Bayern’s form has dropped and others are looking to capitalize in Germany.
German teams have had a productive week in Europe. All three sealed qualification with Dortmund guaranteed top spot in their group. BVB now has to turn their attentions to a league campaign which has been topsy-turvy so far. They play Jürgen Klopp’s other favourite side in the league, Mainz 05.
Klopp did wonders in his time at Mainz. He has done brilliantly at BVB too, turning them from a mid-table side which had survived bankruptcy to a young side which is currently the talk of the town or in this case the Champions League. Mainz has been on good form though despite their loss to HSV and BVB’s performances in the Bundesliga after European clashes have let them down so far. Don’t be surprised if Mainz wins this.
It is difficult to remember a time when two Ruhr clubs were in the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Schalke ensured that the Champions League would include two teams from that part of Germany with a 1-0 win over Olympiacos. They were wasteful but Christian Fuchs’ goal was worthy of winning any contest.
They have an extremely difficult clash this week against surprise package Eintracht Frankfurt. Frankfurt is refusing to fall away from the top four. They have been playing well enough to be in their current position. Schalke’s form isn’t the best right now. They are entering this one on the back of a defeat to Leverkusen. Frankfurt could take away something from this one.
Leverkusen this week takes on Hoffenheim. Leverkusen showed last week that they are well and truly in the title battle. They have beaten both Bayern and Schalke and have only bowed to Dortmund so far. However, Leverkusen has to stop dropping silly points. This game is a must-win for them without a doubt.
Leverkusen has had a few unnecessary draws this season. One of them was against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gladbach seemingly cannot find last season’s form as of yet. They take on a side which is one of the favourites for relegation, Augsburg. Gladbach should win this. They have to follow up their previous loss to Stuttgart with a better performance.
Stuttgart, the model of inconsistency, plays Freiburg, the model of consistency, this week. Freiburg is coming into this one on the back of an excellent win over Hannover 96. Stuttgart had a good win against Gladbach last week. Stuttgart is down in twelfth place and must improve. However, Freiburg will not give anything away.
Hannover does not lose easily at home. They have to travel to the leaders this week, FC Bayern München. This is perhaps the best time to play Bayern if there ever was one. The chairman, Karl Heinz Rummenigge was unhappy with his team’s approach to the Valencia game. A 1-1 draw against ten men for the second time in a row did not suit the tastes of an expectant Rummenigge.
Bayern has been poor and without Arjen Robben and perhaps without Franck Ribery, things won’t be great. They have Mario Gomez to call on now and the German earned an assist in the Champions League to announce his return. Gomez has come back but Bayern’s form is yet to return.
Two of Bayern’s Bavarian rivals go head to head in yet another Bavarian derby (there has been many and will be many of them) this season. Nürnberg played bravely against Bayern and took a valuable point. Fürth is looking destined for a drop in their first ever season in the Bundesliga. This is the kind of game from which they have to pick up a point while this is the kind of game which Nürnberg has to win. All in all, it should be a feisty Bavarian derby.
One of the Bundesliga’s most hotly contested derbies is HSV vs. Bremen. The two northern sides have had average seasons so far. Bremen began life without Klaus Allofs last week with a 2-1 win over Düsseldorf. They play Wolfsburg this week. HSV plays Düsseldorf this week, looking to follow up a great win victory over Mainz. Bremen and HSV are close to the European places and will look to quietly sneak into them as the season goes on.
Your first stop for entertainment in the weekend should be the Bundesliga. Sit back and enjoy the action! Don’t miss it!
Klopp did wonders in his time at Mainz. He has done brilliantly at BVB too, turning them from a mid-table side which had survived bankruptcy to a young side which is currently the talk of the town or in this case the Champions League. Mainz has been on good form though despite their loss to HSV and BVB’s performances in the Bundesliga after European clashes have let them down so far. Don’t be surprised if Mainz wins this.
It is difficult to remember a time when two Ruhr clubs were in the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Schalke ensured that the Champions League would include two teams from that part of Germany with a 1-0 win over Olympiacos. They were wasteful but Christian Fuchs’ goal was worthy of winning any contest.
They have an extremely difficult clash this week against surprise package Eintracht Frankfurt. Frankfurt is refusing to fall away from the top four. They have been playing well enough to be in their current position. Schalke’s form isn’t the best right now. They are entering this one on the back of a defeat to Leverkusen. Frankfurt could take away something from this one.
Leverkusen this week takes on Hoffenheim. Leverkusen showed last week that they are well and truly in the title battle. They have beaten both Bayern and Schalke and have only bowed to Dortmund so far. However, Leverkusen has to stop dropping silly points. This game is a must-win for them without a doubt.
Leverkusen has had a few unnecessary draws this season. One of them was against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gladbach seemingly cannot find last season’s form as of yet. They take on a side which is one of the favourites for relegation, Augsburg. Gladbach should win this. They have to follow up their previous loss to Stuttgart with a better performance.
Stuttgart, the model of inconsistency, plays Freiburg, the model of consistency, this week. Freiburg is coming into this one on the back of an excellent win over Hannover 96. Stuttgart had a good win against Gladbach last week. Stuttgart is down in twelfth place and must improve. However, Freiburg will not give anything away.
Hannover does not lose easily at home. They have to travel to the leaders this week, FC Bayern München. This is perhaps the best time to play Bayern if there ever was one. The chairman, Karl Heinz Rummenigge was unhappy with his team’s approach to the Valencia game. A 1-1 draw against ten men for the second time in a row did not suit the tastes of an expectant Rummenigge.
Bayern has been poor and without Arjen Robben and perhaps without Franck Ribery, things won’t be great. They have Mario Gomez to call on now and the German earned an assist in the Champions League to announce his return. Gomez has come back but Bayern’s form is yet to return.
Two of Bayern’s Bavarian rivals go head to head in yet another Bavarian derby (there has been many and will be many of them) this season. Nürnberg played bravely against Bayern and took a valuable point. Fürth is looking destined for a drop in their first ever season in the Bundesliga. This is the kind of game from which they have to pick up a point while this is the kind of game which Nürnberg has to win. All in all, it should be a feisty Bavarian derby.
One of the Bundesliga’s most hotly contested derbies is HSV vs. Bremen. The two northern sides have had average seasons so far. Bremen began life without Klaus Allofs last week with a 2-1 win over Düsseldorf. They play Wolfsburg this week. HSV plays Düsseldorf this week, looking to follow up a great win victory over Mainz. Bremen and HSV are close to the European places and will look to quietly sneak into them as the season goes on.
Your first stop for entertainment in the weekend should be the Bundesliga. Sit back and enjoy the action! Don’t miss it!
