Bundesliga Matchday 12 Preview: Back from Break

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving in the States. It’s back from international break and into Thanksgiving weekend here in the States. Friday is known as Black Friday and it has been black with the German National Team recently. The question these days in the Bundesliga is now will anyone catch the Yellow and Black of Borussia Dortmund. Welcome to Matchday 12.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. VfB STUTTGART (Friday at 1:30pm CT, FS2)

Die Werkself has done well in the DFB Pokal and the Europa League, but in the Bundesliga, they have won just once in their last six. Their return of 11 points in their first 11 matches is their fewest since 1982-83. Only Fortuna Dusseldorf have conceded more goals than Leverkusen. They will be hoping that Karim Bellarabi and Bailey can return and provide a spark.

Stuttgart ended a four-match losing streak two weeks ago against FC Nürnberg and will look to continue their climb up the table. While Leverkusen have the second-most charitable defense, Stuttgart have the joint-tamest attack so far with just eight goals in 11 matches alongside Schalke. Mario Gomez has three of those goals. 

BAYERN MUNICH vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Saturday at 8:30am CT, FS2)

Alphonso Davies has joined for training at Sabner Strasse. Arjen Robben has returned to training and may start given that Robert Lewandowski picked up a knee injury while on international duty with Poland. James Rodriguez is out for several weeks, also with a knee injury. Reports are that he also wants to return to Real Madrid. Bayern’s 20 points is its lowest return after 11 matches since 2010-11. 

Fortuna also got a much-needed win two weeks ago against Hertha Berlin. However, they have yet to win on the road this season. In fact, they are winless in their last 19 away top flight matches dating back to 2012-13 and they have lost their last four meetings to Bayern in the top flight as well. Fortuna’s ten goals on the season is just three more than Lewandowski has scored on his own.

MAINZ 05 vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Plus)

The 05ers are in the top half of the table after consecutive wins. The two Jean-Phillipes, Gbamin and Mateta, scored in both of those matches and will look to extend that streak to three. Only Bayern have beaten Mainz at home this season.

It’s been 15 years since BVB have been unbeaten after 11 matches. October Player of the Month Jadon Sancho has been one of the reasons for BVB’s run and is also starting to pay dividends for England as evidenced by his play against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League this week. Paco Alcacer has been on the pitch for 218 minutes this season, but has scored eight goals during that time including the winner in Der Klassiker a fortnight ago.

HERTHA BERLIN vs. TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

The capital club’s hot start has cooled off like the November weather in Chicago after defeats to RB Leipzig and Fortuna making them winless in their last five. Worse, Lukas Klünter and Niklas Stark are both out for the rest of the year through injury. Ondrej Duda has not scored in three matches after scoring six in his first eight.

Another Englishman making waves in the Bundesliga is Reiss Nelson for Hoffenheim. Nelson is the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Month for October as well as Hoffenheim’s leading scorer. He might start on Saturday considering their Champions League tilt against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. Hoffenheim have scored 24 goals so far this season—none are from German nationals. 

FC AUGSBURG vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

Alfred Finnbogason did not feature for Iceland last weekend, but is expected to feature for FCA on Saturday. He has scored seven goals in six matches. Andre Hahn could return to action after injury. Augsburg are unbeaten in their last three at home. 

Frankfurt has won five of their last six as they have vaulted up to fourth in the table. The attack trio of Sebastian Haller, Luka Jovic, and Ante Rebic could all start for an attack that is joint-second in the league. Haller has been involved in more goals (eight goals, five assists) than any other player so far this season. 

VfL WOLFSBURG vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)

The Wolves have lost four of their last five matches after a 2-1 loss to Hannover a fortnight ago. Club captain Joshua Guliavogui is back in training, but is unlikely to feature. Josip Brekalo could feature after appearing for Croatia against Spain and England during the international break. 

Leipzig are coming off back-to-back 3-0 wins and are unbeaten in their last ten. Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen are expected to spearhead the attack, though Stefan Ilsanker is a doubt after picking up a knock during Austria’s match against Northern Ireland. Poulsen has exceed his goal-scoring tally from the last two seasons (four and five) with six so far which leads the team. 

FC SCHALKE 04 vs. FC NÜRNBERG (Saturday at 11:30am CT, FS2)

The Royal Blues are just two points clear of the drop zone after losing to Frankfurt two weeks ago. Their seventh loss of the season matches their entire total from last season. Worse, Mark Uth and Breel Embolo are out due to injury—the latter for the rest of the year with a broken metatarsal. Weston McKennie is hopeful for a recall to the lineup. 

Nürnberg are winless in their last four matches after a loss to Stuttgart. Ondrej Petrak appears to have fully recovered from his injuries and may start. Mikael Ishak could also feature as “Der Club” are still looking for their first away win of the year. 

SC FREIBURG vs. WERDER BREMEN (Sunday at 8:30am CT, FS2)

Freiburg’s five-match unbeaten run ended with a loss to Mainz, two weeks ago. Worse, Nicola Höffer is set to be a long-term injury with torn knee ligaments. Nils Petersen’s availability is also a question mark with a thigh injury. Freiburg have not won so far this year when Petersen is out of the lineup. 

Yes, Josh Sargent is still hopeful of featuring in the first team. Bremen have lost their last three and conceded eleven goals in that stretch after conceding just eight in their first eight matches of the season. Another American international, Aron Johannsson, looks to be out for the season after his latest ankle surgery.  

BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. HANNOVER 96 (Sunday at 11:00am, FS2)

The Foals are fab these days as they currently sit second in the table. They have a 100% record at Borussia Park this season and look to continue that run. Christoph Kramer is out due to an ankle injury, but Raffael is back in contention. Gladbach also possess an attack trio of their own in Thorgan Hazard, Alassane Plea, and Lars Stindl. 

Hannover are likely not in the best place to try to break their 18-match winless streak away from home. Yes, their last match was a win over Wolfsburg making it seven points in their last five matches, but they are still in the drop zone. However, Niklas Fullkrug looks set to return to action for the 96ers after a knee injury.