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Bayern got back to winning ways. Borussia Dortmund have a new star in Erling Haaland. RB Leipzig now leads the Bundesliga by four points while it’s tight for both Champions League places and for safety.
Welcome to matchday 19 (All times CT).
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. FC COLOGNE (Friday at 1:30pm, FS2):
Haaland came off the bench and scored a hat trick last week against Augsburg. What will he do for an encore? Gio Reyna also made his debut in that match and he may get a run out as well as the latest US youngster to play in the Bundesliga.
The Billy Goats are on a four-match winning streak and three points clear of the danger zone after Markus Gisdol has righted the ship. Jhon Cordoba had a brace against Wolfsburg upping his total to six goals in seven games.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 8:30am, FS1)
The Eagles ended a seven-match winless streak with a win against Hoffenheim. The win moved Frankfurt up to 11th, but they need to improve their home form if they are to continue climbing. They have just one point in the three home matches since defeating Bayern, 5-1, on Matchday 10.
Unbeaten in nine and scoring at least three goals in each of their last nine, RB Leipzig are flying high. Timo Werner joined the 20-goal club after a brace against Union Berlin. Tyler Adams is expected to start his third straight match.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. MAINZ (Saturday at 8:30am, FS2)
Marco Rose has a defensive crisis on his hands. Nico Elvedi and Tony Jantschke are both struggling to be fit while Ramy Bensebaini is ruled out for a few more weeks and Stefan Lainer suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 2-0 defeat to Schalke, Fabian Johnson could be given a chance to make a rare start at right-back, with Tobias Strobl on standby to deputise for Elvedi should he not recover from a neck injury.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored in his first start back from injury as the 05ers’ 2-1 defeat to Freiburg. While Gladbach has the stingiest defence (20), Mainz has the joint-most charitable allowing 41 goals so far this season. Mainz currently sits one point above the danger zone.
SC FREIBURG vs. SC PADERBORN (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Plus)
Luca Waldschmidt could make his return after suffering several injuries while playing for Germany back in November. He missed last week’s match with a heavy cold. Nils Petersen became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer (Joachim Löw) with his 84th minute strike last week over Mainz.
Paderborn just has five points on their travels so far this season. They are five points from 16th and could be cut adrift in due time from safety. While have scored the most goals within the first 15 minutes (Seven), they have conceded the most as well (12).
WOLFSBURG vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
Wolfsburg has won just two of the their last nine and are now seven points adrift of the top six. Wout Weghorst has now gone five matches without scoring. The Wolves need him to score to help boost the second-weakest attack in the Bundesliga.
Hertha and Jurgen Klinsmann came back to Earth after a 4-0 loss to Bayern. Prior to that, Hertha had three wins and a draw and currently sit just two points above the danger zone. Dedryck Boyata is suspended while Dodi Lukebakio could start up front.
UNION BERLIN vs. FC AUGSBURG (Saturday at 8:30am, Fox Soccer Matchpass)
The Stadion an den Alten Forsterei has been a happy hunting ground for the Iron Men as they have amassed 15 from a possible 27 points. It also accounts for 75% of their points this season. After giving Leipzig a scare, they eventually feel, 3-1. Christopher Trimmel could make his return from a heavy cold this weekend.
FC Augsburg gave Dortmund a score before Erling Haaland came on. Still, they are in 10th and two spots above their hosts. Florian Niederlechner has scored or assisted at least once in his last seven games.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. SCHALKE (Saturday at 11:30am, FS2)
Robert Lewandowski is also on 20 goals following his score from the spot over Hertha. While the Polish striker is level with Leipzig’s Timo Werner on goals, Bayern are four points adrift of Leipzig in the table. Thomas Müller is on records pace for assists with 12 in 18 matches.
Schalke have equalled their points total from last season in just more than half the time following their win over Gladbach last week. Michael Gregoritsch scored after coming from Augsburg. Alexander Nübel remains suspended for the Royal Blues. He will join Bayern at the end of the season.
WERDER BREMEN vs. HOFFENHEIM (Sunday at 8:30am, FS1)
One of the few highlights for the Green-Whites was that Milot Rashica had seven goals and three assists in 14 matches. They did open the Ruckrunde with a 1-0 win at Fortuna, but lost captain Nilas Moisander to a red card late adding to their defensive issues. Kevin Vogt could get the go ahead to face his parent club after missing last week to concussion and Josh Sargent could also feature.
Munas Dabbur may make his first start for Hoffenheim who opened the Ruckrunde with a loss to Frankfurt. Dabbur is expected to start alongside Andrej Kramaric up front. The Sinsheimers have been road warriors losing just once in their last seven away games including winning four of the last five.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. FORTUNA DUSSELDORF (Sunday at 11am, FS1)
Leon Bailey is eligible to return following a three-match ban, but a muscle strain may keep him out. Kai Havertz scored twice and assisted on a third last week against Paderborn last week. Those were his first goals since September and is looking to boost Die Werkself’s top four prospects. They are just two points adrift from fourth coming into this weekend.
Fortuna come into this weekend two points adrift of 16th. Zach Steffen is still a doubt with a knee problem, so Florian Kastenmeier will continue to deputize in goal. On attack, they have the weakest attack in the Bundesliga with just 18 goals. Rouwen Hennings accounts for 11 of them.
