Hamburg SV vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Bundesliga Preview: Cologne Host Werder, Stuttgart Visit Borussia Dortmund As Relegation Battle Heats Up
With the title race essentially over, the focus in the Bundesliga has shifted to the chase for European spots and the relegation battle. Bayern Munich host Kaiserslautern and Bayer Leverkusen travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach, while second-place Hannover 96 are at home against Schalke 04. At the bottom, Werder Bremen visit Cologne and Stuttgart play Borussia Dortmund.
Friday, 2:30 PM, TV: GOL TV (tape delay)
After a slightly surprising but deserved victory against Schalke, Hamburg return to the Imtech Arena this weekend as they try to make a run for the European places. Eintracht Frankfurt were humbled at home last week by Hannover’s counter-attacking football but have a very solid record away from home and they too will want to stay in the very tight race for Europa League spots. The key man for the hosts could be Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has been linked with a return to Real Madrid. Van Nistelrooy was the difference for HSV last week, and also scored in Hamburg’s 3-1 victory in Frankfurt.
Bayern Munich vs. Kaiserslautern
Saturday, 9:30 AM, TV: ESPN3.com
The champions' miserable away form continued last week, as they conceded a late equalizer in Wolfsburg after having the better chances. Kaiserslautern also drew last week as they came from behind at home against Cologne in an even contest at the Fritz-Walter Stadion. It was 'Lautern that began Bayern's troubles away from the Allianz Arena with a smash-and-grab 2-0 win back in August, but they will have a much harder time in this contest. Bayern's injury situation is slightly worse than last week as Franck Ribéry will be out for several weeks with a knee injury and Toni Kroos is still about a month away from his return. However, FCB have won their last eight at home and scored three or more goals per game in each of those matches, and will know that a win could move them as high as third by the end of the weekend.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Stuttgart
Saturday, 9:30 AM, TV: GOL TV
Borussia Dortmund seem to have the title all sewn up, no matter what they say to the press -- victory over Leverkusen last week means they are now twelve points clear at the top of the table. Stuttgart also won last weekend thanks to a late goal from Martin Harnik and are now just three points from safety. However, Dortmund only have the Bundesliga to focus on for the remainder of this season and Jürgen Klopp will want to win the title at a canter; Dortmund have a shot at breaking Bayern Munich’s record for the highest points total in the history of the Bundesliga (79 in 1972 and 1973, using three points for a win). If the hosts play anywhere near their best, this game should be a very easy victory for BVB.
Hannover 96 vs. Schalke 04
Saturday, 9:30 AM
After a 3-0 win against Frankfurt last week with their nearly irresistible attacking football, Hannover are up to second place in the table -- despite having a goal difference of just +1. Schalke fell at home to Hamburg, and will be looking to improve their performances on the road in the second half, particularly in their attack. Felix Magath’s side is not the quickest in the league and will be vulnerable to Hannover’s counters; the visitors may also have an eye on their midweek clash at home against Nürnberg in the DFB-Pokal.
Mainz 05 vs. Wolfsburg
Saturday, 9:30 AM
These two sides had very different starts to the second half of the season; Wolfsburg snatched a late equalizer at home to Bayern Munich while Mainz fell to a late goal in Stuttgart and have kept just one clean sheet in their last ten matches. Die Wölfe have been draw specialists this season; they’ve shared the points eight times, more than any other team in the league. Mainz, by contrast, have yet to draw a match this season, and this is their best chance to do so. Wolfsburg aren’t very good on their travels, but Mainz have been poor at home recently, with just one win and four losses in their last five league games at the Stadion am Bruchweg. In spite of Mainz’s propensity to be either good or very bad, this match looks like a draw is the most probable outcome.
Freiburg vs. Nürnberg
Saturday, 9:30 AM
Papiss Cissé bailed out Freiburg twice last week after missing an early penalty as they drew 2-2 with St. Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion, while Nürnberg were beaten at home by Mönchengladbach in what was by far the biggest shock result of Round 18. The Bavarians aren’t in great shape, but they will have been very disappointed with a home loss to such poor opposition. Their opponents this weekend are in better shape than ‘Gladbach, but have started to defend a bit like the Wesphalian outfit after conceding a pair in each of their last two matches. This should be a pretty even game, but Freiburg have the edge, and his name is Papiss Cissé.
Cologne vs. Werder Bremen
Saturday, 12:30 PM
Cologne picked up an important point away to Kaiserslautern last week, and will fancy their chances of getting a result here as well given Bremen’s very poor away form. However, the visitors will be buoyed by their stoppage-time winner at home against Hoffenheim, and should be favourites (despite their away record) simply because Cologne aren’t very good.
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Sunday, 9:30 AM, TV: ESPN3.com
This column wrote off Mönchengladbach last week as no-hopers. ‘Gladbach then went on to beat Nürnberg at the EasyCredit Stadion and are now five points from safety, although they remain in eighteenth place. Even so, Leverkusen are unbeaten on their travels (won six, drawn two), and should win this match comfortably. ‘Gladbach did beat them 6-3 in a wild game early on in the season and Leverkusen were humbled at home last week by Dortmund, but Jupp Heynckes’ side have more than enough quality to beat their hosts and move back ahead of Mainz in the table.
Hoffenheim vs. St. Pauli
Sunday, 11:30 AM
St. Pauli went ahead twice at home to Freiburg, but conceded a pair of equalizers and only finished with a point, which leaves them three ahead of Cologne in sixteenth. Hoffenheim looked headed for a share of the points against Werder Bremen thanks to an eighty-seventh minute goal from Boris Vukcevic, but Torsten Frings scored at the death for the hosts to leave Hoffenheim with just one win in eight league games. Fortunately for Hoffe, they are only five points off of a Europa League spot, so if they can find some form they could be in Europe next year. St. Pauli’s situation is distinctly gloomier, as they don’t look like a side that is building any momentum just as the teams behind them are finally improving.
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