By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
FC Bayern München are used to reigning supreme, having finished on top of the table in each of the last 11 seasons, but they have work to do this campaign. As it stands, Thomas Tuchel’s side are four points off the summit, although with a game in hand, after a chastening 5-1 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt last time out, a result which ended the Bavarians’ unbeaten start to the term.
This Sunday, Bayern host high-flyers VfB Stuttgart – who are only one point and one place behind them in the table – in what looks certain to be another difficult encounter.
Having knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the DFB Cup during the week, Stuttgart then faced the next daunting task of hosting unbeaten league-leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the MHPArena last Sunday. However, in what was a true test of their Meisterschale credentials, they picked up a respectable point in a 1-1 draw. Sebastian Hoeneß’s men were dominant before the break, registering a huge 18 shots – more than they had previously managed in any game since the end of the 2006/07 season. Furthermore, while Chris Führich’s opener was ultimately cancelled out by Florian Wirtz after the interval, Stuttgart showed they can put the division’s very best under pressure, especially with the dual attacking threat of Serhou Guirassy and Deniz Undav at their disposal.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, will look to return to winning ways after back-to-back draws curtailed their eight-match winning streak. Those two points, though, came against Dortmund and Stuttgart, hardly making them disappointing outcomes. Things don’t get any easier on Sunday against Bayern’s conquerors Frankfurt, who are themselves looking to move into the European qualification spots.
Edin Terzić’s Dortmund were defeated 3-2 at the hands of RB Leipzig at the Signal Iduna Park on Matchday 14, a match which also saw BVB reduced to 10 men when key defensive figure Mats Hummels was dismissed. They travel to FC Augsburg – whose 2-0 defeat to SV Werder Bremen in their last match ended Jess Thorup’s unbeaten start to life as head coach – on Saturday afternoon eager to breathe new life into their own title charge after just one win in their last six Bundesliga outings.
For Leipzig, a trip to TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday evening appears on the horizon. Beating Dortmund opened up a four-point gap between Die Roten Bullen and Die Schwarzgelben, while Marco Rose’s team are now only seven points adrift of Leverkusen. Hoffenheim, though, are enjoying a solid season too, and will believe a UEFA Champions League spot is still up for grabs as they sit in sixth – the division’s third-best away record and their 3-1 victory over VfL Bochum last time out will have only boosted those hopes.
Elsewhere, 1. FC Union Berlin will be keen to register back-to-back victories after a long barren spell when they host Bochum on Saturday. The Irons picked up a first win in any competition since August by dispatching Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1, and the visit to the Ruhrstadion presents a good opportunity to build some momentum after two unbeaten games under Nenad Bjelica.
Gladbach kick off the weekend’s action on Friday when they face Bremen. Both teams have been inconsistent to date, but a win for either could see them move into the top half. Neither will be able to catch SC Freiburg, though, who are rolling along at a comfortable pace and will welcome struggling 1. FC Köln to the Europa-Park Stadion on Sunday.
The Billy Goats are one point and two places ahead of rock-bottom SV Darmstadt 98. They have picked up just nine points thus far, although Wolfsburg’s one win in eight matches suggested the Wolves can be got at when the two face off on Saturday.
Last but not least, 1. FC Heidenheim and 1. FSV Mainz 05 do battle at the former’s Voith Arena, also on Saturday. Maximum points for the promoted hosts would move them well clear of the relegation zone, which Mainz currently occupy as they sit level on points with Darmstadt. A first away win of the campaign, however, could lift the 05ers out of danger for now.