Bundesliga schedule and preview, Week 7: Can Dortmund start making up ground?

Expect Bayern to win their match at home this week, either maintaining or expanding their advantage over their rivals. There are plenty of interesting things going on elsewhere, though, with the Champions League and relegation races looking pretty interesting.

TV: GolTV (U.S. and Canada), BT Sport Extra (Canada)

While it’s lacking in star power, this is probably the most important and most evenly matched encounter this weekend. These two currently sit just ahead of the drop zone, but should be battling relegation most of the season.

Stuttgart got off to a terrible start this season, but they came away with a big 1-0 win over Hannover last week, propelling them out of the drop zone. Still, they have just five points from their first six games, and will see a game away from Hertha as an opportunity to pick up some points. The same goes for Hertha, who also have just one win this season and won’t find many better chances to pick up all three points.

TV: GolTV (U.S. and Canada)

The last time Bayern Munich played a league match immediately after a tough Champions League test, they rotated pretty heavily and didn’t play well away to Hamburg. They’re home this time around, but they’re also coming off a trip to Russia, and Guardiola should probably change about half his team.

Hannover supporters might have felt good about a potential upset bid a week ago, but that feels a bit less likely after a surprise loss to Stuttgart. They have one of the Bundesliga’s best defenses and can certainly make scoring hard on Bayern, but it’s tough to see where they’ll get goals themselves.

It’s not on TV, but you probably don’t get GolTV anyway, so what’s the difference? Anyway, Dortmund have somehow managed just 7 points so far this season and sit all the way down in 12th. No one really expects them to finish outside of the top four, but it might be time to start asking questions if they can’t get three points out of this one.

Hamburg are one of three Bundesliga teams who are yet to record a win, and it would be pretty stunning if they pulled it off here. They’re probably the worst of those three sides -- they’re bottom and on the worst goal differential -- but their draw against Bayern suggests that anything is possible.

Dortmund, like Bayern, struggled coming off of a Champions League match during the last round, and they’re going to make a handful of changes as well. Realistically, Jürgen Klopp should be able to start a few B-teamers and win this match.

TV: GolTV (U.S. and Canada), BT Sport 2 (U.K.)

If Mainz can pull off a draw or better in this match, it’ll be time to ask whether or not they’re a serious contender for a Champions League place. Most assumed they’d experience a significant dropoff after Thomas Tuchel’s departure, but they’re playing better than ever, and come into this game undefeated.

Gladbach are unbeaten as well, sitting second in the table, and have won their last two. They played midweek in Europa League, which might be a bit of a hinderance, but they were fortunate that they only had to make a short trip to Zürich.

Schedule (all times ET)