Bundesliga Preview, Week 28: Hannover 96 Try To Hold On To Third Against Borussia Dortmund

The Bundesliga returns this weekend after the international break, and with just seven games left the pressure is on at the top and bottom of the table. Werder Bremen and St. Pauli can get out of the relegation zone this weekend with a victory each, while Borussia Mönchengladbach need a result against Bayern Munich to keep any hopes of staying up alive. FCB is still in a heated battle with Hannover 96 for the final Champions League place, while FC Nürnberg are just behind Mainz 05 for the final Europa League place.

St. Pauli vs. Schalke 04

Friday, 2:30 PM

Two goals from Theofanis Gekas sent St. Pauli to a fifth successive defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, but they’ll be hopeful of returning to form against a Schalke 04 side that no longer has anything to play for in the league. Schalke fell to a pair of first-half goals against Leverkusen, and while they’re only five points ahead of St. Pauli, who occupy the final relegation place, Ralf Rangnick’s side will probably be looking ahead to their Champions League clash with Inter Milan next Tuesday. The home side have been on poor form but need a result badly and should be able to get one in front of their raucous home crowd.

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach

Saturday, 9:30 AM

A late goal from Franck Ribéry gave Bayern Munich a vital win over Freiburg before the international break, and they’ll need to continue their winning ways at home against cellar dwellers Borussia Mönchengladbach to keep the pressure on Hannover 96 for the final Champions League place. Despite their improved form in the second half of the season, ‘Gladbach are still six points from safety after defeat at home to Kaiserslautern, and any chances of a great escape are disappearing quickly. Bayern are clear favorites here, but have a nasty habit of falling apart in games they should win -- including away to Mönchengladbach earlier this season, when they led 2-1 at halftime but only took a point from Borussia-Park.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Hannover 96

Saturday, 9:30 AM

This is a huge clash for Hannover 96, and a game they have to try to win because barring another Bayern Munich collapse the defending champions will claim three points against ‘Gladbach and leapfrog Mirko Slomka’s side into third place. Victory against TSG Hoffenheim before the international break kept their gap with Bayern at two points, but Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion are a much more difficult prospect. Even though BVB have taken just four points from nine after conceding an 89th-minute equalizer at home against Mainz 05, they should be favoured to get back on track here and hold their gap with Leverkusen at seven points. A draw, however, could be doubly interesting: Bayern would likely take over third, moving a point ahead of Hannover, while if Leverkusen beat ‘Lautern, the gap at the top could be reduced to five points, its smallest level in months.

FC Kaiserslautern vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Saturday, 9:30 AM

Three places but just three points above the drop, FC Kaiserslautern are still in the thick of the race against relegation after a narrow win over Mönchengladbach, while Bayer Leverkusen are on the brink of re-opening the title race as they’ve pulled back five points on Dortmund in the last two matchdays. A 2-0 win over Schalke before the international break kept Leverkusen five points ahead of Hannover in second, and they should be clear favorites here. However, ‘Lautern still have plenty to play for, and the end-of-season departure of Bayer coach Jupp Heynckes for Bayern Munich could have an affect as well.

Mainz 05 vs. SC Freiburg

Saturday, 9:30 AM

Thomas Tuchel’s Mainz 05 have to be looking over their shoulders a bit at FC Nürnberg, who are now just two points behind them for the final Europa League place after die Nullfunfer drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund. SC Freiburg’s chances of qualifying for Europe look slim after they fell at home to Bayern Munich, but they could still make a run if they win this game. Mainz should be able to get back on track here, but Freiburg have a chance to get a result at the Stadion am Bruchweg, which has not been a fortress for the home side this season.

Werder Bremen vs. VfB Stuttgart

Saturday, 9:30 AM

The first of this weekend’s two relegation six-pointers pits a Werder Bremen side that has somehow scraped together enough form to pull itself four points above the drop against a VfB Stuttgart team that is unbeaten in four games and rapidly climbing the form table. Both sides have too much quality on paper to be in this position, but Stuttgart have enough momentum about them to look the more dangerous of the two in this match, having scored in each of their last seven games. Bremen, despite winning their last game against Nürnberg 3-1, have drawn their last three at home, and given that both sides could do with a point, that could be the result here.

TSG Hoffenheim vs. Hamburg SV

Saturday, 12:30 PM

This is, unfortunately, a pretty uninspiring game for a late Saturday kickoff: Hoffenheim have nothing left to play for this season, while Hamburg SV’s chances of claiming a Europa League place are very slim. Hoffe have been in poor form form some time, so look for HSV to keep up the momentum they gained after hammering Cologne with a win here.

FC Cologne vs. FC Nürnberg

Sunday, 9:30 AM

Both of these sides are coming off the back of bad losses after strong runs of form; Cologne were battered by HSV two weeks ago, losing 6-2, while Nürnberg fell 3-1 at home against Bremen. The hosts are four points clear of the relegation zone, but will need a few more good results to ensure 1. Bundesliga football next season, while FCN are just two points behind Mainz 05 for the final European place. Nürnberg are plainly the better side and have improved their away record recently, but will find it hard to beat free-scoring Cologne, so a draw is probably on the cards.

VfL Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

Sunday, 11:30 AM

The second of this weekend’s six-pointers sees Frankfurt, who finally remembered how to win a game after nine matches without a victory, face VfL Wolfsburg, with added Felix Magath for excitement and Facebook fun. The hosts are two points from safety in 17th after a 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart, and Frankfurt are four points ahead of them. However, Frankfurt has a substantially harder run-in, including games against Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05, and Bayern Munich, so they need to pick up points in these (somewhat) easier games to ensure their top-flight survival.