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It is Der Klassiker weekend Part two. BVB and Bayern may decide the title at the Allianz on Saturday. Meanwhile, four teams are separated by a single point for sixth and the final Europa League spot. They may also be a battle to avoid the drop as well. Everything is far from decided. Welcome to Matchday 28.
MAINZ 05 vs. SC FREIBURG (Friday at 1:30pm CT, FS2)
(Matchday 11: SC Freiburg 1-3 Mainz)
Mainz has lost seven of their last eight and four on the bounce. However, Jean-Philippe Gbamin is set to return after missing out on the loss to Werder Bremen due to disciplinary reasons. The 05ers are still ten points clear of 16th-place Stuttgart, but they need points to avoid being drawn into a relegation scrap.
Freiburg are a couple points just above Mainz in the table. They are coming off a draw with Bayern Munich and have lost just once in their last eight. However, a thigh strain is likely to rule out club leading scorer Nils Petersen. Lucas Höler, who scored against Bayern, is expected ti deputize up front.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 11: RB Leipzig 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen)
Die Werkself were knocked back to seventh after a 4-1 loss to Hoffenheim. Wendell is back from suspension while Lars Bender is out with a thigh injury. However, Karim Bellarabi is goin for the season with a hamstring injury. Leon Bailey, Julian Brandt, and Kai Havertz will be up against the stingiest defense in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig can also score as evidenced by their 5-0 win over Hertha last week. Tyler Adams and Amadou Haidara were paired in midfield for the first time and looked fearsome last week. Leipzig are unbeaten in their last nine and are five points clear of fifth place as they look to consolidate their Champions League place.
VFL WOLFSBURG vs. HANNOVER 96 (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)
(Matchday 11: Hannover 96 2-1 VfL Wolfsburg)
The Wolves are on 42 points like Leverkusen and Werder Bremen, but are on the short end on goal difference. Bruno Labbadiahas confirmed he will leave the Volkswagen Arena at the end of the season, but would like to take Wolfsburg into the Europa League.
Hannover are bottom of the league and their injury list resembles a M*A*S*H unit. Bobby Wood (kidney), Niclas Füllgrug (knee), and Kevin Akpoguma (shoulder) are all out while Jonathas, Matthias Ostrzolek and Walace are also rated doubtful. The 96ers need all available hands as they are six points from 16th place with six to play after this match.
SCHALKE 04 vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 11: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 Schalke)
The Royal Blues ended an eight-match winless streak with a much-needed win over Hannover. Ralf Fährmann is fit again, though Alexander Nübel is set to retain his place. Weston McKennie is likely lost for the season with an ankle injury. The win moved them six points clear of the danger zone.
The star in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-0 win over Stuttgart was actually Filip Kostic who scored a brace. The win, coupled with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s loss, vaulted the Eagles to fourth and in the Champions League places. The trio of Sebastien Haller, Luka Jovic, and Ante Rebic are all expected to retain their places. The Eagles have gone ten matches unbeaten in the Ruckrunde for the first time since 1981.
VFB STUTTGART vs. FC NÜRNBERG (Saturday at 8:30am CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 11: FC Nürnberg 0-2 VfB Stuttgart)
Stuttgart’s loss to Eintracht Frankfurt and Nürnberg’s first win in 21 matches has cut the gap between the two teams to four points. It will be cut to one if Stuttgart drops this match. Worse, Christian Gentner and Gonzalo Castro (both calf injuries) are out for this match. However, Mario Gomez is set to return to the fold as VfB look for just their second win in 13 matches.
Der Club finally ended their 20-match winless streak with a win over Augsburg last week. However, they will look to avoid following up their win with a humiliating defeat. Their last two wins were followed by a 7-0 loss to Dortmund and a 6-0 loss to RB Leipzig. They have allowed just six goals in six matches which is fourth fewest in that timespan.
HERTHA BERLIN vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Saturday at 8:30pm CT, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
(Matchday 11: Fortuna Dusseldorf 4-1 Hertha Berlin)
Hertha were humbled last week by RB Leipzig. Worse, Jordan Torunarigha (ank;e) and Fabien Lusterberger (thigh muscle) have added themselves to the injury list for the Capital Club. Europe looks more like a pipe dream now as Hertha are seven points adrift of sixth and just a point ahead of their opponents on Saturday.
It seems like ages ago that Fortuna began this life in the Bundesliga with just five points from its first ten matches. The last ten matches have seen Fortuna amass 17 points more than Hertha and could overtake them in the table if they add three more to that total. It gets better for Fortuna as they welcome back Dodi Lukebakio from suspension.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Saturday at 11:30am CT, FOX)
(Matchday 11: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Bayern Munich)
This is the 100th Der Klassiker and one that may decide the title for the first time since 2012. That was the last year it was not won by Bayern who are looking for their seventh consecutive title. Manuel Neuer is set to return after missing the trip to Freiburg while James Rodriguez is set to retain his place despite a groin complaint. Bayern have lost the last four matches against BVB when they were behind them in the table as they are now by two points.
BVB will look to end Bayern’s seven-match home winning streak and go up by five points en route to a first time since 2012. Paco Alcacer’s late show rescued the three points against Wolfsburg. Marco Reus should be back after becoming a father last week. The issue will be in the back as Achraf Hakimi is out for the season after a metatarsal injury and Raphael Guerreiro possible having to cover at left back.
FC AUGSBURG vs. TSV 1899 HOFFENHEIM (Sunday at 8:30am CT, FS1)
(Matchday 11: Hoffenheim 2-1 FC Augsburg)
Augsburg’s loss to Nürnberg left them just five points clear of the danger zone. They are also trying to put a 2-1 Pokal loss to RB Leipzig behind them. Having Alfred Finnbogason scoring again could boost the club, though.
Hoffenheim is just a point behind the three teams they need to pass to be sixth. Nico Schulz is back from suspension while Andrej Kramaric will look to continue his goal-scoring form that has made him Hoffenheim’s all-time leading scorer in the Bundesliga. However, they will want to break their form of just one win in their last eight away matches.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. SV WERDER BREMEN (Sunday at 11am CT, FS2)
(Matchday 11: Werder Bremen 1-3 Borussia MG)
Dieter Hecking will also be leaving his post as the end of the season. However, he’ll want his reign with a top four finish. They are two points back of Eintracht Frankfurt after a loss to local rivals Fortuna last week and just one win from their last seven matches. Worse still, the Foals have just one point from their last four home fixtures. They need Thorgan Hazard to start scoring again.
Florian Kohfeldt was recently names Germany’s Coach of the Year for 2018 and has spearheaded Bremen’s return to the top six. The Green-Whites are still unbeaten in the Ruckrunde. One factor in that has been Milot Rashica who has scored seven goals in the Ruckrund and four in his last three matches.
