By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
FC Bayern München will continue their Bundesliga title quest when they travel to SC Freiburg’s Europa-Park Stadion as part of a bumper six-game Saturday afternoon.
With just seven games remaining, Bayern are nine points ahead of their closest challengers, Borussia Dortmund, meaning they could have the Meisterschale wrapped up by the end of April, if results go their way.
Opponents Freiburg are the only other Bundesliga team still competing on three fronts. Julian Schuster’s side currently sit eighth, nine points adrift of the top six, although they also have a big month ahead with a DFB-Pokal semi-final and UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie.
Later on Saturday, second faces third as Dortmund travel to VfB Stuttgart. The 3-2 come back victory over Hamburger SV before the international break allowed BVB to maintain their eight-point buffer over their Matchday 28 hosts one position below them.
Die Schwaben, though, are unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga games, with Deniz Undav in top form, making them a difficult proposition for Niko Kovač’s outfit, especially considering the Black-and-Yellows haven’t won in this fixture since 2022.
Fellow top-four contenders RB Leipzig make the trip to relegation-battlers SV Werder Bremen earlier on Saturday. After a sticky patch, Die Roten Bullen have won three of their last four, but Daniel Thioune’s arrival at Bremen has led to a mini-revival – they have now also prevailed in three of their past four fixtures to give themselves some breathing space.
Despite their stature, VfL Wolfsburg are in trouble at the wrong end of the table, occupying 17th place. They have a tough ask as they face Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Bay Arena on Saturday, with the Werkself aiming to close the gap to the UEFA Champions League qualification spots.
Four points and one place above Leverkusen are TSG Hoffenheim, who welcome 1. FSV Mainz 05 to the PreZero Arena. Just one victory from their past five Bundesliga fixtures has stunted Die Kraichgauer’s Champions League push somewhat, and their clash with a team that has lost just two of their 14 league outings under head coach Urs Fischer promises to be an intriguing one.
Either side of 11th-placed Mainz in the table are FC Augsburg and Hamburg, who face off at the WWK Arena. The hosts will be eager to end a three-game losing streak, while three points for the visitors would put them on the brink of safety in their first season back amongst the elite.
In the last of Saturday’s six afternoon kick-offs, a win is a must for rock-bottom 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 when they play Borussia Mönchengladbach away from home, if they are to avoid a drop down to the second tier. They currently trail St. Pauli by nine points in the play-off spot, with Gladbach a further five ahead as they too seek survival.
Finally, FC St. Pauli have a date with 1. FC Union Berlin at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei. Die Kiezkicker have improved of late, but remain 16th, while Union are currently midtable following a mixed campaign.
René Wagner will make his bow as 1. FC Köln head coach after replacing Lukas Kwasniok when his new team visit Eintracht Frankfurt in Sunday’s closing fixture. Two wins in 18 have left the Billy Goats near the bottom of the table, though the hope is that a coaching swap will give them the momentum needed to defeat a Frankfurt side yet to concede at home under Albert Rieira.