It’s matchday 28 in the Bundesliga this weekend and with only seven games to go, things are really starting to heat up. Who’ll be champions, who’ll be playing in Europe next season and who will be relegated come the end of the season? Gladbach host BVB, Julian Draxler returns to the Schalke squad and the Wolves travel to Hamburg on Saturday evening.
Gladbach aiming for top four
Borussia Mönchengladbach will welcome BVB to Borussia-Park on Saturday afternoon (15:30 CEST). The bitter exit in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup to third division Arminia Bielefeld could leave a sour aftertaste on an otherwise successful season for the Foals. Nevertheless, Gladbach are unbeaten in their last seven league games, three of which have been wins, including an away victory at Bayern München. Manager Lucien Favre will be without World Champion Christoph Kramer, who is suspended (5 yellow cards), and the injured Martin Stranzl.
Borussia Dortmund suffered their first defeat in eight games last time out as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Bayern München. However, they have also failed to score in three of their last four games. But the 3-2 win against TSG Hoffenheim in the DFB Cup showed that they have not forgotten how to find the back of the net. Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are doubts for Jürgen Klopp’s side. The defender is being troubled by thigh problems, whilst Reus has been taking part in individual training sessions during the week due to adductor problems.
Only a win will do for both teams
FC Schalke 04 will be hoping to get back to winning ways against SC Freiburg on Saturday (15:30 CEST). Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for next season have taken a significant dent after three games without a win and only one win from their last seven games. The gap between Schalke and fourth placed Leverkusen is now eight points. Something positive for manager Roberto Di Matteo is the fact that World Champion Julian Draxler will return to the Schalke squad after five months out due to injury.
Freiburg have no time to lick their wounds after their unlucky 1-0 defeat in the DFB Cup to VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday. Even though Freiburg have won their last two games in the league against Augsburg and Köln, they still find themselves only three points clear of the relegation zone and are therefore in the thick of a relegation battle.
Schmidt against Schmidt
Mainz and their manager Martin Schmidt will be hoping to take points from their game against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (15:30 CEST) and their chances don’t look too bad. FSV have only lost one of their last six games and are unbeaten in their last four. Goalkeeper Loris Karius is yet to concede against the Werkself and he will be hoping to keep another clean sheet on Saturday.
Likewise for the visitors, the focus is on their goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The Germany Under-21 goalkeeper has only conceded once in his last five games in the Bundesliga. After the demanding game in the DFB Cup against Bayern München (lost 5-3 on penalties), we’ll have to wait and see whether manager Roger Schmidt will make any changes to his side. Fitness could prove crucial in their fight for Champions League qualification.
Strong at home Bayern against poor away from home Frankfurt
Leaders Bayern München will host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (15:30 CEST) at the Allianz Arena. Bayern are currently the best side at home in the league, whilst Frankfurt sit 16th in the away form table. Due to the draining win against Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup and due to a number of injuries, manager Pep Guardiola will have to make a few changes. A last minute decision will be made as to whether Franck Ribéry and World Champion Bastian Schweinsteiger will be ready for the game. It’s more than likely that Thiago Alcantara will be handed a place in the starting line-up after his appearance in the DFB Cup.
Thomas Schaaf and Eintracht Frankfurt need to pick up points in their quest to qualify for Europe. They currently sit in eighth, with only a four point gap between themselves and sixth. The last time they came away with a point from Munich was back in 2007 but you have to go back 15 years for their last win in Bavaria.
Can Paderborn find an all important win?
Newly promoted side Paderborn are currently in freefall with only one point from their last six games. André Breitenreiter’s side are currently on 24 points and occupy one of the two automatic relegation spots in 17th. They have failed to score in their last seven games and have conceded 17 goals in their previous six games. Nevertheless, they are only one point away from 16th.
Augsburg’s chances of qualifying for the Europa League hang in the balance. In their last eight games, Markus Weinzierl’s side have won only one, drawing three and losing the other four. The gap between Augsburg and seventh placed Hoffenheim has been cut to two points. A win at the Benteler-Arena on Saturday (15:30 CEST) could put them a step closer to their European dream.
Ivica Olic up against his former club
In the game on Saturday evening (18:30 CEST), HSV and VfL Wolfsburg will meet at the Imtech-Arena. Hamburg are currently in 16th and find themselves in trouble following three defeats in a row and HSV are without a win in seven. Furthermore, they haven’t found the back of the net for four games in succession. Manager Peter Knäbel will definitely be without Dennis Diekmeier, who has been ruled out with a thigh injury. Striker Ivica Olic will come up against his most recent employer on Saturday. The 35-year-old from Croatia made the move from the Wolves to HSV during the winter break.
Things couldn’t be going better for VfL Wolfsburg at the moment. Dieter Hecking’s side are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions after their 1-0 win over SC Freiburg in the DFB Cup (five wins, one draw). The Wolves sit in second place in the Bundesliga and have opened up a seven point gap between themselves and third placed Gladbach. The manager has had to rotate his side a lot recently due to the large number of games. Kevin de Bruyne will almost certainly play at the weekend following his nine goals and 18 assists in 27 games so far this season.
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It’s matchday 28 in the Bundesliga this weekend and with only seven games to go, things are really starting to heat up. Who’ll be champions, who’ll be playing in Europe next season and who will be relegated come the end of the season? Gladbach host BVB, Julian Draxler returns to the Schalke squad and the Wolves travel to Hamburg on Saturday evening.
Gladbach aiming for top four
Borussia Mönchengladbach will welcome BVB to Borussia-Park on Saturday afternoon (15:30 CEST). The bitter exit in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup to third division Arminia Bielefeld could leave a sour aftertaste on an otherwise successful season for the Foals. Nevertheless, Gladbach are unbeaten in their last seven league games, three of which have been wins, including an away victory at Bayern München. Manager Lucien Favre will be without World Champion Christoph Kramer, who is suspended (5 yellow cards), and the injured Martin Stranzl.
Borussia Dortmund suffered their first defeat in eight games last time out as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Bayern München. However, they have also failed to score in three of their last four games. But the 3-2 win against TSG Hoffenheim in the DFB Cup showed that they have not forgotten how to find the back of the net. Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are doubts for Jürgen Klopp’s side. The defender is being troubled by thigh problems, whilst Reus has been taking part in individual training sessions during the week due to adductor problems.
Only a win will do for both teams
FC Schalke 04 will be hoping to get back to winning ways against SC Freiburg on Saturday (15:30 CEST). Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for next season have taken a significant dent after three games without a win and only one win from their last seven games. The gap between Schalke and fourth placed Leverkusen is now eight points. Something positive for manager Roberto Di Matteo is the fact that World Champion Julian Draxler will return to the Schalke squad after five months out due to injury.
Freiburg have no time to lick their wounds after their unlucky 1-0 defeat in the DFB Cup to VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday. Even though Freiburg have won their last two games in the league against Augsburg and Köln, they still find themselves only three points clear of the relegation zone and are therefore in the thick of a relegation battle.
Schmidt against Schmidt
Mainz and their manager Martin Schmidt will be hoping to take points from their game against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (15:30 CEST) and their chances don’t look too bad. FSV have only lost one of their last six games and are unbeaten in their last four. Goalkeeper Loris Karius is yet to concede against the Werkself and he will be hoping to keep another clean sheet on Saturday.
Likewise for the visitors, the focus is on their goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The Germany Under-21 goalkeeper has only conceded once in his last five games in the Bundesliga. After the demanding game in the DFB Cup against Bayern München (lost 5-3 on penalties), we’ll have to wait and see whether manager Roger Schmidt will make any changes to his side. Fitness could prove crucial in their fight for Champions League qualification.
Strong at home Bayern against poor away from home Frankfurt
Leaders Bayern München will host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (15:30 CEST) at the Allianz Arena. Bayern are currently the best side at home in the league, whilst Frankfurt sit 16th in the away form table. Due to the draining win against Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup and due to a number of injuries, manager Pep Guardiola will have to make a few changes. A last minute decision will be made as to whether Franck Ribéry and World Champion Bastian Schweinsteiger will be ready for the game. It’s more than likely that Thiago Alcantara will be handed a place in the starting line-up after his appearance in the DFB Cup.
Thomas Schaaf and Eintracht Frankfurt need to pick up points in their quest to qualify for Europe. They currently sit in eighth, with only a four point gap between themselves and sixth. The last time they came away with a point from Munich was back in 2007 but you have to go back 15 years for their last win in Bavaria.
Can Paderborn find an all important win?
Newly promoted side Paderborn are currently in freefall with only one point from their last six games. André Breitenreiter’s side are currently on 24 points and occupy one of the two automatic relegation spots in 17th. They have failed to score in their last seven games and have conceded 17 goals in their previous six games. Nevertheless, they are only one point away from 16th.
Augsburg’s chances of qualifying for the Europa League hang in the balance. In their last eight games, Markus Weinzierl’s side have won only one, drawing three and losing the other four. The gap between Augsburg and seventh placed Hoffenheim has been cut to two points. A win at the Benteler-Arena on Saturday (15:30 CEST) could put them a step closer to their European dream.
Ivica Olic up against his former club
In the game on Saturday evening (18:30 CEST), HSV and VfL Wolfsburg will meet at the Imtech-Arena. Hamburg are currently in 16th and find themselves in trouble following three defeats in a row and HSV are without a win in seven. Furthermore, they haven’t found the back of the net for four games in succession. Manager Peter Knäbel will definitely be without Dennis Diekmeier, who has been ruled out with a thigh injury. Striker Ivica Olic will come up against his most recent employer on Saturday. The 35-year-old from Croatia made the move from the Wolves to HSV during the winter break.
Things couldn’t be going better for VfL Wolfsburg at the moment. Dieter Hecking’s side are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions after their 1-0 win over SC Freiburg in the DFB Cup (five wins, one draw). The Wolves sit in second place in the Bundesliga and have opened up a seven point gap between themselves and third placed Gladbach. The manager has had to rotate his side a lot recently due to the large number of games. Kevin de Bruyne will almost certainly play at the weekend following his nine goals and 18 assists in 27 games so far this season.
