Bayern are still very much in cruise control, despite suffering a surprise loss. Die Roten, however, now face a tough test as they take on Borussia Dortmund in this weekend's highly anticipated Klassiker clash. Meanwhile, the race for second spot is heating up, as there are three sides - Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, and die Schwarzgelben - who are all very much in the running for a runners-up spot. Who will triumph, and who will stumble on matchday 28?
Facts and Stats ahead of Bundesliga Matchday 28
Here are five things you may or may not know ahead of the upcoming round of fixtures starting Friday:
Bundesliga Matchday 28 - U.S. viewing schedule
Below is the full U.S. schedule for round 28 of Bundesliga action starting Friday:
April 7: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Werder Bremen on Fox Sports GO, Fox Soccer 2GO USA, Fox Sports 2 USA, FOX Deportes at 11:30 AM PST/2:30 PM EST
April 8: Freiburg vs Mainz 05 on Fox Soccer 2GO USA at 6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST
April 8: Hamburger SV vs Hoffenheim on Fox Soccer 2GO USA, Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Sports GO at 6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST
April 8: Köln vs Borussia M'gladbach on Fox Soccer 2GO USA, FOX Deportes at 6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST
April 8: RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen on Fox Sports 2 USA, Fox Soccer 2GO USA, Fox Sports GO at 6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST
April 8: Schalke 04 vs Wolfsburg on Fox Soccer 2GO USA at 6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST
April 8: Bayern München vs Borussia Dortmund on Fox Sports 1 USA, Fox Soccer 2GO USA, Fox Sports GO, FOX Deporte at 9:30 AM PST/12:30 PM EST
April 9: Hertha BSC vs Augsburg on Fox Sports GO, Fox Sports 1 USA, Fox Soccer 2GO USA at 6:30 AM PST/9:30 AM EST
April 9: Ingolstadt vs Darmstadt 98 on Fox Sports 2 USA, Fox Soccer 2GO USA, Fox Sports GO, FOX Deportes at 8:30 AM PST/11:30 AM EST
*For more information, please navigate to each match's specific page
Bundesliga - Matchday 28 overview
As things stand, Bayern Munich sit ten points clear of the chasing pack. Die Roten suffered a surprise loss in their midweek fixture, as it marked the first time they have lost to Hoffenheim in 18 prior meetings. Nonetheless, thanks to their already strong lead, it does not look like that stumble will affect Carlo Ancelotti's side as they aim to preserve their league title.
That is, unless if they lose to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. Currently, 15 points divide the two sides, meaning that die Schwarzgelben are out of the title race. That being said, they could certainly cause Bayern some worries - and give debutants RB Leipzig some hope - if they can manage to hand Ancelotti's side a second straight league defeat. Thomas Tuchel's side are locked in a tough battle with surprise packages Hoffenheim for third spot, and a win on Sunday could also aid them to chase down RB Leipzig in the contest for second.
As for Julian Naglesmann's side, they will be hoping that their surprise win over Bayern will spur them on as they travel to face Hamburg. For the longest time, Hoffenheim were still the only unbeaten side in Europe's "Big 5" leagues, and so far, they have lost just twice all season. In fact, were it not for their huge number of draws vs. wins (12 vs. 13), they would be higher up in the table. Meanwhile, Leipzig lock horns with Bayer Leverkusen in a must-win tie for die Bullen, who are aiming to make it a third win on the trot after stumbling recently.
Bundesliga - Matchday 28 standings
Here's how things stand so far after 27 rounds in the 2016/2017 Bundesliga season. How will it look after matchday 28 concludes?
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayer Leverkusen | 31 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 77 | 22 | +55 | 81 | DDWWW | |
| 2 | Bayern München | 32 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 90 | 41 | +49 | 69 | LWWWL | |
| 3 | Stuttgart | 32 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 73 | 39 | +34 | 67 | WDLWW | |
| 4 | RB Leipzig | 32 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 74 | 36 | +38 | 63 | DWWWW | |
| 5 | Borussia Dortmund | 32 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 64 | 40 | +24 | 60 | WLDWL | |
| 6 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 31 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 45 | LWLDD | |
| 7 | Freiburg | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 43 | 55 | -12 | 41 | DLDWL | |
| 8 | Hoffenheim | 32 | 11 | 7 | 14 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 40 | DLWLW | |
| 9 | Augsburg | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 57 | -8 | 39 | LLLWL | |
| 10 | Werder Bremen | 32 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 43 | 52 | -9 | 38 | DWWLD | |
| 11 | Heidenheim | 31 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 44 | 52 | -8 | 37 | WLDWD | |
| 12 | Wolfsburg | 32 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 40 | 51 | -11 | 37 | WWWLL | |
| 13 | Borussia M'gladbach | 32 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 55 | 62 | -7 | 33 | DDLLW | |
| 14 | Union Berlin | 31 | 8 | 6 | 17 | 26 | 50 | -24 | 30 | DLLLD | |
| 15 | Bochum | 31 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 37 | 62 | -25 | 30 | WLDLD | |
| 16 | Mainz 05 | 31 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 32 | 49 | -17 | 28 | DDWWD | |
| 17 | Köln | 32 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 24 | 54 | -30 | 24 | DDLLW | |
| 18 | Darmstadt 98 | 32 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 30 | 76 | -46 | 17 | LLWLL |
