What a year it has been in the Bundesliga! Plenty of records have been broken and a fair few goals have been scored and conceded. Alas, the year is drawing to its conclusion and the last Bundesliga matchday in the calendar year of 2014 is upon us.
One more draw wouldn't hurt for Mainz
Bayern travel to Mainz in the Friday evening game as the record champions look to extend their top-flight record after having the best defence in Bundesliga history after 16 matchdays (3 goals conceded). FSV have drawn the most games among all sides in the German top tier this season and will definitely be content with a point against the Munich side as Kasper Hjulmand’s team aim to end their winless run of nine games.
Sixth plays host to third in Augsburg
If you’re looking for goals on Saturday, then the BayArena could well be your venue when Bayer 04 Leverkusen host Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles have averaged over four goals per game this term and are go into the game on the back off their remarkable 4-4 draw to Hertha BSC Berlin in midweek. 1. FC Köln, the second-best team away from home, travel to Wolfsburg, the second-best team at home this season, with the Wolves already guaranteed second spot over the festive period. One of the headline games of the matchday sees Borussia Mönchengladbach travel to Bavaria to face FC Augsburg. FCA’s emphatic form has been brought to an abrupt stop with two losses on the spin after previously recording four straight wins. They still occupy a European place in sixth spot and Gladbach will have to be at their best if they are to take anything from Markus Weinzierl’s side, who are a force at home.
Werder or BVB could spend Christmas at the bottom
Borussia Dortmund make the trip to Bremen, where they face a Werder side that have not had the first half of the season their fans would have wished for. The team that loses this fixture could face the prospect of propping up the German top flight at Christmas. Schalke will look to maintain their impressive form of late as they aim to make it five wins from six against a Hamburger SV side that are struggling to find the net this term. VfB Stuttgart, who have given their fans little to celebrate at the Mercedes-Benz Arena this season, welcome new boys SC Paderborn and Huub Stevens will surely want to sign off the first half of the season with a victory to ease relegation woes.
SC Freiburg aiming for elusive win
Hertha BSC Berlin take on TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the German capital on Sunday afternoon as Jos Luhukay’s side look to bounce back from the devastating 4-4 draw in Frankfurt on Wednesday. The last Bundesliga game of 2014 sees Hannover 96 travel Freiburg, where SCF will want to give their fans a glimmer of hope going into the winter break after previously recording just two wins this season. Tayfun Korkut’s side will be full of confidence after their midweek 2-0 triumph over FC Augsburg and will look to record their eight clean sheet this season.