Bundesliga Week 11 Preview: Hamburg SV And Hoffenheim Battle To Stay In Contention

Schalke 04 vs. St. Pauli

Friday, 3:30 PM, TV: GOL TV (tape delay)

Normally the DFL picks out a decent clash for the Friday fixture, but not this week. St. Pauli have been playing pretty well, but were distinctly second-best last weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt, but a pair of Theofanis Gekas goals and a late strike from Caio sent them down to defeat. Schalke 04, by contrast, have been simply awful. Felix Magath’s side has scored just once in their last four games, and went down to a one-nil defeat last Saturday at home to Leverkusen. Die Königsblauen have yet to win a home game this season, and given their attacking form that does not look like changing this weekend.

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich

Saturday, 10:30 AM, TV: ESPN Deportes (late start), ESPN3.com

Despite taking just fifteen players to Cluj for their midweek Champions League clash, Bayern Munich grabbed a very solid four-nil victory courtesy of a hat-trick by Mario Gómez and a late goal from Thomas Müller. The champions are still severely hampered by injuries, but should fancy their chances against a ‘Gladbach side that shipped another three goals away to Kaiserslautern last week. ‘Gladbach haven’t won in the league since August, and their defence is so poor that FCB should be able to put a couple past them.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Wolfsburg

Saturday, 10:30 AM

Eintracht Frankfurt have been doing very well this season and continued their push for European football with a convincing three-one victory against St. Pauli last weekend. Wolfsburg, who were pre-season long shots for the title, are just starting to get some form. They recorded a two-nil victory over an admittedly poor Stuttgart side thanks to two Edin Dzeko goals, but will be faced with a sterner test at the Commerzbank-Arena.

Nuremberg vs. FC Cologne

Saturday, 10:30 AM

Both of these sides are coming off of surprising three-two victories from last week; Nuremberg were better than the scoreline indicated in their win over Bremen, while FC Cologne left it very late to beat Hamburg. FCN are comfortably mid-table and have been playing well, while Köln have just stumbled on to a bit of form since sacking Zvonimir Soldo, but this is a match the home side should expect to win.

SC Freiburg vs. Mainz 05

Saturday, 10:30 AM

Mainz’s blistering start has come to a halt over the past week. After being knocked out of the Pokal by Aachen, they were distinctly second-best in their top of the table clash with Dortmund and BVB took over first place from Thomas Tuchel’s side. However, Mainz have shown that they are good enough to be up in the title race and will fancy their chances against Freiburg, who have also lost their last two matches. Freiburg stifled FC Bayern in the first half last week, but were roundly pummeled after the interval and could be in for similar treatment in this match.

Hamburg SV vs. Hoffenheim

Saturday, 10:30 AM

Hamburg and Hoffenheim are both on the edge of becoming title challengers, and this match could be important in determining which - if either - stays in the championship race. Hamburg are in eighth, but they’re just three points behind Hoffenheim in third position. Neither of these sides were active in Europe this week, but they’re coming off of strikingly different results from last weekend. HSV were shocked by a Milivoje Novakovic hat-trick away to Köln, while Hoffenheim dismantled Hannover in a four-nil victory. This match will also be a slight contrast of styles as Hamburg play with a very expansive midfield while Hoffenheim tend to rely on the skill and athleticism of their forwards to produce opportunities. Hamburg have played some better football this season, but Hoffenheim are quite dangerous on the counterattack - a highly entertaining draw is probably the most likely result.

Hannover 96 vs. Borussia Dortmund

Sunday, 9:30 AM, TV: ESPN3.com

If the pressure wasn’t on before, it certainly is now for Borussia Dortmund, who come into week eleven as leaders and now odds-on favourites for the meisterschaft. After a composed performance gave them a deserved two-nil victory over Mainz, BVB will want to keep their momentum going against a Hannover side who have been performing above expectations this year. Unfortunately for the hosts, they’re coming off of a four-nil shellacking at the hands of Hoffenheim, although they played much of the game with ten men. In spite of Hannover’s strong start, Dortmund should be too good for them and should maintain their narrow lead at the top of the table

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Kaiserslautern

Sunday, 11:30 AM

Bayer have had a mixed year so far but picked up two good wins in their last pair of games against Schalke in the Bundesliga and Aris Salonika in the Europa League. Away to S04 they didn’t have much of the ball but were much more dangerous when in possession, and Sidney Sam scored a nice goal to give them a one-nil victory. At home to Aris they left it until the ninetieth minute but grabbed another one-nil win through Arturo Vidal, and should be favourites against a ‘Lautern side who won their first league game since August last week. FCK did well against ‘Gladbach, but are up against much better opposition this week and should be overmatched by a Leverkusen side still without a number of key players.

Stuttgart vs. Werder Bremen

Sunday, 11:30 AM, TV: GOL TV (tape delay)

The goals have continued to flow in Bremen’s matches - unfortunately, most of them have been going in at the wrong end of the pitch for Thomas Schaaf’s side. They shipped another pair at home to FC Twente in midweek after conceding three to Nürnberg last weekend. Fortunately for Die Grün-Wießen, Stuttgart, too, have been playing poorly in the league, though they did grab a big win in the Europa League on Thursday. Both sides are poor at the back but better going forward, and though it could be a tight contest (Bremen tend to shoot themselves in the foot often), the visitors should just be able to win it.