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MANAGER PROBLEMS
This weekend kicks off with Hoffenheim taking on HSV. Hoffenheim’s manager Markus Babbel was finally sacked; the decision was inevitable. It had been coming for a while. Under their interim manager Frank Kramer, they will look to beat an HSV side without Rafael van der Vaart. HSV is coming into this one on the back of a draw against Wolfsburg while Hoffenheim is coming on this one on the back of a thumping at the hands of Werder Bremen.
IMPORTANT CLASHES
Bremen takes on Eintracht Frankfurt in one of the biggest fixtures this week. Frankfurt is coming off a thumping at the hands of Fortuna Düsseldorf. They went down to ten men and suffered accordingly. Bremen will be looking to take disadvantage of a down-trodden Frankfurt this week.
In a clash which could influence the side in third down to the side in thirteenth, Mainz plays Mönchengladbach. Mainz has perhaps unsurprisingly been excellent this season. They play the side in tenth, Gladbach. Gladbach is however only two points behind them. Both teams are coming into this one on the back of good results. Mainz beat Hannover 96 2-1 while Gladbach held Schalke to a 1-1 draw in Gelsenkirchen.
The holders Borussia Dortmund take on a Wolfsburg side which is surprisingly close to the relegation spots. Dortmund beat Manchester City in the Champions League 1-0. They rested a few of their regulars in that one. This is one which Dortmund will have to win as they are currently in a hole as far their title defence is concerned. They are 11 points behind Bayern and a slip this week could make things worse as Bayern is almost guaranteed to win their next fixture.
THE BAVARIAN DERBY
Bayern is coming into this one after bulldozing BATE Borisov and might just bulldoze FC Augsburg. However, derbies are unpredictable and Bayern did not fare too well in their recent one against Nürnberg. Last season, both the meetings between Augsburg and Bayern were close ones. Both finished 2-1 to Bayern. Bayern held on for dear life in the first meeting in which Anatoliy Tymoshchuk saw a late red.
BIGGEST MATCHES
Stuttgart plays Schalke 04 in the biggest clash of the week. Schalke is in fourth spot, just three points ahead of the Swabians in seventh. They are going through a “mini-crisis”. All kinds of rumours have emerged in the press about the events in Gelsenkirchen including the departure of key players in Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Lewis Holtby as well as the departure of the manager, Huub Stevens.
Hannover 96 has fallen away after a bright start to the campaign and sits twelfth currently. They will take on a side looking for its fifth straight win, Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen has emerged as Bayern’s closest challenger for the throne. They have played well enough to show that they have the talent to finish in second or even first if Bayern collapses. However, Bayer 04 has a history of collapsing at the end and the players will have to somehow overcome the inevitable mental barriers which come with a Leverkusen title challenge.
RELEGATION BATTLES
Bayern’s Bavarian neighbour, Nürnberg, is involved in what can be called a “battle for survival”. Fortuna is in thirteenth spot while Nürnberg is just below them, two points behind. Fortuna will look to carry on from last weekend. Their recent efforts in the league have been great. Nürnberg will be feeling hard done after losing to Leverkusen due to an offside goal by Stefan Kiessling. They will be looking to win this one.
Impressive Freiburg has sunk to eleventh place in recent weeks which makes their battle against Greuther Fürth one for survival. Fürth has been terrible really in their first season in the top flight. Freiburg plays great football; despite only managing a draw with Augsburg last week, they are poised to take all three points against Mike Büskens’ side.
