By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Lazio in Europe next week, Bayern Munich must win against Freiburg on Friday night to keep their fading title hopes alive.
The defending champions were relieved to have kept the gap between them and leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen to eight points thanks to a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig on Saturday that was the champions’ first victory in three in the league. Bayern have a chance to put pressure on the leaders if they can take a win at an SC Freiburg side without a win in five on Friday night.
Harry Kane took his sensational first season in the Bundesliga to new heights with a brace against Leipzig that moves him on to 27 goals in 23 appearances. Freiburg are one of the few Bundesliga sides he is yet to score against.
Bayern must realistically win every game in both competitions for the rest of the season now if they are to salvage what has been a disastrous campaign by their standards, and even that might not be enough to retain the Bundesliga title.
If given the choice, Freiburg would probably have been one of the more favoured opponents Bayern could face next though, given their poor recent run.
Leverkusen are not in action until Sunday, when they visit FC Köln. Xabi Alonso’s charges would be advised not to take anything for granted against the side in 16th spot. A battling 1-1 draw at high-flying VfB Stuttgart last weekend showed Cologne’s determination to escape relegation danger, and they have lost just one of their past five Bundesliga ties.
FC Union Berlin against Borussia Dortmund promises to be a fascinating clash on Saturday afternoon. Union have gathered form after a disappointing start to the season and now boast four wins and a draw in their past five home ties, while Dortmund made a superb start to 2024 but suffered their first defeat since the winter break 2-3 at home to TSG Hoffenheim last weekend.
VfL Bochum v RB Leipzig is another difficult one to call. Bochum may be down in 15th but the spirited 3-2 win over Bayern in their last home match makes it a tough trip for a Leipzig side eager to break into the top four and currently just one point behind fourth-placed Dortmund.
The biggest scorers in the last matchday were Borussia Mönchengladbach, who took a 5-2 win at home to Bochum. On Saturday, they visit 1.FSV Mainz 05 who are battling for every point in 17th – with Cologne and the relegation play-off spot just two points ahead.
SV Darmstadt 98 are a further two points behind Mainz at the bottom of the table but will target a home win when they host FC Augsburg on Saturday after claiming a respectable 1-1 draw at SV Werder Bremen last weekend (and having two goals disallowed in that). The visitors look clear of relegation danger for now, with a 2-1 win over Freiburg taking Jess Thorup’s side up to 11th in the table.
Augsburg have leapfrogged VfL Wolfsburg, who remain without a win in 2024, yet are also difficult to beat, with a spirited 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt last Sunday being their sixth share of the spoils out of seven matches since the winter break. Stuttgart visit Wolfsburg this Saturday evening and would be a good scalp if Niko Kovac’s man are to land their first victory this year.
Newly promoted 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 continue to defy pre-season predictions, with just one defeat since the winter break. Expect them to play freely and boldly at home to a Frankfurt side without a win in four this Saturday.
Hoffenheim’s win in Dortmund has moved them up to seventh and given their hopes of European qualification a shot in the arm. They host Werder Bremen in the final tie of Matchday 24 on Sunday afternoon. Bremen are level on points with their opponents and will travel confidently thanks to a run of three consecutive away wins.