By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 renew rivalries in the pick of the Bundesliga Matchday 7 fixtures on Saturday.
The 99th top-flight edition of the Ruhr district rumble promises to be well worth the wait following Schalke’s one-season absence from the Bundesliga last term. Having returned to the big time at the first time of asking, the Royal Blues would like nothing better than to get one over on the Black-Yellows in the Mother of all Derbies.
The cities of Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen – Schalke’s home – are separated by less than 20 miles in the Ruhr region, for generations Germany’s centre of coal and steel production. You could say more unites them than divides them as they share a hugely passionate, football-mad, working-class fan base – but there is no middle ground. You’re either BVB or S04.
It’s also derby time in Bavaria, where FC Bayern München make the short trip to FC Augsburg. The record champions have drawn three successive Bundesliga matches for only the third time in four years, but could reclaim top spot from 1. FC Union Berlin ahead of the September international break, if results go their way. That might be easier said than done. Augsburg toppled free-scoring SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 6, and beat Bayern 2-1 at home last season.
There’s a reunion of a different kind in Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening, when Marco Rose returns to the club where he spent two seasons as head coach. The new RB Leipzig boss enjoyed a winning debut last weekend, masterminding a commanding 3-0 triumph over another former flame, Dortmund. Back-to-back wins would be a first for Leipzig in the Bundesliga this season, while Gladbach – despite holding Bayern on Matchday 4 – are winless in three.
Also in action this weekend are 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hertha Berlin, who kick off Matchday 7 on Friday night. Fortunate to take a point off Hertha a week ago, faltering Bayer 04 Leverkusen host Bremen less than 24 hours later, while VfB Stuttgart will hope to turn their spirited 2-2 draw with Bayern into a first win of the season when hot-and-cold Eintracht Frankfurt visit the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Due to the Bundesliga’s eight-strong contingent in UEFA competition in 2022/23, there’s the added bonus of three games on Sunday, rather than the usual two. Pre-Matchday 7 leaders Union put their 13-game unbeaten run on the line at home to VfL Wolfsburg in the first, spearheaded by the division’s five-goal joint top scorer, Sheraldo Becker.
Next on the menu, rock-bottom Bochum host 1. FC Köln. Defeat to regional rivals Schalke not only left the club pointless after six matches, it also cost head coach Thomas Reis his job. A south-west derby between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg is the proverbial dessert that’s bound to leave fans worldwide asking for a second helping. Such is the competitive nature and surprise factor of this season’s Bundesliga, the winner could even usurp Union in first place.
Down in Bundesliga 2, Hamburger SV have a chance to take top spot – at least for a night – when they host Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday evening. Current leaders SC Paderborn 07 are at rock-bottom SpVgg Greuther Fürth the following afternoon, which is also when third-placed 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 host the always entertaining 1. FC Kaiserslautern.