The Bundesliga returns with a third set of fixtures in a single week. Last season’s champions Dortmund takes on last season’s fourth placed side, Borussia Mönchengladbach.
On Friday, a hugely interesting game will kick off the weekend. Fortuna Düsseldorf, the only side in Europe yet to concede a goal, takes on mighty Schalke. Schalke recovered from their 0-2 defeat against Bayern with a 3-0 victory over Mainz. As expected with Schalke, the victory didn’t come easily. They led 1-0 for a long period until Lewis Holtby finally decided the match in the 82nd minute. Teemu Pukki added a third for good measure.
Düsseldorf themselves picked up a win against Greuther Fürth, 0-2. Expect the side which is fifth in the table to really sit back against the side placed fourth in the table. Schalke will come at them but Düsseldorf might frustrate the Ruhr side. Fürth meanwhile takes on Bayer Leverkusen who finally won a game again. They beat Augsburg 1-3.
Leverkusen is far behind the Bundesliga leaders right now, Bayern. Bayern has a special match this weekend as they play Bremen. Last season, Bayern didn’t allow Bremen to challenge them and beat them in both their meetings. Bremen’s attack will be prepared to score goals but their defence might have a frightful day. Aaron Hunt has been on form recently as has Marko Arnautovic and Bayern could, for once, actually be tested this season.
Bayern’s Bavarian neighbours Nürnberg has followed up a bright start to the campaign with two losses. They will be coming into their match against Stuttgart on the back of a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Hannover. Stuttgart themselves will end up fighting for survival on their current form. They were beaten 0-3 by Hoffenheim on Wednesday, following up a reasonably good 2-2 draw against Bremen.
Hoffenheim meanwhile take on Augsburg. Augsburg’s new coach isn’t quite the standard of Jos Luhukay. Augsburg is suffering and is looking like a relegation candidate. The team that has never been relegated from the Bundesliga, Hamburger SV, with four points from two games, plays high-flying Hannover 96. Leon Andreason suffered a serious in Hannover’s last match. HSV should have taken the full complement of points against Gladbach but failed because Rafael van der Vaart missed a penalty.
Penalty misses have been a common feature of Bundesliga sides this time. Taking European results into consideration, so far, Mario Mandzukic, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Vedad Ibisevic, Aaron Hunt and Andre Schürrle have squandered penalties. Amongst the rest of the guilty party is Mats Hummels. His side plays Gladbach. Hummels’ performances haven’t been up to the mark recently as his side has conceded six goals in the last two matches. At this point, this match simply cannot be predicted.
Dortmund drew 3-3 with Frankfurt last week. Only two sides in the league are undefeated so far: Bayern and Frankfurt. Die Adler takes on Freiburg next. Freiburg lost to Bremen 1-2 in their previous match. Frankfurt has the look of a confident title challenger and will perhaps win this.
Finally, in the last match of the weekend, two sides that conceded three goals will take one each other. Felix Magath’s Wolfsburg was torn apart by Bayern while Mainz was beaten by Schalke. Magath’s side was lucky to not concede six on the night. He had Diego Benaglio to thank- the Swiss keeper was superb against the Bavarians.
Who will surprise this week? HSV beat Dortmund during the past week while Frankfurt drew against the champions in midweek. Perhaps, this time Bremen could surprise by finally giving Bayern a real test. However, Bayern is looking like a champion. Bremen will have to fight fire with fire. Otherwise, they will turn out to be nothing more than an ant that Bayern stepped on en route to the title.
Düsseldorf themselves picked up a win against Greuther Fürth, 0-2. Expect the side which is fifth in the table to really sit back against the side placed fourth in the table. Schalke will come at them but Düsseldorf might frustrate the Ruhr side. Fürth meanwhile takes on Bayer Leverkusen who finally won a game again. They beat Augsburg 1-3.
Leverkusen is far behind the Bundesliga leaders right now, Bayern. Bayern has a special match this weekend as they play Bremen. Last season, Bayern didn’t allow Bremen to challenge them and beat them in both their meetings. Bremen’s attack will be prepared to score goals but their defence might have a frightful day. Aaron Hunt has been on form recently as has Marko Arnautovic and Bayern could, for once, actually be tested this season.
Bayern’s Bavarian neighbours Nürnberg has followed up a bright start to the campaign with two losses. They will be coming into their match against Stuttgart on the back of a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Hannover. Stuttgart themselves will end up fighting for survival on their current form. They were beaten 0-3 by Hoffenheim on Wednesday, following up a reasonably good 2-2 draw against Bremen.
Hoffenheim meanwhile take on Augsburg. Augsburg’s new coach isn’t quite the standard of Jos Luhukay. Augsburg is suffering and is looking like a relegation candidate. The team that has never been relegated from the Bundesliga, Hamburger SV, with four points from two games, plays high-flying Hannover 96. Leon Andreason suffered a serious in Hannover’s last match. HSV should have taken the full complement of points against Gladbach but failed because Rafael van der Vaart missed a penalty.
Penalty misses have been a common feature of Bundesliga sides this time. Taking European results into consideration, so far, Mario Mandzukic, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Vedad Ibisevic, Aaron Hunt and Andre Schürrle have squandered penalties. Amongst the rest of the guilty party is Mats Hummels. His side plays Gladbach. Hummels’ performances haven’t been up to the mark recently as his side has conceded six goals in the last two matches. At this point, this match simply cannot be predicted.
Dortmund drew 3-3 with Frankfurt last week. Only two sides in the league are undefeated so far: Bayern and Frankfurt. Die Adler takes on Freiburg next. Freiburg lost to Bremen 1-2 in their previous match. Frankfurt has the look of a confident title challenger and will perhaps win this.
Finally, in the last match of the weekend, two sides that conceded three goals will take one each other. Felix Magath’s Wolfsburg was torn apart by Bayern while Mainz was beaten by Schalke. Magath’s side was lucky to not concede six on the night. He had Diego Benaglio to thank- the Swiss keeper was superb against the Bavarians.
Who will surprise this week? HSV beat Dortmund during the past week while Frankfurt drew against the champions in midweek. Perhaps, this time Bremen could surprise by finally giving Bayern a real test. However, Bayern is looking like a champion. Bremen will have to fight fire with fire. Otherwise, they will turn out to be nothing more than an ant that Bayern stepped on en route to the title.
