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Bayern Munich were held last week by Werder Bremen, but their Champions League winning streak is now at 15. Hoffenheim have not had the strongest of starts in the league, but they will be in the Round of 32 in the Europa League and Bayer Leverkusen are set to follow. Let us feast into the upcoming fixtures as we head into Matchday Nine.
(All times US Central time on ESPN+ unless stated)
VfL WOLFSBURG vs. WERDER BREMEN (Friday at 1:30pm)
Wolfsburg continued their unbeaten streak with a win away to Schalke and moved up to sixth in the table. Wout Weghorst scored for the fourth time in five matches and John Brooks spearheads the joint-stingiest defense in the league allowing just five goals so far. Kevin Mababu and William have returned to training after injuries.
Werder Bremen got yet another 1-1 draw last weekend, their fifth in succession. However, this 1-1 draw was a little more credible as it was at Bayern. Josh Sargent seet up Maximilian Eggestein for the Green-Whites’ goal and could have gotten a couple more if it weren’t for Manuel Neuer. He and Milot Rashica should continue up front.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. FC COLOGNE (Saturday at 8:30am)
Erling Haaland continues to score at a torrent pace. He got four in a 33-minute span last weekend against Hertha Berlin and got another one in the Champions League in the victory over Club Brugge on Tuesday. In all competitions, Haaland has 17 goals in 13 matches and is one behind Robert Lewandowski in league play with ten.
Meanwhile, the Billy Goats lost to the other Berlin side, Union, last Sunday and their winless streak is now at 17 as they lie 17th. It does not help that Jonas Hector continues to be out and it hasn’t helped that they have conceded a league-high six penalties so far. They only have one multi-goal scorer in Sebastian Andersson with two.
RB LEIPZIG vs. ARMINIA BIELEFELD (Saturday at 8:30am)
Tyler Adams could be at right back as he was last Saturday in the draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. He was rested in the Champions League loss on Tuesday to Paris Saint-Germain. Regardless of who is in the back, they are alongside Wolfsburg with the stingiest defense in the league allowing just five goals.
Bielefeld are currently on a six-match losing streak that sees them in 16th position in the table. Fabian Klos has yet to score on the year. They will need to make their shots count. They have the fewest at 61 shots while their opponents are top in the department with 135.
UNION BERLIN vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Saturday at 8:30am)
Die Eisernen continue to be the surprise package in the league. They are unbeaten in their last seven and currently sit fifth in the league after their win last Sunday over Cologne.
Max Kruse has been a large part of that with four goals and five assists in eight matches. Taiwo Awoniyi, on loan from Liverpool, netted his second goal of the season in the win.
Die Adler are going in the opposite direction as they are winless in their last five. They currently sit 11th after three straight draws. Aymen Barkok has had a hand in Frankfurt’s last three goals, but will be playing no part in Saturday’s proceedings. Bas Dost is set to rejoin Andre Silva in the lineup. Amin Younes and Filip Kostic are also healthy again.
FC AUGSBURG vs. SC FREIBURG (Saturday at 8:30am):
Despite being reduced to ten men late, Daniel Caligiuri scored a late equalizer for Augsburg against Borussia Mönchengladbach to snatch a point.
The point puts them into 10th position entering this weekend. Alfred Finnbogason could make his 100th competitive appearance for Die Fuggerstädter while Andre Hahn and Rami Khedira could make their 100th league appearances.
Freiburg have a reputation for overachieving, but that has not been the case this season. They have not won since the opening weekend. They currently sit two points clear of the danger zone. Nicolas Hofer is expected to return to action by Lucas Holer is not.
VfB STUTTGART vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 8:30am)
Die Schwaben have not lost since Matchday One, but will be facing a very tough test in Bayern. They are currently on a run of four successive draws that sees them in eighth in the table. That test gets sterner as they will be without Nicolas Gonzalez who suffered a knee injury after netting in three straight games. Sasa Kalajdzic willhope to rediscover his scoring touch after not scoring in his last five.
Bayern Munich assured themselves a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a mostly comfortable 3-1 win over FC Salzburg on Wednesday. Of more pressing concern is that they are just one point clear of Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table. Lewandowski did not play against Bremen last week, but is expected to feature this weekend to add to his league-leading 11 goals.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. FC SCHALKE 04 (Saturday at 11:30am)
Gladbach again dropped points late in league play last week against Augsburg, but recovered nicely in a 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea have been together in the lineup just twice this season, but both should feature at Borussia Park on Saturday. They hope to return to winning ways at home in league play has they have a win and three draws fo far.
A win is what Schalke are craving as their league winless streak extended to 25 after a loss to Wolfsburg. Their last win was on January 17th against Gladbach at the Veltins Arena. Alessandro Schöpf is available again. Along with Germany international Suat Serdar, who returned from a hamstring injury last weekend. The Royal Blues need all the help they can get to get themselves off the bottom of the table.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Sunday at 8:30am)
Die Werkself is one of two unbeaten sides in the Bundesliga along with Wolfsburg and are winners in their last five. Lucas Alario is in form himself with three straight braces in league play and seven goals in his last five matches. A 4-1 win over Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the Europa League all but assures they will be in the Round of 32 in that competition.
Hertha are looking for more consistency. They lost last time out against Dortmund after a win over Augsburg. Matheus Cunha is finding some form with four goals in his last three matches. It will be he, Krzysztok Piatek, and Dodi Lukebakio who will need to supply the goals for Hertha with Jhon Cordoba out for the rest of the year.
MAINZ 05 vs. HOFFENHEIM (Sunday at 11am)
The 05ers finally got in the win column after victory over Freiburg. That win has Mainz oout of the drop zone and into 15th. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a hat trick in a 38-minute span last weekend and now has seven goals on the year. Mainz will also be boosted with the return of Danny Latza from suspension.
Andrej Kramaric is also on seven goals for the year. The Croatian international returned last week after missing four matches in isolation. Kramaric was also on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win over Slovan Liberec that sees Hoffenheim through to the last 32 of the Europa League. Ryan Sessegnon got his maiden goal last week the Sinsheimers.
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]]>Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60. Maradona suffered a heart attack in his Buenos Aires home.El Clarin, Argentina’s main newspaper, reported Maradona’s passing around noon Argentinian time in his home in Villa Fiorito, a suburb of Buenos Aires and despite the efforts from the medic, they could not revive him.
Diego Armando Maradona won pretty much everything there was to win in soccer starting with the U-20 World Cup with Argentina in 1979. League titles and cups with Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Napoli followed.
It was the 1986 World Cup where Maradona cemented his legend. He scored five goals during the tournament, but it was two against England in the quarterfinals that are forever known–one as the most controversial and one as the greatest ever. The first he punched in with his hand (“The Hand of God”) which was seen by everyone except the referee. The second four minutes later is arguably the competitions most famous goal as he weaved past four defenders and then goalkeeper Peter Shilton to give Argentina a 2-0 lead. Argentina would go on to win that match and then the World Cup over West Germany, 3-2.
If Maradona was at the peak in 1986, his fall from it would be as dramatic. At Italia 90, he was the most fouled player at the Cup (50 times to be exact) and would fail to score a goal in open play. Argentina would go on to be runners-up losing to West Germany, but Maradona’s downward spiral would continue.
Drug and alcohol addictions would befall him for the rest of his life. He faced a 15-month ban in 1991 for testing positive for a banned substance. He would return in time for the 1994 World Cup and score a goal against Nigeria, but that would be his last match with Argentina after testing positive again for a banned substance. A third positive test in 1997 would lead to his retirement from playing.
He would coach Argentina for two years and take them to the 2010 World Cup, but Germany would end his spell with a 4-0 quarterfinal win in South Africa.
Our own Fern McCostigan had his thoughts on Maradona:
“Filled with controversies and scandals but in the end, who cared as the man was only human but in the field of play the man played like a God of football and his styles made him an immortal in the game he loved passionately.”
Maradona was indeed a player less ordinary who led a life less ordinary. He is both adored and reviled. He was one of the greatest soccer players of all time and that made his fall from grace all the more sorrowful. It will be forever debated if he or Pele is the greatest of all time. It is undisputed that he is a great that transcends time.
RIP Diego Armando Maradona.
Our thanks to Fern McCostigan for contributing to this story.
]]>(All times US Central time on ESPN+ unless stated)
WERDEN BREMEN vs. FC KOLN (Friday at 1:30pm)
Josh Sargent finally got on the board in the Green-White’s third successive 1-1 draw of the year. Just one loss from the first six matches of the season is a welcome departure from last season. A now-fit Milot Rashica could join Sargent in the attack in place of Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong.
The Billy Goats are the third of the three teams who are winless so far this season and hope to get one before the second international break. Their 6-1 defeat to Bremen on Matchday 34 last season is still fresh in their minds as is the fact that they are on a 16-match winless streak after their 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich.
RB LEIPZIG vs. SC FREIBURG (Saturday at 8:30am)
Leipzig lost top spot in the league after their loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach last Saturday, but are buoyed by their defeat of PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday. Dayot Upamecano has started all ten competitive matches for Leipzig, but this will not be #11 due to a thigh injury. Yussuf Poulsen is expected back in the starting XI after impressing off the bench on Wednesday.
Freiburg have been winless in their last five after an opening day win. They have also dropped a league-high nine points from winning positions so far. Nils Petersen could be back in the starting XI ahead of Lukas Kubler. Petersen leads Freiburg with three goals including one last week which was his 26th strike as a substitute.
UNION BERLIN vs. ARMINIA BIELEFELD (Saturday at 8:30am)
Union are on a record five-match unbeaten streak after their win over 10-man Hoffenheim last week. Andreas Luthe is looking to remain between the sticks with Loris Karius on standby. Captain Christopher Trimmel and defender Robin Knoche are available again after missing out last week.
Bielefeld are currently on a four-match losing streak after Dortmund defeated them at home last weekend. They could fall into the relegation zone if results go against them on Saturday, which they are just two points clear of right now. They might be looking to Cebio Soukou and Sergio Cordova to jump-start the second-most anemic offense with just four goals so far.
MAINZ 05 vs. SCHALKE 04 (Saturday at 8:30am)
Here is the battle at the bottom of the table. The 05ers are in last place with zero points so far. They currently have the second-worst defense (18 shipped) and the joint-third worst attack (five scored). Another loss would be a record to start the season. Last week’s loss matched them with Fortuna Dusseldorf from 1991-92 for six matches winless to start.
Schalke are in 17th and have the worst attack (just three scored) and the worst defense (20 shipped—though eight were against Bayern). Oh, they have not won since January 17th—22 matches ago. They have drawn two of their last four and were easy winners in their DFB Pokal tie against Schweinfurt, 4-1. Hopefully for the Royal Blues, things might be looking up for them.
FC AUGSBURG vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Saturday at 8:30am):
Augsburg got back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Mainz last time out thanks to a brace from Andre Hahn and a overhead kick from Ruben Vargas. They continue to surprise in sixth place in the table and are the only team to score against Dortmund in the league so far. Florian Niederlechner is a doubt with an abdominal strain, but they are not lacking in attacking depth with Hahn, Michael Gregoritsch and Alfred Finnbogason.
Hertha can only hope to return to winning ways. They got back to getting points after a draw against Wolfsburg ended a four-match losing streak. Matteo Guendouzi impressed off the bench for Hertha Berlin against Wolfsburg and just might get his first start of the season. They have scored ten goals so far this season and boast an attacking trio of their own in Matheus Cunha, Jhon Cordoba, and Dodi Lukebakio.
VfB STUTTGART vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Saturday at 8:30am)
Die Schwaben are unbeaten since their opening loss. Two wins and three draws have led them to joint-seventh with Union Berlin. Their eleven goals are the fourth-most with only the top three ahead of them. Nicolas Gonzalez, who lead Stuttgart with the goals last season, could start in place of Sasa Kalajdzic who has not scored in his last three.
Meanwhile, Die Adler are winless in their last three after a 1-1 draw with Bremen. The attacking trio of Andre Silva, Bas Dost and Daichi Kamada will be key to getting Frankfurt back to winning ways. They will also be boosted by the return of Filip Kostic who is back to full training after a six-week absence. Defensively they have not had a clean sheet in their last eleven games.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 11:30am)
Erling Haaland got a brace against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday. It was also their seventh clean sheet in nine competitive matches with only Augsburg and Lazio finding the goal against BVB so far this year. Mats Hummels, who has scored BVB’s last three league goals, should return to the fold after missing the Brugge match with a thigh issue.
Bayern had a scare against FC Salzburg on Tuesday, before getting four unanswered goals late and winning 6-2 to extend their winning streak in the Champions League to 14. Bayern are at the top of the goal scorers charts so far in the Bundesliga with 24—11 more than the next in line in BVB. Robert Lewandowski on his own has scored ten in league play which is more than ten teams have in total.
VfL WOLFSBURG vs. HOFFENHEIM (Sunday at 8:30am)
The good news for Wolfsburg is that they have allowed just four goals so far and are one of two teams unbeaten in the Bundesliga. However, they have just scored five this season and have managed five draws from the opening six matches. They are in 11th in the table as a result. John Brooks has been the only defender to start all six matches for the Wolves so far.
Hoffenheim are hoping to transfer their Europa League form into league play after an emphatic 5-0 win over Slovan Liberec from the Czech Republic. Currently in league play, they are winless in their last four after a 3-1 loss to Union last week. Andrej Kramaric, Pavel Kaderabek, and Kasim Adams are available again after being in isolation post-international break, but Sebastian Hoeness is unlikely to rush them back into the fold.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Sunday at 11am)
Lucas Alario is on a hot streak of his own with five goals in his last three league matches. They will be coming from a trip to Israel after knocking off Hapoel Beer-Sheva in the Europa League. Die Werkself are the only other unbeaten team in the Bundesliga and the lineup will more closely resemble the one that beat Freiburg more than the one that beat Hapoel.
It’s been a good past few days for the Foals. On Saturday, they became the first team to beat RB Leipzig and then travelled to Ukraine and put six past Shakhtar Donetsk to top Group B after draws with Inter Milan and Real Madrid. They will likely be battling Die Werkself for a top four spot assuming the other three will be Bayern, BVB, and Leipzig. Gladbach are another team unbeaten since their opening loss with Dortmund.
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(All times US Central time on ESPN+ unless stated)
SCHALKE 04 vs. VfB STUTTGART (Friday at 2:30pm)
A horror start doesn’t even begin to describe the Royal Blues’ plight. After last week’s loss in the Revierderby, they are winless in their last 21 matches. Their -17 goal difference is also frightening. Ozan Kabak is serving the fourth of his five-match ban, so he will not be facing his former club.
Die Schwaben have found their strengths to becoming more of a threat on eight points from the first five matches and in fifth place. Stuttgart are unbeaten in their last four, though the most recent result was a 1-1 draw with FC Koln. Sasa Kalajdzic has had a hand in five of the team’s ten goals so far this season.
EINTRACHT FRANFURT vs. WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 9:30am)
After a decent start, Die Adler had a nightmare against Bayern Munich, losing 5-0. The loss dropped them down to eighth position. They will be looking to bounce back through Andre Silva and Bas Dost who have combined for five of Frankfurt’s seven goals so far. Dost has been a bogey man for Bremen as he has five goals and three assists in four matches against the Green-Whites.
Speaking of the Green-Whites, they are one place above Frankfurt at present. A three-man backline did well to hold Hoffenheim last weekend. However, they were dealt a ghoulish blow as Niklas Fullkrug is out for several weeks with a calf injury. Josh Sargent should start again for Bremen, though it would be news if Milot Rashica did the same.
FC COLOGNE vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 9:30am)
The synopsis for the Billy Goats reads like a horror flick: A team with a 15-match winless streak takes on killer team in Bayern Munich. They may have to make do without Jonas Hector due to a neck problem. The last two matches have shown some light though with back-to-back 1-1 draws.
Just facing Bayern these days is a frightening prospect. Just ask Frankfurt and Atletico Madrid. Lokomotiv Moscow almost pulled a shocker on Tuesday, but Joshua Kimmich laid the axe to those hopes as it’s two out of two wins in the Champions League for the Bavarian club. Only Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig have been able to escape with point against Bayern this calendar year, will the Goats be able to do the same?
FC AUGSBURG vs. MAINZ 05 (Saturday at 9:30am)
Augsburg’s trip to Leverkusen was not such a scream as they fell to a 3-1 defeat on Monday. That makes it back-to-back defeats for Die Fuggerstäder. They will have to make do without Alfred Finnbogason who is out with a thigh injury. Florian Niederlechner and Michael Gregoritsch are expected to continue in attack.
It’d be nothing but rocks for the 05ers so far this season as they are still without the meager threat of a single point. The last time Mainz opened a season with five defeats, Jurgen Klopp was their manager in 2005. They will hope for the same happy ending as they had on Matchday Six fifteen years ago with a win.
ARMINIA BIELEFELD vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Saturday at 9:30am)
Bielefeld emerged from the darkness of the lower leagues for the first time in 11 years. However, they are stuck in the dark of three straight losses at present. However, they have made the Schuco a haunted house for Dortmund as they unbeaten in their last six against the Black and Yellow there.
The scary part for BVB is that in their last 17 visits to Bielefeld, they have won just twice. However, it was they who have done the spooking recently with wins over Schalke last Saturday and then Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday. They have also done some scary defending allowing just two goals so far in league play.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 12:30pm)
It looked like Gladbach would vanquish the big boss in Real Madrid on Tuesday after going 2-0 up, but Real recovered to snatch a point the last few minutes at Borussia Park. What could arguably have been six points in the Champions League is just two as they had a late lead on Inter Milan the previous week. They did come from behind themselves last weekend against Mainz.
RB Leipzig are top of the Bundesliga, but are coming back from their own horror show after being thrashed 5-0 at Manchester United. Die Roten Bullen will be looking to gore the Foals through Angelino, Emil Forsberg and Yussuf Poulsen and remain in the penthouse of the Bundesliga.
SC FREIBURG vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN (Sunday at 8:30am)
For Freiburg, it started off brightly with a win against Stuttgart, but they are winless in their last four since—though three were draws. Yet, in each of those three draws, Die Breisgauer were ahead. Nils Petersen has not scored in his last three matches. They are hoping the Schwarzwald Stadion can be the haunted house for their opponents as they are unbeaten in their last five home matches.
Leverkusen were the last away team to win at Freiburg, though, on Matchday 29 last season. In fact, Die Werkself have only lost once in their last ten against Freiburg, so they have been Freiburg’s personal demon as of late. Leverkusen are also unbeaten in their first five for the first time in eleven years—though they will be coming off a loss in the Europa League to Slavia Prague on Thursday.
HERTHA BERLIN vs. VfL WOLFSBURG (Sunday at 11am)
Matteo Guendouzi may make his Bundesliga debut for Hertha. It’s not a moment too soon as Hertha have lost four on the bounce after their opening win against Bremen. Another bright spot for Hertha is that Jhon Cordoba has three goals in his last five matches, though his opener was not enough to hold off RB Leipzig last week.
Wolfsburg finally got a win last weekend against Bielefeld after four straight draws. They are one of three unbeaten teams left in the Bundesliga along with Leipzig and Leverkusen. However, they will be without captain Josuha Guilavogui who came off in the first half last week with a torn thigh muscle.
HOFFENHEIM vs. UNION BERLIN (Monday at 1:30pm):
Andrej Kramaric could be out of isolation after participating in international duty with Croatia. The two league matches without him were a loss to Dortmund and a draw to Bremen. However, their Europa League campaign has been unblemished with wins over Red Star Belgrade and Gent this past Thursday. Spurs loanee Ryan Sessegnon could make his full debut with the Sinsheimers in this one as well.
Loris Karius’s debut for Union could wait a little longer as he suffered a foot injury in training. Union are unbeaten in their last four, but their last three have all been draws. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck and forward Anthony Ujah are definitely out, but midfielder Grischa Prömel could return to the squad after missing last week’s draw with Freiburg. Five Bundesliga matches without defeat would be a new club record for Union.
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VfB STUTTGART vs. FC COLOGNE
Die Schwaben are a surprising fifth thanks in large part to the exploits of Sasa Kalajdzic. The Austrian international has been in the starting XI since Matchday 2 and has scored three goals and an assist. Nicolas Gonzalez is fit again, but could yet again be on the bench as Kalajdzic continues to perform.
The Billy Goats are winless in their last 14 matches (second only to Schalke), though they did earn a point against Eintracht Frankfurt. Another match winless will represent a club record. Neck whiplash will continue to sideline captain Jonas Hector while Marius Wolf and Ismael Jakobs got through their first matches unscathed.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. EINTRACHT FRANFURT
Four past Arminia Bielefeld and then four past Atletico Madrid for Bayern in the past week. the former saw both Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller each bag a brace while Kingsley Coman was the star for Bayern against the latter. They are not without personnel issues for this match. Corentin Tolisso is suspended for two matches after a red card while Serge Gnabry is in isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Frankfurt are in fourth and one of four undefeated teams in the Bundesliga. Kevin Trapp is second in the league with 17 saves made. The attacking triumvirate for Die Adler now consists of Andre Silva, Bas Dost, and Daichi Kamada—one of each have at least been involved in all seven goals this season for Frankfurt. Silva has 11 goals in the last 14 league matches.
RB LEIPZIG vs. HERTHA BERLIN
Leipzig are top of the table and will be coming off a 2-0 win over Istanbul Baksehir in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Angelino had the brace for Die Roten Bullen who were semifinalists in the previous campaign. Yussuf Poulsen had a wonder goal against Augsburg last Saturday and is expected to start ahead of Dani Olmo and Christopher Nkunku.
If Leipzig are off to a dream start, it’s been a nightmare for Hertha since Matchday 2 as they have lost three on the trot. Matheus Cunha will face his former team in this one. He had just two goals in 35 league appearances for Leipzig, but has seven in 15 for Hertha. The next win for the Old Lady against a Julian Naglesmann side will be their first.
UNION BERLIN vs. SC FREIBURG
Andreas Luthe has kept his place between the sticks so far in spite of the arrival of Loris Karius from Liverpool. Die Eisernen got a draw at the Veltins-Arena. Union have scored a league-high four headed goals so far this season. However, four of their five goals conceded have also been headers.
Phillipp Lienhart got his first goal for Freiburg in last week’s draw against Werder Bremen. Freiburg are looking for a win on the road—something they have done just twice in their last 15 away from the Schwarzwald-Stadion. Christian Streich may keep an unchanged side with no new injury concerns. Ermedin Demirovic could push for his first Bundesliga start with Nils Petersen and Lucas Höler failing to find the net in each of their last two Bundesliga outings.
MAINZ 05 vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH
Mainz are the only team in the Bundesliga not to get a point yet this season. The 05ers have the joint-tamest attack (two goals) and the second-most charitable defense (12 shipped). Robin Quaison could make his 100th Bundesliga appearance on Saturday, but he would like his first league goal of the season to go with that. Jean-Philippe Mateta has not scored since back-to-back goals on Matchdays 1 and 2.
Gladbach nearly got victory at the San Siro, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Inter Milan. They are unbeaten since the opening loss against Borussia Dortmund. However, lapses in concentration have cost them points against Union and Wolfsburg. They have also conceded five of their six goals against in the second half in league play. They will look for more performances like the 3-1 win over Cologne last week and more from Jonas Hofmann.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. FC SCHALKE 04
BVB will be looking to revert back to their league form against their near rivals following a 3-1 defeat to Lazio in the Champions League. Marco Reus scored against Hoffenheim last week and started against Lazio, but will likely start on the bench behind Gio Reyna. Haaland has 22 goals in 25 competitive outings for BVB, including 17 in 19 games in the Bundesliga. He scored in the 4-0 win over Schalke in this fixture last season.
The Royal Blues got their first point of the season with a draw against Union thanks to Frankfurt loanee Goncalo Paciencia. There would be no better opponent for Schalke to end their 20-match winless streak against their main rivals in the Revierderby. The last five have seen each win twice.
VfL WOLFSBURG vs. ARMINIA BIELEFELD
Wolfsburg are one of four teams that have just two goals so far. They are also one of three teams who have scored just twice. In four matches, they have four draws this season and are winless in their last seven at the Volkswagen Arena dating back to last season. Wout Weghorst got a point for Wolfsburg last week against Gladbach. However, Josip Brekalo is in isolation and is unavailable this week.
Bielefeld gave up four to Bayern Munich last Saturday. The performance was not bad, but it leaves them in 14th after back-to-back defeats. Ritsu Doan and Fabian Klos should retain their places in attack. Arne Maier could get a start after coming in on loan from Hertha Berlin.
WERDER BREMEN vs. HOFFENHEIM
The Green-Whites are enjoying a better start to this season as they are currently seventh. Milot Rashica returned to action after a long layoff due to a knee injury. However, he may still have to compete for minutes with Josh Sargent and Niclas Fullkrug who has four goals this season. Fullkrug has also scored three goals in the last four meetings against Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim fell at home to Dortmund last weekend, but bounced back in the Europa League with a win over Crvena Zvezda (aka Red Star Belgrade). Andrej Kramaric was in isolation for the loss to Dortmund after the international break and is doubtful for this match. Where the goals will come from is the question as Kramaric has scored 10 of the Sinsheimers’ 12 goals.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. FC AUGSBURG
Leverkusen ended a run of three straight draws with a win over Mainz and then followed that with a 6-2 win over Nice in the Europa League. Lucas Alario got the goal against Mainz while Karim Bellarabi got a pair against Nice. Die Werkself are now unbeaten in six in all competitions this season. They are also unbeaten in 18 against Augsburg.
Augsburg’s unbeaten run ended last week with a home loss to RB Leipzig. The Bavarians lost five away games in a row prior to the appointment of Heiko Herrlich; but have won three, drawn three, and lost one on the road since. Florian Niederlechner is still looking to open his account this season for Die Fuggerstädter.
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TSG HOFFENHEIM vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Saturday at 8:30am)
The last time Andrej Kramaric faced BVB, he scored four goals on Matchday 34 last season. He has seven goals in eight matches against Dortmund. He also is the current top scorer in the Bundesliga. However, Hoffenheim will also be looking to return to winning ways after losing to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 3. Sebastian Rudy could begin his third stint with the Sinsheimers after arriving from Schalke.
Kramaric may find shots hard to come by this time around. BVB has allowed a league-low 20 shots on target so far. Jadon Sancho is looking to join fellow youngsters Erling Haaland and Gio Reyna on the pitch. Reyna has had a direct hand in four of Dortmund’s seven goals so far. Last season, Hoffenheim was a bogey side as they lost to them 2-1 at the PreZero Arena and then 4-0 at the Signal Iduna.
SC FREIBURG vs. WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 8:30am)
Freiburg are hoping that the Schwarzwald-Stadion continues to be home sweet home as they are unbeaten in their last four there. However, they are also currently four matches without a win. They fell to a 4-0 defeat on Matchday 3 to Dortmund. Florian Muller comes in from Mainz and fills in for the injured Mark Flekken.
The Green-Whites have won back-to-back matches for the first time since September 2019. Josh Sargent is expected to retain his place in the starting XI looking for his first league goal of the season. The last four goals for Bremen have been scored by either Leonardo Bittencourt or Niclas Fullkrug
HERTHA BERLIN vs. VfB STUTTGART (Saturday at 8:30am)
Hertha made a loan signing on deadline day acquiring Matteo Guendouzi from Arsenal. However, he will not feature on Saturday. Hertha did almost everything right against Bayern on Matchday 3—except they failed to prevent Robert Lewandowski from scoring. Despite playing for Brazil during the international weekend, Matheus Cunha is still expected to feature along with Jhon Cordoba.
The top scorer from last season Nicolas Gonzalez may not have featured yet for Die Schwaben, but they are not lacking for goals as Sasa Kalajdzic and Silas Wamangituka have filled in admirably. At the back,however, Konstanino Mavrapanos is out and Waldemar Anton is doubtful. Pascal Stenzel and Marcin Kaminski could slot into a three-man backline in their stead while loan signee from Juventus Naouirou Ahamada could feature as well.
MAINZ 05 vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN (Saturday at 8:30am)
Jan-Moritz Lichte’s reign at Mainz got off to a bad start, losing 4-0 to Union Berlin. They are one of two teams to have already shipped ten or more goals so far this season. New signing Kevin Stöger is pushing for a place in midfield, while Robin Quaison and Jean-Philippe Mateta are expected to lead the attack once more. It’s been 15 years since Mainz opened a season with four straight losses when Jurgen Klopp was coach of the 05ers.
Die Werkself have opened with three draws so far this season and have never opened their first four matches without a win. Leon Bailey is looking to make his first start for Leverkusen. Patrick Schick is still out with a thigh injury. Summer signing Santiago Arias has been ruled out for several months after sustaining a serious ankle injury in international duty with Colombia.
FC AUGSBURG vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 8:30am)
Our first vs. second match of the season, though few would have guessed which Bavarian side is part of the match. Augsburg have started with two wins and a draw (which occurred on Matchday 3 against Wolfsburg). Die Fuggerstadter have allowed just one goal so far and none in their last two matches. Head coach Heiko Herrlich will be back on the touchline after recovering from a collapsed lung that forced him to miss the match against Wolfsburg.
Augsburg will be going up against the second most dangerous attack. Leipzig’s defense has been as stingy allowing just two goals. In addition, Die Roten Bullen are unbeaten in their last eight away from the Red Bull Arena. Tyler Adams is set to return to the fold after a back issue while Marcel Sabitzer is a doubt due to a thigh injury.
ARMINIA BIELEFELD vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Saturday at 11:30am)
Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega looks to be in for a busy afternoon in goal against the league’s top scorers in Bayern. However, the Schuco Arena has been home sweet home for Bielefeld as they have not lost there in over a calendar year. Faroese international Joan Simun Edmundsson may start in this one after Cebio Soukou suffered a muscular tear while on international duty with Benin.
Bayern squeaked past Hertha on Matchday 3 thanks to Robert Lewandowski. They did have an easy time with FC Düren in the DFB Pokal on Thursday while they managed to blood in their new signings such as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who scored twice against Düren, goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, and the returning Douglas Costa. This is the start of a really busy time for Bayern where they will have two matches a week from now until January.
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. VfL WOLFSBURG (Saturday at 1:30pm):
The Foals got back to winning ways following a 3-1 win against Rhine rivals FC Cologne. Florian Neuhaus will be coming off of a maiden goal for Germany after a maiden cap while Jonas Hoffman has assisted in three of the four goals for Gladbach this season. Three of Monchengladbach’s four goals have also come from set-pieces. They have the second-best home record (behind Bayern).
Wolfsburg have also opened with three draws this season and two of them were goalless. The Wolves bolstered their squad during the recent transfer window, with Maximilian Philipp arriving from Dynamo Moscow and Ridle Baku from Mainz. However, Philipp is unlikely to feature, so expect Wout Weghorst to be upfront of a five-man midfield.
FC COLOGNE vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Sunday at 8:30am)
The Billy Goats have opened with three straight losses and are winless in their last 13 in league play. However, they will be boosted on Sunday by the returns of attacking duo Ismael Jakobs and Anthony Modeste from injury. On the other side, Florian Kainz and Jonas Hector are out injured.
Die Adler find themselves in third position after a strong start to their season, capped off by a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim on Matchday 3. Andre Silva and Bas Dost have led the attack combining for four goals and three assists. Frankfurt have had their best start in eight years and are unbeaten in their last five away from the Deutsche Bank Park.
SCHALKE vs. UNION BERLIN (Sunday at 11am)
To say that Schalke have gotten off to a rough start is to put it mildly. Not only are they bottom of the Bundesliga, but they have also by far the most charitable defense allowing 15 goals and are just one of two teams who have scored just once so far. Deadline-day signing Killian Ludewig is expected to go straight into the starting line-up and help plug the gaps as will goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow after Ralf Fährmann got injured.
Union are pleased with their start to the season which sees them ninth at present. They got their first win on Matchday 3 over Mainz. Max Kruse got his first goal for Union in the win over Mainz. Lorus Karius participated in a friendly during the international break, but it remains to be seen Andreas Luthe retains his place between the sticks.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
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I asked fellow Bundesliga observer Brian Sanders for his thoughts about the Bundesliga campaign so far:
1. Which team has impressed the most in the first three matches of the season?
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Hoffenheim ended Bayern Munich’s 23-match winning streak in all competitions with authority while FC Augsburg surprised Borussia Dortmund.
At the other end of the table, both Schalke and Mainz have decided to make changes with their managers. Meanwhile, Union pick up a keeping familiar to their opponents on Friday. That and more as we preview matchday three.
(All times US Central time on ESPN+ unless stated)
FC UNION BERLIN vs. MAINZ 05 (Friday at 1:30pm):
Loris Karius joins Union on loan from Liverpool, but may have to wait to make his debut with Die Eisernen after Andres Luthe performed well in last week’s draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Karius, who played 91 times with Mainz, is not the only Liverpool loanee at Union. Taiwo Awoniyi also impressed last week and looks set to keep his place in the lineup.
Achim Beierlorzer was shown the door after a 4-1 home loss to VfB Stuttgart last weekend. Jan-Moritz Lichte has taken over in an attempt to right the ship. The 05ers will at least hope to avoid a repeat of last season that saw them open with three straight losses. He will have to start without Moussa Niakhate who was sent off against Stuttgart.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. SC FREIBURG (Saturday at 8:30am)
It’s back-to-back losses for BVB after losing at Augsburg on Saturday and then Wednesday’s German Supercup to Bayern, 3-2. Keeper Roman Burki is expected to start despite a chest infection. Jadon Sancho is also hoping to return to full fitness. On Thursday, Dortmund were drawn into Group F of the Champions League with Zenit St. Petersburg, Lazio, and Club Brugge.
Freiburg are coming off a 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg on Sunday in a match that could have gone either way. Nils Petersen already has a pair of goals and an assist for Die Breisgauer. Baptiste Santamaria was also impressive last Sunday, though unlucky not to score. Freiburg have never started a season with at least six points in their first three matches in the top flight, a win will do just that. It would also break a streak of 18 matches winless against Dortmund.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. TSG HOFFENHEIM (Saturday at 8:30am)
Die Adler went to Hertha Berlin last Friday and took all three points. Andre Silva now has ten goals from his last 12 league matches. However, Filip Kostic will miss this match due to a knee injury. Steven Zuber is expected to take his place. Keeper Andre Schubert has arrived from Schalke, though is expected to be on the bench with Kevin Trapp retaining his place. Frankfurt has won their last four against Hoffenheim.
All eyes on what Sebastian Hoeness’s side after their impressive 4-1 win last Sunday over Bayern. The result puts them at the top of the table on goals scored over Augsburg. Andrej Kramaric is already on five goals this season after a brace last Sunday. However, the first goalscorer from last Sunday, Ermin Bicakcic will be out for the foreseeable future after a cruciate ligament and meniscus tear.
FC COLOGNE vs. BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (Saturday at 8:30am)
It’s the Rhineland Derby and the Billy Goats are one of three teams yet to pick up a point this season after losses to Hoffenheim and Arminia Bielefeld. Jonas Hector faces a late fitness test after missing out last Saturday. Cologne are winless in their last 12 league matches dating back to the first Geisterspiel against Gladbach and the last match before last season was postponed.
Gladbach has also been slow out of the blocks and were held last week at home by Union Berlin. They will need Marucs Thuram and Alassane Plea back on form in order to get their campaign back on track which includes the Champions League this year. They were drawn into Group B with Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Inter Milan.
WERDER BREMEN vs. ARMINIA BIELEFELD (Saturday at 8:30am)
Niclas Fullkrug got a hat trick in the Green-Whites’ 3-1 win at Schalke. Josh Sargent is still looking for his first on the season. Bremen are also looking to improve their form at the Weser-Stadion where they have won just once in their last 16 in the Bundesliga. That win came on the final day of the 2019-20 season against Cologne.
Bielefeld are a lofty sixth after drawing Frankfurt and then defeating Cologne. Joan Simun Edmundsson, the first Bundesliga player from the Faroe Islands, scored the game’s only goal last Saturday at the Schuco Stadion. Sergio Cordova could still start with Edmundsson on the bench.
VfB STUTTGART vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN (Saturday at 8:30am)
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side bounced back from an opening loss to down Mainz, 4-1, last Saturday. Silas Wamangituka and Sasa Kalajdzic each took their season tallies to two goals in as many games, while last season’s 14-goal top scorer Nicolas Gonzalez is out with a thigh injury. Pascal Stenzel is suspended and Konstantinos Mavropanos is expected to slot into the three-man defense.
Die Werkself has opened with two draws, though the second of those draws was against RB Leipzig. Kerem Demirbay has scored the only goal for Leverkusen thus far. They lost 22 goals worth in the over the summer with Kai Havertz going to Chelsea and Kevin Volland going to Monaco. Leon Bailey is available for selection again.
RB LEIPZIG vs. SCHALKE (Saturday at 11:30am)
RB Leipzig will be looking to bounce back from that draw to Leverkusen. Center back Dayot Upamecano has extended his contract through 2023 in Saxony. Yussuf Poulsen and Hwang Hee-Chan are dealing with thigh and hip issues, respectively. However, Alexander Sorloth has arrived from Crystal Palace. Leipzig, last year’s Champions League semifinalist, have been drawn into Group H with PSG, Manchester United, and Istanbul Basaksehir.
David Wagner is out at Schalke after the Royal Blues extended their winless streak to 18 after a loss to Bremen. Manuel Baum has taken over with Naldo has his Number Two. Sebastian Rudy looks to return to central midfield after being played as a right back this season. As mentioned, Markus Schubert has left for Frankfurt, but coming the other way from Frankfurt is Frederik Ronnow to challenge Ralf Fahrmann.
VfL WOLFSBURG vs. FC AUGSBURG (Sunday at 8:30am)
Wolfsburg are looking to bounce back after Europa League playoff defeat to AEK Athens on Thursday. They are also looking for their first win in the league of the season after a pair of draws. Wout Weghorst is also looking for his first goal of the campaign. Josip Brekalo is the only player from Wolfsburg to find the net for far this season. Both should start up front against Augsburg.
Two wins to start the season is Augsburg’s best in their ten seasons in the top flight. Five different players have scored for Heiko Herrlich’s side already in the season and Florian Niederlechner has not been one of them. After registering a clean sheet against Dortmund after BVB put five past them twice over the previous season, Die Fuggerstadter are looking to end a five-match winless streak against Wolfsburg which includes an 8-1 thrashing at the end of the 2018-19 season.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. HERTHA BERLIN (Sunday at 11am)
Bayern’s long-unbeaten streak is over, but they weren’t done collecting silverware after claiming the German Supercup on Wednesday and individual awards on Thursday.
Joshua Kimmich was named UEFA Defender of the Year, Hansi Flick was named UEFA Coach of the Year, and Robert Lewandowski was named UEFA Male Player of the Year. It looks like the glut of fixtures will be the most likely factor to slow down Bayern this year. Leroy Sane has been stopped by a knee injury. Bayern is in Group A in the Champions League drawing Atletico Madrid, FC Salzburg, and Lokomotiv Moscow.
Hertha started off on a flyer with a 4-1 win at Bremen, but crashed back to Earth with a 3-1 loss at home to Frankfurt. Which team will show up against Bayern? They did open last season with a 2-2 draw at the Allianz, but it was more up and down after that. Cunha, who has seven goals in 14 matches with Hertha, earned his first callup to the Brazilian national team. However, Arne Maier is out with a fresh knee injury.
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]]>RB Leipzig also won handily in their match with Mainz. Arminia Bielefeld began life anew in the Bundesliga with a point, while Stuttgart began with a tough home loss to Freiburg. This week sees the eight-time consecutive champions head to Hoffenheim after winning the UEFA Super Cup in Budapest on Thursday, while Augsburg will hope to avoid yet another hat trick by a BVB player. That and more as we preview Matchday two.
(All times US Central time on ESPN+ unless stated)
HERTHA BERLIN vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Friday at 1:30pm):
Hertha kicked off the season with an emphatic win of their own, 4-1, over Werder Bremen. Jhon Cordoba opened his account with a goal on his debut. Matheus Cunha, Dodi Lukbakio, and Peter Pekarik also scored for The Old Lady of Berlin. It was an encouraging start for Hertha who are looking to join the elite of the Bundesliga.
Andre Silva helped Die Adler rescue a point against Bielefeld last weekend. Forward Ragnar Ache and left-back Jetro Willems have both returned to training following injuries that kept them out of the season opener, but while Ache could be in contention to make the squad for the trip to Berlin, Willems is still some time off. Two has not been a lucky number for Frankfurt as they are winless in their last seven Matchday Two fixtures (Two draws, five defeats).
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH vs. FC UNION BERLIN (Saturday at 8:30am)
Marcus Thuram is expected to start after coming off the bench in the 3-0 loss to Dortmund, last Saturday. Thuram missed the last three matches of last season with an ankle injury as well as the Pokal opener against FC Oberneuland. Fellow Frenchman Alassane Plea could also feature as well. Both scored double-digits for the Foals last season. Borussia Park was home sweet home last season as they lost just three times there with only Bayern posting a better home record.
Die Eisernen will be without Christian Gentner due to a calf injury. Sebastian Griesbeck is expected to deputize in his place. Former Foal Max Kruse could feature after he came on late in Union’s 3-1 loss to Augsburg. Taiwo Awoniyi arrives on loan from Liverpool. Union lost four of their last five away matches of last season with only Fortuna Dusseldorf and SC Paderborn (both relegated) posting worse away records.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. RB LEIPZIG (Saturday at 8:30am)
Patrik Schick faces the team he spent the second half of last season on loan from Roma in RB Leipzig. Schick was actually Leipzig’s second-top scorer last season behind Timo Werner, but was a second half substitute in the 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg, last Sunday. However, he might get his full debut on Saturday. Leon Bailey might also feature as well.
Despite no longer having Schick or Werner, Leipzig still made a convincing start to the season with a 3-1 win over Mainz following goals by Emil Forsberg, Amadou Haidara, and Yussuf Poulsen. There is also now Norwegian striker Alexandar Sorloth in Leipzig’s ranks. Sorloth scored 33 goals in 49 appearances with Turkish side Trabzonspor last season.
MAINZ 05 vs. VfB STUTTGART (Saturday at 8:30am)
The 05ers lost last Sunday to Leipzig, but will be encouraged by Jean Philippe Mateta scoring again. He already has more goals in all competitions than he did last season which was riddled with injury. Youth is also being served with Paul Nebel becoming Mainz’s youngest ever player in the Bundesliga, aged just 17 years and 346 days old, when he came on late in the match. Niklas Tauer, 19, also made his league debut for the 05ers.
Stuttgart’s rally from 3-0 down came up short against Frankfurt in their return to the top flight. Gonzalez remains out wiith a thigh injury while substitute Sasa Kalajdzic, who scored last Saturday, could start for Die Schwaben. Stuttgart had 22 attempts on goal last week with only Bayern taking more shots on Matchday One.
FC AUGSBURG vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Saturday at 8:30am)
Last season saw Die Függerstäder go 2-0 and 3-1 up on BVB before Erling Haaland came off the bench, scored a hat-trick and helped Dortmund to a 5-3 victory. Heiko Herrlich’s side opened the season with a 3-1 success against Union Berlin. Ruben Vargas, Michael Gregoritsch, and Andre Hahn all scored for Augsburg in the victory.
Of course, it is not just Haaland who Augsburg should watch out for. There’s also Jadon Sancho and Gio Reyna, the latter of whom opened the scoring against Gladbach. It’s Reyna’s play that will likely keep Marco Reus on the bench. BVB has a history of players scoring hat tricks against Augsburg such as Haaland’s last season. The other three were Robert Lewandowski, Pierre Aubameyang, and Paco Alcacer.
ARMINIA BIELEFELD vs. FC COLOGNE (Saturday at 8:30am)
Bielefeld made an encouraging start to the first season in the top flight in 11 years after drawing at Frankfurt. Ceibo Soukou scored Bielefeld’s goal while Doan was a constant threat in the match. However, the defensive lineup will be different with Nathan de Medina out and Anderson Lucoqui a major doubt.
Sebastian Andersson scored in his debut for the Billy Goats, last weekend, though they would end up losing 3-2 to Hoffenheim. Andersson himself faces a late fitness test after a knock in training. Cologne have no problems scoring as they have done so in their last 21 league matches (longest of any team in the league), but keeping it out at the other has been a problem as they have no clean sheet in their last 12.
FC SCHALKE 04 vs. WERDER BREMEN (Saturday at 11:30am)
This is a battle between two teams who suffered brutal defeats last week. The Royal Blues suffered an 8-0 thrashing at the hands of Bayern last Friday. They are now winless in their last 17 and have scored just nine goals in 18 league matches this calendar year, keeping a clean sheet in just five of those matches (both worst records in the Bundesliga). It does not help that Suat Serdar will be out injured.
The Green-Whites suffered a 4-1 loss at home to Hertha Berlin after escaping relegation last season by away goals. Josh Sargent did start for Bremen last week and Tahith Chong may feature as well. The Veltins Arena has been a happy hunting ground for Bremen as they have won their last four matches there.
TSG HOFFENHEIM vs. BAYERN MUNICH (Sunday at 8:30am)
Andrej Kramaric scored a hat trick in the 3-2 win over Cologne, last Saturday. His last three competitive matches have seen him score a total of nine goals for Die Kraichgauer. Coach Sebastian Hoeness (Uli’s nephew) will be looking forward to facing his old team after guiding Bayern’s reserves to the 3. Liga title last season.
It continues to be December 7, since Bayern last lost a competitive match after they took home the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday in Budapest, beating Sevilla in extra time. Last season saw Bayern thump Hoffenheim, 6-0, at the PreZero Arena, but will the wear and tear from Thursday catch up with them on Sunday? Squad rotation is very likely with one eye towards the German Super Cup next Wednesday against Dortmund. Alphonso Davies was rested on Matchday One, but came on as a substitute in extra time on Thursday. Bayern could be the first to score ten goals in the first two games of a Bundesliga season (need two more) and the first to win 11 successive away league matches.
SC FREIBURG vs, VfL WOLFSBURG (Sunday at 11am)
Frieburg are coming off an away win against Stuttgart where they were 3-0 up after 48 minutes before having to hold on late and finish 3-2. Nils Petersen extended his club record with 88 competitive goals, last Saturday. Florian Müller will continue to deputize in goal with Mark Flekken still out with an elbow injury. Die Breisgauer are looking for their first four-match home win streak in four years after winning the last three home fixtures of last season.
Wout Weghorst will look to get back on the scoresheet after nobody on Wolfsburg did last Sunday against Leverkusen. The road was somewhat better for the Wolves last season as nine of their 13 wins came from away the Volkswagen Arena. John Brooks is likely to start ahead of Maxence Lacroix who picked up a knock in Europa League play in midweek which saw Wolfsburg dispose of Ukrainian side Desna, 2-0.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
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