Matchday 31 in the Bundesliga kicks-off on Saturday this week at 15:30 CEST. There is no Friday game due to the bank holiday so there will therefore be six games on Saturday afternoon, with the usual late game following at 18:30 CEST. Stuttgart, Freiburg, Paderborn and Hannover will all be battling for points in the relegation battle, whilst Dortmund, Schalke, Hoffenheim and Bremen will be hoping to keep their chances of qualifying for the Europa League alive. A high class game is expected on Saturday evening when Leverkusen host FC Bayern München.
Stuttgart want to continue good run
Even though VfB Stuttgart are still bottom of the table, Huub Stevens’ side have cut the gap over the past few games and with 27 points they are only one point behind Paderborn and HSV and two adrift of safety. If they want to keep their hopes of staying up alive then they will want to pick up something in Gelsenkirchen. It won’t be an easy game but Schalke find themselves in bad form after a 2-0 defeat to Mainz last time out and are desperate for a win if they are to remain in the Europa League places. The other sides battling for the Europa League are hot on the heels of the Royal Blues.
The record between the two sides speaks in favour of Stuttgart. VfB have won 42 of the 89 meetings between the two sides, with 14 of those finishing in draws. S04 manager Roberto Di Matteo will be without full back Sead Kolasinac for the important home game as he is being troubled by a calf problem. It was also announced during the week that midfielder Marco Höger (ankle) will be out for the rest of the season. Youngster Leroy Sané will also be unavailable for the game against Stuttgart. Huub Stevens will have his whole squad available with the exception of Adam Hlousek, who is suspended after being sent off last weekend.
Second game and a second chance for Frontzeck
After an unsuccessful start to his managerial career at Hannover 96, Michael Frontzeck will want to pick up his first points on Saturday. It won’t be easy as they face second placed VfL Wolfsburg, who will want to take their 4-0 DFB Cup win into the league. The last minute 1-0 defeat to Mönchengladbach last weekend should have been forgotten but they will want to keep hold of second place. Therefore a win for Dieter Hecking and his side is crucial.
The record favours visitors Hannover, who have won 13 of the 25 meetings between the two sides. Only three of those 25 games have ended in a draw. A good piece of news for 96 is that manager Frontzeck will have centre back Marcelo available for selection as they battle to stay up. The DFB Disciplinary Board did not take any action on the player and he will therefore be able to play on Saturday. However, they will be without Leonardo Bittencourt (pulled hamstring) and Artur Sobiech (medial collateral knee ligament).
Köln looking to improve record
Following the deserved point in the Rhein derby, 1. FC Köln will want to pick up points away from home in order to maintain their healthy position in the league. The Billy Goats travel to Augsburg on Saturday, who currently sit in sixth on 42 points but Markus Weinzierl’s side have dropped off a bit recently after only picking up four points from their last six games. A win for Köln on Saturday would take them a step closer to qualifying for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
Hosts Augsburg have won two of the three Bundesliga meetings between the two sides, with the only draw coming back in 2007 when the sides met in the 2. Bundesliga. The club from the cathedral city don’t have good memories of playing in Augsburg after they were awarded three red cards there in their DFB Cup quarter-final back in 2010.
Germany U21 goalkeeper Timo Horn has been unable to train this week after sustaining bruising to his thigh and looks likely to miss the game. With the exception of long-term injured Pawel Olkowski (broken foot) and Patrick Helmes (cartilage damage) everyone else in the squad is available for selection.
FCA manager Markus Weinzierl will have his whole squad available after the 3-2 defeat to HSV last weekend. And if Alexander Esswein is given the nod to play then they have a good chance of success as the forward has been involved in all three goals in his three games against Köln.
Hoffenheim against BVB: Possiblity of revenge?
Jürgen Klopp and his BVB side travel to Sinsheim on Saturday after securing their place in the DFB Cup final in midweek. Dortmund will want to take the positive feeling from Tuesday evening into their game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. And Borussia have good memories of the last meeting with Hoffenheim after winning 3-2 after extra time in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Markus Gisdol’s side will be out for revenge as both sides look to qualify for the Europa League.
Hoffenheim currently sit in seventh, one point ahead of the side from the Ruhr region. Whilst BVB have won three of their last five games and have found some form in the second half of the season, Hoffenheim haven’t been as successful. They have lost three of their last five games but they will take momentum into the game against Dortmund following their 2-1 win against Hannover.
World Champion Roman Weidenfeller will definitely be unavailable for the game. The goalkeeper is suffering from pelvic bruising and a torn ligament. Replacement Mitch Langerak showed in the DFB Cup that he is worthy of his place in the starting eleven. The Australian also has good memories of Hoffenheim after he played in both the 1-0 win in the first half of the season and the dramatic DFB Cup quarter-final.
Frankfurt without a win in five
The current situation in Frankfurt is not a happy one. They currently sit in eleventh on 36 points clear of the relegation battle but have recently missed out on the chance to move up the table after picking up only two points from their last five games. Manager Thomas Schaaf will come up against his former club Werder Bremen on Saturday. Following the bitter 3-2 defeat to relegation candidates Stuttgart, Bremen picked up a 1-0 victory in the derby against HSV and a point against Paderborn after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. Now Viktor Skripnik’s side will be wanting to pick up another three points against Frankfurt in order to keep their hopes of qualifying for Europe alive.
Relegation battle in Freiburg
The game between SC Freiburg and SC Paderborn really is a relegation six pointer. Paderborn will travel to Freiburg with mixed feelings after André Breitenreiter’s side showed confidence in the game against Bremen to go 2-0 up but then conceded two goals to only come away with a point. Nevertheless, it was an important point in the relegation battle. “The performance was encouraging. I’m not worried that we won’t pick up anymore points,” said manager André Breitenreiter.
Freiburg had a similar result last time out but they were the side to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and the point was vital. “A lot of people would see three points against Paderborn as a must. However, we can’t allow ourselves to talk about must win games. The league is so tight and SC Paderborn have done well for a newly promoted side,” explained Freiburg striker Nils Petersen.
Visitors Paderborn will be without Michael Heinloth through suspension and the injured Alban Meha (elbow) and Marvin Ducksch (metatarsal fracture).
Champions make the trip to Leverkusen
After the bitter DFB Cup exit on penalties to Dortmund, Bayern München will be looking to bounce back on Saturday evening. The record holders sealed their 25th Bundesliga title last weekend but the triple is no longer possible. They also have the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against FC Barcelona on Wednesday.
Bayern will be without striker Robert Lewandowski after he broke his nose and jaw and picked up concussion against Dortmund. Superstar Arjen Robben’s season is over after the 31-year-old tore his calf muscle on Tuesday night. Both players join Franck Ribéry, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber on manager Pep Guardiola’s injury list.
Leverkusen have a realistic chance of causing an upset against Bayern. After an average performance in the 1-1 draw with Köln, Roger Schmidt’s side will want to hold their own against favourites Bayern and put down a marker in their quest to qualify automatically for the Champions League. The Werkself are currently two points off third placed Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, they will be without the injured Kyriakos Papadopoulos (shoulder) and Gonzalo Castro (meniscus).
The record speaks in favour of Bayern after Leverkusen have only won one of their past nine home games against the champions and only two of 20 meetings between the two sides. In the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup, which was the last meeting between the two sides, Bayern knocked the Werkself out on penalties after Josip Drmic missed the only penalty of the shootout.
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Matchday 31 in the Bundesliga kicks-off on Saturday this week at 15:30 CEST. There is no Friday game due to the bank holiday so there will therefore be six games on Saturday afternoon, with the usual late game following at 18:30 CEST. Stuttgart, Freiburg, Paderborn and Hannover will all be battling for points in the relegation battle, whilst Dortmund, Schalke, Hoffenheim and Bremen will be hoping to keep their chances of qualifying for the Europa League alive. A high class game is expected on Saturday evening when Leverkusen host FC Bayern München.
Stuttgart want to continue good run
Even though VfB Stuttgart are still bottom of the table, Huub Stevens’ side have cut the gap over the past few games and with 27 points they are only one point behind Paderborn and HSV and two adrift of safety. If they want to keep their hopes of staying up alive then they will want to pick up something in Gelsenkirchen. It won’t be an easy game but Schalke find themselves in bad form after a 2-0 defeat to Mainz last time out and are desperate for a win if they are to remain in the Europa League places. The other sides battling for the Europa League are hot on the heels of the Royal Blues.
The record between the two sides speaks in favour of Stuttgart. VfB have won 42 of the 89 meetings between the two sides, with 14 of those finishing in draws. S04 manager Roberto Di Matteo will be without full back Sead Kolasinac for the important home game as he is being troubled by a calf problem. It was also announced during the week that midfielder Marco Höger (ankle) will be out for the rest of the season. Youngster Leroy Sané will also be unavailable for the game against Stuttgart. Huub Stevens will have his whole squad available with the exception of Adam Hlousek, who is suspended after being sent off last weekend.
Second game and a second chance for Frontzeck
After an unsuccessful start to his managerial career at Hannover 96, Michael Frontzeck will want to pick up his first points on Saturday. It won’t be easy as they face second placed VfL Wolfsburg, who will want to take their 4-0 DFB Cup win into the league. The last minute 1-0 defeat to Mönchengladbach last weekend should have been forgotten but they will want to keep hold of second place. Therefore a win for Dieter Hecking and his side is crucial.
The record favours visitors Hannover, who have won 13 of the 25 meetings between the two sides. Only three of those 25 games have ended in a draw. A good piece of news for 96 is that manager Frontzeck will have centre back Marcelo available for selection as they battle to stay up. The DFB Disciplinary Board did not take any action on the player and he will therefore be able to play on Saturday. However, they will be without Leonardo Bittencourt (pulled hamstring) and Artur Sobiech (medial collateral knee ligament).
Köln looking to improve record
Following the deserved point in the Rhein derby, 1. FC Köln will want to pick up points away from home in order to maintain their healthy position in the league. The Billy Goats travel to Augsburg on Saturday, who currently sit in sixth on 42 points but Markus Weinzierl’s side have dropped off a bit recently after only picking up four points from their last six games. A win for Köln on Saturday would take them a step closer to qualifying for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
Hosts Augsburg have won two of the three Bundesliga meetings between the two sides, with the only draw coming back in 2007 when the sides met in the 2. Bundesliga. The club from the cathedral city don’t have good memories of playing in Augsburg after they were awarded three red cards there in their DFB Cup quarter-final back in 2010.
Germany U21 goalkeeper Timo Horn has been unable to train this week after sustaining bruising to his thigh and looks likely to miss the game. With the exception of long-term injured Pawel Olkowski (broken foot) and Patrick Helmes (cartilage damage) everyone else in the squad is available for selection.
FCA manager Markus Weinzierl will have his whole squad available after the 3-2 defeat to HSV last weekend. And if Alexander Esswein is given the nod to play then they have a good chance of success as the forward has been involved in all three goals in his three games against Köln.
Hoffenheim against BVB: Possiblity of revenge?
Jürgen Klopp and his BVB side travel to Sinsheim on Saturday after securing their place in the DFB Cup final in midweek. Dortmund will want to take the positive feeling from Tuesday evening into their game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. And Borussia have good memories of the last meeting with Hoffenheim after winning 3-2 after extra time in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Markus Gisdol’s side will be out for revenge as both sides look to qualify for the Europa League.
Hoffenheim currently sit in seventh, one point ahead of the side from the Ruhr region. Whilst BVB have won three of their last five games and have found some form in the second half of the season, Hoffenheim haven’t been as successful. They have lost three of their last five games but they will take momentum into the game against Dortmund following their 2-1 win against Hannover.
World Champion Roman Weidenfeller will definitely be unavailable for the game. The goalkeeper is suffering from pelvic bruising and a torn ligament. Replacement Mitch Langerak showed in the DFB Cup that he is worthy of his place in the starting eleven. The Australian also has good memories of Hoffenheim after he played in both the 1-0 win in the first half of the season and the dramatic DFB Cup quarter-final.
Frankfurt without a win in five
The current situation in Frankfurt is not a happy one. They currently sit in eleventh on 36 points clear of the relegation battle but have recently missed out on the chance to move up the table after picking up only two points from their last five games. Manager Thomas Schaaf will come up against his former club Werder Bremen on Saturday. Following the bitter 3-2 defeat to relegation candidates Stuttgart, Bremen picked up a 1-0 victory in the derby against HSV and a point against Paderborn after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. Now Viktor Skripnik’s side will be wanting to pick up another three points against Frankfurt in order to keep their hopes of qualifying for Europe alive.
Relegation battle in Freiburg
The game between SC Freiburg and SC Paderborn really is a relegation six pointer. Paderborn will travel to Freiburg with mixed feelings after André Breitenreiter’s side showed confidence in the game against Bremen to go 2-0 up but then conceded two goals to only come away with a point. Nevertheless, it was an important point in the relegation battle. “The performance was encouraging. I’m not worried that we won’t pick up anymore points,” said manager André Breitenreiter.
Freiburg had a similar result last time out but they were the side to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and the point was vital. “A lot of people would see three points against Paderborn as a must. However, we can’t allow ourselves to talk about must win games. The league is so tight and SC Paderborn have done well for a newly promoted side,” explained Freiburg striker Nils Petersen.
Visitors Paderborn will be without Michael Heinloth through suspension and the injured Alban Meha (elbow) and Marvin Ducksch (metatarsal fracture).
Champions make the trip to Leverkusen
After the bitter DFB Cup exit on penalties to Dortmund, Bayern München will be looking to bounce back on Saturday evening. The record holders sealed their 25th Bundesliga title last weekend but the triple is no longer possible. They also have the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against FC Barcelona on Wednesday.
Bayern will be without striker Robert Lewandowski after he broke his nose and jaw and picked up concussion against Dortmund. Superstar Arjen Robben’s season is over after the 31-year-old tore his calf muscle on Tuesday night. Both players join Franck Ribéry, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber on manager Pep Guardiola’s injury list.
Leverkusen have a realistic chance of causing an upset against Bayern. After an average performance in the 1-1 draw with Köln, Roger Schmidt’s side will want to hold their own against favourites Bayern and put down a marker in their quest to qualify automatically for the Champions League. The Werkself are currently two points off third placed Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, they will be without the injured Kyriakos Papadopoulos (shoulder) and Gonzalo Castro (meniscus).
The record speaks in favour of Bayern after Leverkusen have only won one of their past nine home games against the champions and only two of 20 meetings between the two sides. In the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup, which was the last meeting between the two sides, Bayern knocked the Werkself out on penalties after Josip Drmic missed the only penalty of the shootout.
