By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
FC Bayern München face a serious test of their bouncebackability after a surprising stutter as the Bundesliga leaders host in-form TSG Hoffenheim in a mouth-watering Matchday 21 finale.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Hoffenheim arrive at the Allianz Arena for Sunday’s late kick-off transformed under coach Christian Ilzer, who has steered his team into third place. That is the result of an impressive seven-game unbeaten run that features six wins, including the last five games in a row. That red-hot streak is in stark contrast to a lukewarm FC Bayern, who have claimed a single point from their last two Bundesliga matches after a blistering start to the season and 2026.
That uncharacteristic bumpy patch has seen the reigning champions’ lead at the top cut to six points, as second-placed Borussia Dortmund have been unrelenting. Since they were beaten in Munich on Matchday 7, Niko Kovač’s side have been undefeated and will be optimistic of extending their winning streak to five successive matches when they travel to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, 24 hours before Bayern kick off the final game of the round.
VfB Stuttgart now head frenzied battle for fourth and Germany’s last guaranteed UEFA Champions League qualifying slot. Sebastian Hoeneß’s team can extend their threepoint advantage over fifth-placed RB Leipzig with a win at struggling FC St. Pauli on Saturday.
Die Roten Bullen – beaten for a second time in three games last time out – go to 1. FC Köln for Sunday’s early kick-off. Ole Werner’s men may even be down to sixth place by then if Bayer 04 Leverkusen claim Rhine derby bragging rights at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Saturday evening centrepiece.
SV Werder Bremen will be hoping a change of coach will help get them a result at SC Freiburg on Saturday that will leave them more than point clear of the bottom three, but 1. FSV Mainz 05 – surprise victors in Leipzig last weekend and current occupiers of the relegation play-off spot – will head into their home game with FC Augsburg more optimistic of their survival chances.
Beaten narrowly at Dortmund on Matchday 20,bottom side 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 host a Hamburger SV buoyant from their spirited 2-2 draw with FC Bayern last weekend, while FC Union Berlin kick off the round on Friday aiming to register their first win of 2026 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, for whom Albert Riera makes his debut in charge.