Matchday 16 in the Bundesliga kicks off tonight (20:00 CET) with an uneven match-up, as FC Bayern München take on SC Freiburg at the Allianz Arena. The best defence in the league (3 goals conceded) will come up against the second worst attack in the league (15 goals scored.)
Thanks to their 4-0 away win last time out against FC Augsburg, Bayern have now built on their lead at the top of the table. Nine points currently separate them from second placed VfL Wolfsburg. Ahead of matchday 16, Bayern are certain to be top of the table going into the winter break. The German record holders have a 100% record at home so far and will be looking for their ninth win in nine games against Freiburg. A clean sheet will also see them beat VfB Stuttgart's defensive record from the 2003/04 campaign, as FCB will have let in just three goals after 16 games. (Stuttgart: 4)
Christian Streich’s team missed the opportunity to move up the table as they drew 0-0 with HSV in their last game and it’s possible that they could drop into the relegation zone ahead of the game in Munich. Only a better goal difference (1 goal) separates SC from the relegation zone. And their form over recent weeks has been on the decline, picking up only three points from their last four games. Freiburg’s record in Munich is not much better- they have never beaten Bayern, with two draws and 13 losses.
Hamburg host Stuttgart in relegation six pointer
An extremely important game at the opposite end of the table will take place in the north at the same time. It’s 14th against 18th, as Hamburger SV host VfB Stuttgart at 20:00 CET, with only three points separating the two sides ahead of the game. “We want to beat Stuttgart and get to 19 points. This is a six pointer for us,” said HSV player Lewis Holtby. Hamburger could put distance between themselves and the relegation zone with a fourth win in a row at home and would extend the gap between them and Stuttgart to six points. There are questions as to whether Cleber (shoulder) will be able to play.
VfB came from behind to come away with a point after a 1-1 draw in Mainz. Nevertheless, Stuttgart finished the matchday bottom of the league for the second week in a row. The position should now change hands after the game with HSV. Last season, the game between the two sides ended in a spectacular 3-3 draw. Stuttgart had won the two previous games at the Imtech-Arena 1-0 and 4-0 respectively. There is a good omen for VfB, as both Antonio Rüdiger (meniscus) and Vedad Ibisevic are back after long term injuries, meaning everyone in the squad is now available.
Augsburg want to hit back against Hannover 96
A 4-0 loss at home to FC Bayern München brought FC Augsburg’s run of four wins in a row to an end. There’s no respite for FCA, as they travel to Hannover 96 (20:00 CET). “We played well for 60 minutes,” said Augsburg manager Markus Weinzierl after the game. And the team from Bavaria will be wanting to get back to winning ways away at Hannover. FCA have won their last two away games- in Köln 2-1 and in Stuttgart 1-0. But Weinzierl’s team are still yet to win against the Niedersachsen club (D5, L3).
Hosts Hannover are without a win in four (D1, L3) and have been brought back down to earth as they now sit in tenth, four points adrift of their opponents. They most recently picked up a point in Bremen after a 3-3 draw. They should pick up their fifth home win of the season against the surprise package from Augsburg.
“Carnival clubs” Mainz and Köln go head-to-head
There will be a carnival game in the days running up to Christmas on matchday 16 of the Bundesliga, as 1. FC Köln host FSV Mainz 05 at 20:00 CET. The team from the cathedral city have only registered one home win so far this season (2-1 win against Dortmund) and the game against Mainz comes at exactly the right time. The 05ers are without a win in their last seven games and they are yet to win in Köln in the Bundesliga (D1, L3). The win at Schalke, their first since 1993, saw Köln overtake the visitors in the league for the first time since matchday three. The winner of the game on Tuesday will reach 20 points and will therefore be part of the way to securing their place in the league next season.
