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The transfer window has come and gone. Bayern Munich added Real Salt Lake’s Taylor Booth to go with FC Dallas’s Chris Richards. RB Leipzig added Arsenal youth Emile Smith Rowe on loan. And Welsh youngster and international Rabbi Matondo is heading to Schalke. Will any of these players make an impression similar to those of Bremen’s Josh Sargent, Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, Hoffenheim’s Reiss Nelson, or Leipzig’s Tyler Adams. Time will tell. But for now, welcome to Matchday 20.
HANNOVER 96 vs. RB LEIPZIG (Friday at 1:30pm CT, FS2)
(Matchday 3: RB Leipzig 3-2 Hannover 96)
Former Hamburg SV and Dortmund boss Thomas Doll, who last managed in the Bundesliga in 2008, has been called in to rescue Hannover 96 from the drop after sacking Andre Breitenreiter on Sunday. The 96ers have won just one of their last twelve and are four points from safety. Bobby Wood is available for selection again after a knock forced him out of last week’s match against Borussia Dortmund.
Tyler Adams earned Player of the Week honors for Matchday 19 after his impressive debut in Leipzig’s 4-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf. That win ended a five-match away losing streak in all competitions. Leipzig has the joint-best defense with Borussia Mönchengladbach, but that defense will be without Dayot Upamecano who was injured in a training ground challenge with Nordi Mukiele.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Saturday at 8:30am CT, FS1)
(Matchday 3: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt)
Eintracht Frankfurt enter this match just three points behind RB Leipzig for the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot. Luka Jovic is already at a career best with 13 goals and should ask questions of the third-best defense in BVB along with Sebastien Haller and Ante Rebic. However, Frankfurt have yet to win against the four teams above them this season.
Dortmund boast the most prolific attack in the league on 50 goals. Five different players scored in the 5-1 win over Hannover. BVB have scored for every fifth shot on target. Both Paco Alcacer and Marco Reus (along with Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski) are one goal behind Jovic in the Golden Boot race on 12 goals apiece.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)
(Matchday 3: Bayern Munich 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen)
Die Werkself are ninth, but only a point away from sixth and the final Europa League spot after a 3-0 win at Wolfsburg. Kai Havertz, Kevin Volland, and Julian Brandt all scored for Heiko Herrlich’s side. It is hoped that Leon Bailey can join them against the six-time defending champions after being goalless in his last 16 matches. Bayer’s form is the third best from the last eight matches behind Bayern and Dortmund.
Bayern are looking for their eighth straight win as they seek to keep pace with Dortmund. Look for Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman to flank Lewandowski. Leon Goretzka has scored the most goals this calendar year so far with three. While Chris Richards and Taylor Booth are coming to Bayern, Sandro Wagner is departing to Tiajin Teda of the Chinese Super League.
HERTHA BERLIN vs. VfL WOLFSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Plus)
(Matchday 3: Vfl Wolfsburg 2-3 Hertha Berlin)
Hertha and Wolfsburg are level on points with sixth-place Hoffenheim. The Capital Club is unbeaten in their last four matches at the Berlin Olympiastadion after a draw with Schalke. Matthew Leckie could return to the fold after Australia’s Asian Cup run ended. They will welcome and old friend when the Wolves visit.
John Brooks returns to the Olympiastadion as a member of Wolfsburg. The Wolves are coming off back-to-back losses after dropping a 3-0 decision at home to Leverkusen. They will need Joshua Guilavogui to be healthy as when he has been on the pitch, Wolves have flourished much like Hertha has when Marko Grujic in on the pitch.
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 3: Fortuna 2-1 Hoffenheim)
Hoffenheim are back to winning ways after a victory against Freiburg which ended a seven-match winless streak. However, the Sinsheimers may be missing some key players as Andrej Kramaric (hip), Reiss Nelson (calf), and Benjamin Hübner (thigh) all missed training this week. Home form has been an issue for Hoffenheim who have won just three times out of ten (four draws) at the PreZero Arena.
It’s been 23 years since Fortuna won three away matches on the trot in the top flight, but that’s what’s in front of them as they try to consolidate their top flight status. They will also be looking to put behind a bad 4-0 home loss to Leipzig last week which ended a four-match winning streak.
FC NÜRNBERG vs. SV WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 3: Werder Bremen 1-1 FC Nürnberg)
FCN are winless in their last twelve after a loss to Mainz last week which was their sixth straight. Der Club are four points adrfit from 15th and level on points with Hannover. Nine of their 11 points have come at home, though one of their two points away from the Max-Morlock Stadion came against Bremen.
Josh Sargent could start against the bottom-side. He has made five appearances as a substitute, scoring twice. The Green-Whites are just two points adrift of sixth, but need to pass five teams to get to sixth. More consistency is needed as they have just nine points from their last eleven matches.
FC SCHALKE 04 vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)
(Matchday 3: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 Schalke)
The good news for the Royal Blues is that Weston McKennie is back from suspension. The bad news is that Alessandro Schöpf (knee), Steven Skrzybski (thigh), and Benjamin Stambouli (broken cheek bone) all picked up injuries in the draw against Hertha and have since been ruled out for the next eight, two, and four weeks, respectively. McKennie’s compatriot Haji Wright could also make a start for Schalke.
Goals from Oscar Wendt and Patrick Herrmann in the last 12 minutes against Augsburg kept Gladbach’s 100% record at Borussia Park and helped them keep pace with BVB and Bayern. Thorgan Hazard is expected to return after missing last week’s match. While the Foals have been indomitable at Borussia Park, they have won just three of their last ten matches away from there.
FC AUGSBURG vs. FSV MAINZ 05 (Sunday at 8:30am CT, FS1)
(Matchday 3: Mainz 05 2-1 FC Augsburg)
Augsburg need something after going winless in their last ten and are just one point clear of the danger zone. Defeat on Sunday and other results going against them could place Augsburg in the drop zone. Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has joined Die Függerstädter as an assistant coach. Ja-Cheol Koo and Dong-Won Ji return from AFC Asian Cup duty with South Korea while top scorer Alfred Finnbogason will hope to end a 465-minute goal drought.
Mainz are unbeaten in their last four after a 2-1 win over Nürnberg. However, they will be without Stefan Bell who is suspended. Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to be up front and might be more likely to score as five of his six goals on the season have been away from home.
VfB STUTTGART vs. SC FREIBURG (Sunday at 11am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 3: VfB Stuttgart 3-3 SC Freiburg)
Future Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard is “is pain-free and almost back to 100 per cent fitness,” according to Stuttgart coach Markus Weinzierl. Pavard has been out of action since December and Stuttgart have lost four of the last five since then. It’s the other end where Stuttgart have struggled as they have just 15 goals to their name.
Freiburg have back-to-back losses to start 2019 to Frankfurt and Hoffenheim. Luca Waldschmidt, Freiburg’s leading scorer, could be set for a recall to the starting lineup after being a second half sub last weekend.
