavaria, as on paper the match sees the worst away team come up against the strongest home team in this season’s Bundesliga. In terms of mascots, it’s eagle versus bear, an interesting match-up in anyone’s book. Kick-off: Saturday, 15:30 CEST.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Werder Bremen
Bayern’s closest rivals this season, Borussia Dortmund, are in action in the late kick-off tomorrow afternoon when they take on Skripnik’s Werder Bremen side. BVB have won an emphatic eight of their last nine Bundesliga matches against the Green Whites, and have an extra incentive to add to that tomorrow, as a win would see them mathematically secure Champions League football for the 2016/17 season. Dortmund’s 64 points is the most they’ve ever had at this stage in a Bundesliga season, and should they wish to pip the Reds to the title, they will have to take all three points in front of their home crowd tomorrow. Werder were dealt a blow ahead of the match, with their record goalscorer Claudio Pizarro being ruled out through back problems. With just 28 points on the board, the pressure is well and truly on and you can be sure they will fight until the very end. Kick-off: Saturday, 18:30 CEST.