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Last week, Bayern Munich cut the deficit to five points after defeating Schalke and Hoffenheim improbably coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3. Gladbach lost at home for the first time this season, but will still be third after this week. It’s just a matter of how big a lead they will have on RB Leipzig and the Foals’ opponents on Sunday. The race for Europa League remains tight while Augsburg looks to avoid being dragged into the danger zone. Oh, there’s a Monday match that will likely be met with scorn. Welcome to Matchday 22.
FC AUGSBURG vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Friday at 1:30pm CT, FS2)
(Matchday 5: Bayern Munich 1-1 FC Augsburg)
After a 4-0 loss to Werder Bremen last week, Augsburg find themselves just three points clear of 16th-place Stuttgart. Worse, Alfred Finnbogason picked up a knock and will be out for this match. Augsburg tends to suffer when the Icelandic international is not in the lineup as he accounts for more than a third of their 29 goals this season. Worse still, captain Daniel Baier is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. FCA did pick up an improbable draw at the Allianz on Matchday 5, but they will be even more hard pressed to pick up at least a point on Friday.
Bayern bounced back from a 3-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-1 win over Schalke. Thomas Muller is expected to start after a four-match absence as he will be suspended for Tuesday’s Champions League match with Liverpool. Leon Goretzka (pictured above) was named Bundesliga Player of the Month for his performances in January. Manuel Neuer has declared himself fit for Friday from a hand injury.
SCHALKE 04 vs. SC FRIEBURG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 5: Freiburg 1-0 Schalke)
For the Americans in the audience, Weston McKennie did get an assist in the 3-1 loss to Bayern last week. Kutucu continues to impress with his second goal in as many matches. However, Daniel Caligiuri will not feature on Saturday as he is suspended. The Royal Blues do not appear on course for Europe in 14th place and 11 points adrift of sixth.
Freiburg moved ahead of Schalke in the table with a 3-3 draw with Wolfsburg. Luka Waldschmidt got the equalizer off the bench and is likely to remain there for Saturday while Nils Petersen and Florian Niederlechner start up front. Despite the draw, Freiburg are still off to their worst Ruckrunde start in nine years as that point was just their second in this Ruckrunde.
VFL WOLFSBURG vs. MAINZ 05 (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)
(Matchday 5: Wolfsburg 0-0 Mainz)
Wolfsburg dipped out of the top six after the 3-3 draw with Freiburg. Thrice they took the lead and thrice they were pegged back. The Wolves need to see out games more—especially at home as they have more wins away from the Volkswagen Arena (six) than at the Arena (three). Wout Weghorst, who got a goal and assist last week, has averaged a goal every fifth shot so far.
Mainz’s 5-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen also dropped Wolfsburg to seventh. Mainz are 11th and six points adrift of sixth. The optimist amongst the 05 faithful will point to being 12 points clear of relegation. After leaving the Hinrunde with the joint-fourth best defense, they have been the second most charitable in the Ruckrunde so far by shipping 11 in their last four matches.
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM vs. HANNOVER 96 (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 5: Hannover 96 1-3 Hoffenheim)
Hoffenheim snatched a point out of the jaws of defeat with three goals in the final 15 minutes against Dortmund. Ishak Belfodil scored two of those goals and may prove a compliment to Andrej Kramaric up front. Captain Kevin Vogt may see a return to action after missing the Dortmund match with a thigh strain. TSG have not won against any of the top five, but have a 100% record against the bottom four.
Hannover are in that bottom four. In fact, they are 17th and four points away from safety. They did snatch a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Nürnberg last week. The road has been dreadful though for the 96ers who have not won away since October 2017. If its any comfort, Hoffenheim are actually winless in their last five at home (four draws and a loss).
VFB STUTTGART vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 5: RB Leipzig 2-0 VfB Stuttgart)
A 3-0 defeat at Fortuna Dusseldorf meant that Stuttgart are winless in their last six and are just a point above the relegation zone. Mario Gomez is available again after suspension, but could end up on the bench. While Gomez comes back from suspension, Nicolas Gonzalez begins a three-match ban after being sent off against Dusseldorf.
Leipzig will be looking to consolidate their top four position. A goalless draw with Frankfurt meant they kept their five point lead over fifth place. Timo Werner is still looking for his first goals in 2019 and could well find them against the Bundesliga’s worst defense which has shipped 47 goals.
HERTHA BERLIN vs. WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)
(Matchday 5: Werder Bremen 3-1 Hertha Berlin)
Hertha ended Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 100% record at home with an impressive 3-0 win that pulled them to within two points of sixth place. Salomon Kalou’s brace and Davie Selke’s tally gives Pal Dardai a selection headache—the best headache a coach could have in soccer. They hope to end another headache in being winless in their last ten against Bremen.
Bremen put four past Augsburg last week after knocking out Dortmund in the DFB Pokal. However, they will have to make do without Milot Rashica went out with a back injury. Claudio Pizzaro will look to become the oldest scorer in Bundesliga history and score at least once in 21 consecutive years which is four more than Josh Sargent has been alive.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Sunday at 8:30am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 5: Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt)
A rare blank by Frankfurt meant that they are now level on points with Bayer Leverkusen with a host of contenders behind them for Europa League spots. Last week was only the fourth time in which their power trio of Luka Jovic, Sebastien Haller, and Ante Rebic were all off the scoresheet. The Eagles are coming off a 2-2 draw away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League.
Gladbach have not played in Europe in two years, but are still in good shape to do just that in 2019-2020 despite the home loss to Hertha last week. The right results could put the Foals 12 clear of fifth with twelve to go. Midfielder Jonas Hofmann will miss the match after picking up a knock last week.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Sunday at 11am CT, Fox Soccer Plus)
(Matchday 5: Fortuna Dusseldorf 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen)
Three wins from the last four for Peter Bosz’s side means Die Werkself is in the top six for the moment. They will be coming back from a 0-0 draw at Krasnodar in the Europa League. Leon Bailey, Kai Havertz, and Kevin Volland are scored in the thrashing of Mainz last week. That made it 11 goals in their last three matches.
Fortuna moved closer to mid-table safety after a 3-0 win over Stuttgart last week. However, they will be without Kaan Ayhan and Kevin Stoger who are both suspended. Look for Andre Hoffman and Alfonso Morales to step into the lineup. After taking just five points in their first ten matches, they have amassed 17 in their last 11.
FC NÜRNBERG vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Monday at 1:30pm CT, FS1)
(Matchday 5: Borussia Dortmund 7-0 FC Nürnberg)
Coach Michael Köllner and sporting director Andreas Bornemann were shown the door after last week’s loss to Hannover. Assistant coach Boris Schommers and former player Marek Mintal have been placed in charge on an interim basis as they try to end Der Club’s 15-match winless streak and get them out of the relegation zone. All Der Club have to do is get past the team that defeated them 7-0 on Matchday 5.
BVB saw their lead at the top of the table reduced to five points after blowing a 3-0 lead and end up being held by Hoffenheim. They conceded three more in a 3-0 loss to Tottenham in midweek in a Champions League loss at Wembley. Marco Reus is still out with a groin problem and BVB have been winless (a draw and two losses in league play) without him.
