The battle for the Bundesliga carries on with some interesting matches to keep an eye on, especially those that have to do with the battle for the top gong.
After last week's games, Bayer Leverkusen extended their lead in the competition, and if things continue their current course, the Aspirins led by Xabi Alonso could start celebrating their first Bundesliga crown with a stellar performance all season.
On the other hand, Bayern München seem destined to lose the title for the first time in over a decade, especially since they keep dropping points against teams they used to dominate. Last week, the Bavarians dropped two more against Freiburg, which has seen them win only once in their last four games. This may give fans a good idea on why Thomas Tuchel will leave the club this summer.
As for those battling for the final spot of the podium, Stuttgart have also taken advantage of Dortmund's flaws, As, things stand, the Schwaben hold a six-point lead over the Black and Yellow, and this weekend's fixtures could see that lead extending with the white and red side playing at home.
Speaking of the battle to avoid relegation, Mainz are one point away from climbing to the promotion game, but the bad news come when they realize who they will face this week. This works like a charm for Köln, although they will also have to deal with Borussia Mönchengladbach away from home. As for Darmstadt, the team are desperate to get back to winning ways, especially after that 6-0 loss to Augsburg last week.
Without further ado, here's what to keep in mind ahead of this weekend's matches.
Broadcast and streaming info for the Bundesliga in the United States
This week's games will be available to watch online via ESPN+, who will carry the full nine matches being played over the weekend. English and Spanish commentary will be available on the streaming platform for users in the U.S. to enjoy. Visit our dedicated ESPN+ website for full details and more entertainment options.
If you live in another country, check out our options to watch the Bundesliga here.
League standings ahead of Matchday 25
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayer Leverkusen | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 75 | 20 | +55 | 80 | DWWWW | |
| 2 | Bayern München | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 87 | 37 | +50 | 66 | WWLLW | |
| 3 | Stuttgart | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 68 | 36 | +32 | 63 | LWWDW | |
| 4 | RB Leipzig | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 69 | 34 | +35 | 59 | WWWDW | |
| 5 | Borussia Dortmund | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 58 | 35 | +23 | 57 | DWLWW | |
| 6 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 46 | 40 | +6 | 45 | WLDDL | |
| 7 | Freiburg | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 42 | 53 | -11 | 40 | DWLWL | |
| 8 | Augsburg | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 49 | -1 | 39 | LWLDW | |
| 9 | Hoffenheim | 31 | 11 | 6 | 14 | 55 | 63 | -8 | 39 | LWLWL | |
| 10 | Heidenheim | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 43 | 52 | -9 | 34 | LDWDD | |
| 11 | Werder Bremen | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 38 | 50 | -12 | 34 | WLDLL | |
| 12 | Borussia M'gladbach | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 60 | -7 | 31 | LLWLD | |
| 13 | Wolfsburg | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 35 | 50 | -15 | 31 | WLLWL | |
| 14 | Bochum | 31 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 37 | 62 | -25 | 30 | WLDLD | |
| 15 | Union Berlin | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 26 | 50 | -24 | 29 | LLLDW | |
| 16 | Mainz 05 | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 31 | 48 | -17 | 27 | DWWDW | |
| 17 | Köln | 30 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 23 | 53 | -30 | 22 | LLWDL | |
| 18 | Darmstadt 98 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 30 | 72 | -42 | 17 | WLLDL |
Top games to watch
Stuttgart vs Union Berlin - The third-best team in this Bundesliga season make it to this match following a 3-2 win against Wolfsburg, and facing Union Berlin could be a bit trickier than their record shows. The opening match of this weekend will see Stuttgart aiming to win a third match in a row against Union Berlin, who claimed a one-nil win in their most recent league visit to MPAHArena.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
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Bayern München vs Mainz 05 - The Bavarians need to start winning games to save a bit of their pride, especially if they get to each game as massive favorites like in this fixture. Bayern have won six home games in a row against Mainz, scoring 29 goals in the process. With these numbers in mind and with the team in high spirits after their Champions League win, any other outcome to this game would be a severe disappointment for their supporters, basically because Mainz are deeply involved in the relegation zone.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Bayer Leverkusen vs Wolfsburg - The league leaders return to BayArena fresh off their 2-2 draw against Qarabag in the Europa League, and they will try to add more points to their lead at Wolfsburg's expense. Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Wolves, although the team in green and white has not lost in any of their last three games against the Aspirins.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Bundesliga - Full list of games to watch from March 8 to March 10
For more information, kick-off times, stats, and standings, visit our bespoke Bundesliga website.
