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Borussia Mönchengladbach still lead the table, but face a huge test in Bayern.
Speaking of Bayern, they need to keep pace with RB Leipzig and Schalke as well. Borussia Dortmund needs to keep pace as well in fifth.
Hertha are currently in the danger zone and it’s up to Jurgen Klinsmann to get them out of there. It’s the last weekend before the holiday rush of fixtures leading into the Winter Break. Welcome to matchday 14 (All times CT).
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Friday at 1:30pm, FS2):
The Eagles had a famous win against Arsenal last week in the Europa League, but have lost three on the bounce in the Bundesliga and slipped to tenth in the table. Indiscipline has also been a problem as Dominik Kohr was sent off in the loss to Mainz. It was the third sending off in third matches for Frankfurt. Injuries have also been a problem as Bas Dost is out until the new year with a groin strain.
Hertha are on a longer losing skid in the league at five. They were unable to make their man-advantage count in a loss to Dortmund. They are just three points clear of the automatic relegation places. Klinsmann is still looking for his optimal starting XI.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 8:30am, FS1)
Much like last season, the Foals enter this match with the league’s best home record (5-1-1). Unlike last season, the Foals also enter this match at the top of the table. Matthias Ginter is expected back a centre-back after injury while the attacking trio of Patrick Herrmann, Breel Embolo, and Marcus Thuram are expected to lead the line once more.
Robert Lewandowski has actually gone two matches in league play without scoring. He’ll look to change that on Saturday, but he has scored just four goals against Gladbach in 15 matches and has lost more often (seven) than won (six) against the Foals. Bayern are in the same identical position they were after 13 matches last season (4th place on 24 points).
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)
BVB have not won consecutive league matches since the first two weeks of the season. They have a chance to do just that after their win over Hertha, last weekend. However, they will be without Mats Hummels who was sent off against Hertha. Jadon Sancho has scored in each of his last three appearances.
Fortuna’s draw with Hoffenheim got them out of the danger zone for the moment. Rouwen Hennings got his tenth goal of the win in the draw. The equaion has been simple in Hennings’s last eight appearances for Fortuna. If he scored, they have won. They have just one point from the five matches he has not.
RB LEIPZIG vs. HOFFENHEIM (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)
Leipzig enter this match one point behind leaders Gladbach and unbeaten in their last seven. Timo Werner has moved to second in scoring at 13 goals – three behind Robert Lewandowski. Tyler Adams could make his long-awaited season debut while Yussuf Poulsen is doubtful with a groin injury.
RB Leipzig coach Julian Naglesmann is facing his former club for the first time. Naglesmann took Hoffenheim to the Champions League last season. They will hope Andrej Kramaric will remain healthy and continue to score as he did the last two matches. Sebastian Rudy is out due to yellow card accumulation.
SC FREIBURG vs. WOLFSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
Freiburg will look to get back to winning ways after a draw to Leverkusen and a loss last week to Gladbach has dropped them to sixth. They have been very stingy at home conceding just six goals at the Schwarzwald-Stadion. Luca Waldschimdt remains out due to multiple injuries.
Wolfsburg are also looking to return to winning ways after winning just once in their last six. Their last outing was a 3-2 loss to Werder Bremen. Marcel Tisserand is back from suspension while Josip Brekalo and Renato Steffen are also pushing for inclusion.
FC AUGSBURG vs. MAINZ (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
Augsburg are unbeaten in their last three and six points clear of the bottom two. Marco Ricther is expected to start in place of the suspended Andre Hahn. Philipp Max got an assist in the 1-1 draw with Cologne last week. He will look to add to his tally.
Achim Beierlorzer has already won as many matches as he did during his last eleven matches at Cologne—two. The last coach to win his first two matches in charge at Mainz was some Jurgen Klopp fellow. They are hoping that Robin Quaison can refind his scoring touch as he has not scored in his last four matches.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. SCHALKE (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)
Kai Havertz is set to return to action after missing the last two matches due to a thigh strain. Die Werkself are coming off a 2-1 win over Bayern last week and are now looking for a third wn in four matches. Jonathan Tah is suspended for the match after getting sent off by Bayern, so Aleksandar Dragovic looks set to start in the back.
The Royal Blues are unbeaten in their last five and currently sit third in the table. Amine Harit has been the catalyst for Schalke’s run as he scored in back-to-back matches over Werder Bremen and Union Berlin. The Royal Blues are off to their best start in 12 years.
FC UNION BERLIN vs. FC KÖLN (Sunday at 8:30am, FS1)
Union saw their three-match winning streak end against Schalke, last week, but they are still five points clear of the danger zone in 11th place. They have also earned more points in the last six matches than either Bayern or Dortmund. The Iron Men get Robert Andrich back from suspension but lost defender Kevin Schlotterbeck to a knee injury.
The Billy Goats will have both Jonas Hector and Rafael Czichos suspended for this one. Cologne are winless in their last five and it would have been a five-match losing streak were it not for Jhon Cordoba’s late equalizer against Augsburg last week. they have won just once, drawn once, and lost five away from home.
WERDER BREMEN vs. SC PADERBORN (Sunday at 11am, FS1)
The Green-Whites ended an eight-match winless streak last week thanks to Milot Rashica’s brace in the 3-2 win over Wolfsburg. Rashica has scored a goal every 123 minutes of play which is third among non-#9 forwards in the top five leagues behind PSG’s Kylian Mbappe (83) and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (86). Josh Sargent also scored in the win, but will miss this match due to a muscle tear.
Paderborn are keeping in matches, but have won just once on the season. They have score five goals in their last two matches, but only have a point to show for that as their defense is joint-worst with Mainz at 32 goals conceded. Paderborn are currently bottom on five points and need wins now as well as Streli Mamba to keep scoring.
