By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The battle for top spot involving FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund as well as the Rhine derby between 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach are among the key talking points to keep track of on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga
Following Bayern’s surprise defeat at FC Augsburg last weekend, the defending champions’ lead over Dortmund has been cut to just one point. That means Dortmund could go top – at least temporarily – if they overcome the absence of injured star striker Erling Haaland to win at sixth–placed VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday afternoon.
That’s something BVB have made a habit of doing in recent years. The Wolves have collected only one point in their last 12 matches against Dortmund, and have lost the last six.
Wolfsburg have failed to score in their last nine Bundesliga matches against the 1997 European champions, while at the other end Marco Reus has been the chief tormentor. The Dortmund skipper, who got a late winner against VfB Stuttgart last week, has 10 goals in his last 14 matches against the home side.
The league leaders return to action on Saturday evening when they host second bottom Arminia Bielefeld. Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski – top of the Bundesliga scoring chart with 14 goals – will hope to find the net for the sixth league match running.
There’s also a big derby fixture on Saturday afternoon when two–time Bundesliga champions Cologne face five–time league winners Gladbach. There are currently only three points between the two most successful clubs in their region, with Cologne in 12th looking to draw level with the Foals who are ninth
With the help of eight goals overall from French forward Anthony Modeste, Cologne are unbeaten at home this season. Gladbach, meanwhile, have only picked up one win from six away games
Also on Saturday, bottom side SpVgg Greuther Fürth are out to avoid levelling an unwanted league record of 11 consecutive defeats. They lost 4–0 at Gladbach last week, while midtable TSG Hoffenheim travel to Fürth following an impressive 2–0 victory over RB Leipzig
Third–placed SC Freiburg are also on the road against promoted VfL Bochum 1848, while Hertha Berlin in thirteenth host Augsburg. The visitors are now only a point behind Hertha following their 2–1 success against Bayern.
Matchday 13 actually kicks off on Friday when Stuttgart – third from bottom and on a three–game losing streak – take on 1. FSV Mainz 05. The home side’s American coach Matarazzo will have to work out a plan to stop prolific Germany U21 captain Jonathan Burkardt, who has helped Mainz to eighth – and a four–game unbeaten run – with five goals in his last five games.
On Sunday fifth–placed 1. FC Union Berlin will seek to back up their fine derby victory over Hertha when they visit midtable Eintracht Frankfurt, who have yet to win at home this season.
Later that day victory would take Leipzig in seventh level on points with fourth–placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Jesse Marsch’s team have earned 15 of their 18 points at home this season, as well as scoring 20 of their 23 goals to date.
Meanwhile in Bundesliga 2 new league leaders SV Darmstadt 98 are away at improving FC Erzgebirge Aue on Saturday, the same day midtable SV Werder Bremen take on third–from–bottom Holstein Kiel. Last weekend Simon Terodde got a record–breaking 154th career goal in the German second division, and the veteran Schalke striker will be out to add to that tally against struggling SV Sandhausen.
On Sunday Hamburger SV in sixth host FC Ingolstadt 04, while it will be fifth against second when 1. FC Nürnberg take on FC St. Pauli.