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With ten matches to go, Bayern have closed the gap between them and Borussia Dortmund. That and more as we welcome you to Matchday 25. Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, and Wolfsburg are all battling for Europa League spots while catching up to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the process. And Hannover 96 and FC Nürnberg continue to be marooned in the relegation zone after Augsburg and Stuttgart got results. Welcome to Matchday 25.
WERDER BREMEN vs. SCHALKE 04 (Friday at 1:30pm CT, FS2)
(Matchday 8: Schalke 0-2 Werder Bremen)
The intrigue here is a potential battle of Americans with Josh Sargent, an unused sub last week for Bremen, and Weston McKennie of Schalke. Three straight draws, and five in their last six, for Bremen have put them six points adrift of the top six. Sebastian Langkamp might miss Friday’s match with a shoulder injury. Keeper Jiri Pavlenka could play with a protected mask.
Schalke are winless in their last seven after opening the Ruckrunde with a win over Wolfsburg. A 4-0 loss at home to Fortuna have dropped Schalke to just four points clear of the relegation playoff spot. The Royal Blues will have Guido Burgstaller and Breel Embolo are back following injury to provide a boost to the fourth-worst attack in the Bundesliga.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. VFL WOLFSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, FS1)
(Matchday 8: VfL Wolfsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich)
After a 5-1 drubbing of Borussia Mönchengladbach last week, coupled with Dortmund’s loss at FC Augsburg, Bayern have moved level on points with Dortmund with ten matches to go. Robert Lewandowski has also moved level with Frankfurt’s Luka Jovic with 15 goals after a brace last week. Bayern have won 11 of their last 12 in league play.
Wolfsburg are unbeaten in their last five and is only out of the top six on goal difference against Bayer Leverkusen. John Brooks got a goal in the 1-1 draw with Bremen last week. The Wolves have the second-most points away from home with 23 and are playing the team with the most away points.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. VFB STUTTGART (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)
(Matchday 8: VfB Stuttgart 0-4 Borussia Dortmund)
Marco Reus returned to the lineup, but it mattered little as Augsburg got the shock victory to move them away from the bottom two. BVB have won just once in their last seven in all competitions including a 2-0 loss to Tottenham to end their Champions League campaign. BVB are still unbeaten in league play at the Signal Iduna.
Stuttgart got a massive 5-1 win over Hannover 96 to move clear of the automatic relegation places. They are still in 16th and the relegation playoff spot, two points adrift of Augsburg. Hoffenheim loanee Steven Zuber scored twice in the win and has scored in each of his last three matches for Stuttgart. However, the second worst-defense in the Bundesliga is going up against the best attack.
RB LEIPZIG vs. FC AUGSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Plus)
(Matchday 8: FC Augsburg 0-0 RB Leipzig)
Timo Werner is hoping to return to action after missing the last two matches due to illness. Tyler Adams continues to impress in midfield and is likely to retain his place in the lineup. Leipzig are unbeaten in their last six, but are winless at home so far in the Ruckrunde with two draws and a loss.
With last week’s win over Dortmund, Augsburg have now claimed points against all of the top four sides. That win ended a seven-match losing streak and a 14-match winless streak. Dong-Won Ji has been involved in Augsburg’s last four goals and scored three of them. However, Andre Hahn is suspended and Alfred Finnbogason remains a major doubt.
SC FREIBURG vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 8: Hertha Berlin 1-1 SC Freiburg)
Freiburg’s four-match unbeaten streak was ended by Leverkusen last week. They are still eight points clear of the drop zone and will look to enhance their cushion between now and their final two matches of the season against Hannover and Nürnberg so that they do not become six-pointers. They have scored ten goals in their last three home matches, but have shipped eight.
David Selke will likely miss this match with a muscular injury. He has been involved in at least one goal in five of the last seven matches for the Capital Club. That could open the door for Vedad Ibisevic to lineup alongside Ondrej Duda. Hertha has already matched their away win total from the Hinrunde with two.
MAINZ 05 vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Saturday at 11:30am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 8: Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0 Mainz)
Mainz have lost all three of its Ruckrunde matches against opposition in the top half of the table. The 05ers are 11 points clear of the bottom three, but have trips to Bayern and Dortmund in the future and will look to claim points before those trips. After shipping just two set-piece goals in the Hinrunde, they have already allowed three times as many in their last seven.
Gladbach were once ten points clear of fifth place. That gap is now three points after three straight home losses where they have allowed 11 goals in the process. Thorgan Hazard has not scored in the Ruckrunde as of year and Alessane Plea has not scored in his last six. Rafael could provide a boost as he is fit again.
TSG HOFFENHEIM vs. FC NÜRNBERG (Sunday at 9:30am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 8: FC Nürnberg 1-3 Hoffenheim)
Hoffenheim’s European hopes were dealt a blow after blowing a 2-1 lead to Eintracht Frankfurt and losing 3-2. As a result, they are in ninth and five points out of the top six. First-choice back three Kevin Vogt, Benjamin Hübner and Ermin Bicakcic all missed last Saturday’s match with hamstring, knee and calf injuries respectively; and only Vogt is expected to return and as a center back.
Nürnberg’s winless streak was extended to 18 after a loss to Leipzig last week. Der Club is eight points adrift from total safety. It doesn’t help that they lead the Bundesliga in matches where they dropped points from winning positions with nine.
HANNOVER 96 vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN (Sunday at 12pm CT, Fox Soccer Plus)
(Matchday 8: Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Hannover 96)
After the 5-1 loss at Stuttgart, coach Thomas Doll has taken the captain’s armband from Waldemar Anton and placed it on midfielder Marvin Bakalorz in the hopes that it will “liberate” the former in improving at center back. The 96ers have allowed a league-worst 55 goals this season, including 11 in the last three matches.
Peter Bosz is working wonders at Bayer who are now just four points out of fourth place after being 12 adrift just six matches ago. Leon Bailey has scored three goals in his last five matches rediscovering his form. Leverkusen have won three of their last four away matches as well.
FORTUNA DUSSELDORF vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Monday at 2:30pm CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 8: Eintracht Frankfurt 7-1 Fortuna Dussledorf)
It seems ages ago that Fortuna were thumped, 7-1, in Frankfurt. Fortuna have amassed 22 points in the last ten matches which is second only to Bayern and are now 12 points clear of the bottom three. Dodi Lukebakio leads the team with eight goals.
Frankfurt are getting an extra day to recuperate from their goalless draw with Inter Milan on Thursday. Both Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller have combined for 27 goals this season, but they will be without nine-goal scorer Ante Rebic who is out with a knee injury. Goncalo Paciencia could prove a viable alternative as he scored the match-winner last week against Hoffenheim.
