Bundesliga Herbstfinale preview: The winter rush

With the final three matchdays in the Bundesliga of the Hinrunde occurring over the space of ten days, we are going to do a bulk preview of the Herbstfinale. 

It’s been eleven seasons since a team not named either Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich had won the title (Wolfsburg). Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig are both looking to change that. BVB are looking to change the look at the top. However, Schalke, Freiburg (!), and Bayer Leverkusen are all a point behind BVB, with Bayern one point behind them. 

While Union Berlin appear set for mid-table security, Paderborn and Cologne are set for a tough relegation battle with Fortuna, Hertha Berlin, and Werder Bremen looking to put some distance between themselves and the bottom two and avoid the play-off. 

This Bundesliga has been crazy so far and it’s fitting that a crazy week leads into the winter break. 

Amid the featured matches on matchday 15, we have the North-South derby between Bayern and Werder Bremen. Robert Lewandowski has gone goalless in his last three league matches. The Green-Whites could prove the tonic as they have not beaten Bayern in 11 years. 

FC Cologne are hosting their near-rivals Leverkusen in a bid to get out of the drop zone. Leverkusen are looking for the top four at least for another path to next season’s Champions League with a Round of 32 berth sealed in the Europa League. 

Gladbach will not continue on into Europe (a good thing?), but will be expected to feast on points with matches against Paderborn and Hertha after their away trip on Sunday against Wolfsburg. 

The match of matchday 16 is Dortmund against RB Leipzig in a fixture that could decide who goes into the winter break on top should Gladbach stumble along the way. Matchday 17 will see if Lewandowski can add to his 21 goals in 18 matches against the Wolves. 

As we near the halfway point of this crazy season, we look to see if there is at least one contender to end the reign of the seven-time defending champions and lift the Meisterschale themselves come May. 

Here is your feast of matches for this upcoming week.

Matchday 15:

Friday, December 13:  

Hoffenheim vs. FC Augsburg (1:30pm CT, FS2)

Saturday, December 14:

Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen (8:30am, FS1)

Mainz vs. Borussia Dortmund (8:30am, FS2)

Hertha Berlin vs. SC Freiburg (8:30am, FSMP)

FC Cologne vs. Bayer Leverkusen (8:30am, FSMP)

SC Paderborn vs. Union Berlin (8:30am, FSMP)

Fortuna Dusseldorf vs. RB Leipzig (8:30am, FSMP)

Sunday, December 15:

Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach (8:30am, FS1)

Schalke vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (11:00am, FS1)

 

Matchday 16:

Tuesday, December 17:

Werder Bremen vs. Mainz (11:30am, FS+)

Borussia Dortmund vs. RB Leipzig (1:30pm, FS2)

Union Berlin vs. Hoffenheim (1:30pm, FS+)

FC Augsburg vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf (1:30pm, FSMP)

Wednesday, December 18:

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hertha Berlin (11:30am, FS+)

SC Freiburg vs. Bayern Munich (1:30pm, FS2)

Wolfsburg vs. Schalke (1:30pm, FS+)

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. SC Paderborn (1:30pm, FSMP)

Eitnracht Frankfurt vs. FC Cologne (1:30pm, FSMP)

Matchday 17:

Friday, December 20:

Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund (1:30pm, FS2)

Saturday, December 21:

Bayern Munich vs. Wolfsburg (8:30am, FS1)

Schalke vs. SC Freiburg (8:30am, FS+)

Mainz vs. Bayer Leverkusen (8:30am, FSMP)

RB Leipzig vs. FC Augsburg (8:30am, FSMP)

FC Cologne vs. Werder Bremen (8:30am, FSMP)

Hertha Berlin vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach (11:30am, FS+)

Sunday, December 22:

Fortuna Dusseldorf vs. Union Berlin (8:30am, FS1)

SC Paderborn vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (11:00am, FS1)