By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bayern München’s next test in their quest for a second consecutive Bundesliga title sees them host Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Allianz Arena on Friday evening.
The reigning champions picked up a crucial win away at Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling Der Klassiker to move 11 points clear at the top of the table. It’s a lead that match-winner Joshua Kimmich stated “we won’t blow”, with the Meisterschale almost within touching distance, while Harry Kane’s brace took him to 30 goals for the league campaign and keeps him on course to break Robert Lewandowski’s ‘all-time single-season record of 41 strikes.
However coach Vincent Kompany said Kane will play no part in Friday’s game, due to injury.
“He got a knock on his calf and hasn’t recovered yet,” Kompany said. “It’s nothing serious for the time being but we’d need maybe another a day for him to be involved. We’re pretty relaxed. Of course we would have liked Harry to be involved but these things happen.”
Gladbach, meanwhile, picked up a crucial win last time out, defeating 1. FC Union Berlin 1-0 at Borussia-Park. Kevin Dicks netted a 94th-minute penalty to move the Foals three points clear of the bottom three.
Dortmund will aim to bounce back from defeat to Bayern with a trip to 1. FC Köln on Saturday evening. Despite the setback, BVB have lost only twice in the league this term and will be confident of getting a result against a side that has won just one of their last six games and have been drawn into the battle for survival.
Two in-form sides with contrasting objectives will meet at the Millerntor on Sunday. While FC St. Pauli, who have won three of their past four, are looking to put significant distance between themselves and the bottom three, Eintracht Frankfurt will aim for a third win in five games under new head coach Albert Riera to stay in the race for European football.
A day earlier, SC Freiburg welcome Bayer 04 Leverkusen as two of Frankfurt’s continental contenders meet. Freiburg’s loss to the Eagles on Matchday 24 leaves them six points adrift of the top six, but Leverkusen’s 1-1 draw with 1. FSV Mainz 05 will give Julian Schuster’s side hope of closing the gap.
Fresh from their 4-0 stroll against VfL Wolfsburg – a game in which Sebastian Hoeneß celebrated his 100th Bundesliga game in charge – VfB Stuttgart travel to Mainz, also on Saturday afternoon. Die Schwaben are still chasing a return to UEFA Champions League football and are now level on points with TSG Hoffenheim in third. Mainz, on the other hand,are still not out of trouble at the bottom despite their improvement since Urs Fischer’s arrival.
One of Stuttgart’s closest challengers for a top-four spot, RB Leipzig, entertain FC Augsburg at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday. While Leipzig did pick up a second win in seven competitive outings this past weekend, they will come up against the Bundesliga’s form side, who have picked up 15 points from a possible 18 over the last six games.