By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Five games remain, and FC Bayern München hold pole position with a six-point lead over defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen, but neither team had an easy ride last weekend.
Bayern were held 2-2 by Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating Klassiker on Saturday night, just hours after reigning champions Leverkusen were also kept to a home draw against 1. FC Union Berlin.
The Bavarian giants face another test of their mental strength as they travel to third from bottom Heidenheim 1846. With an injury list which includes the likes of Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Manuel Neuer, HirokiIto
and Jamal Musiala, and both Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich a single yellow card away from suspension, composure will be the name of the game for Kompany’s side.
Making life harder will be the fact that Heidenheim will be fighting for their survival in the division. The league leaders must stay focused and not underestimate Frank Schmidt’s men, especially considering the Baden
Württemberg club were 3-2 winners in this very fixture last season, albeit with the help of former star striker Tim Kleindienst.
After their frustrating result against Union, the title challengers from Leverkusen won’t be particularly thrilled to be travelling to face another resilient outfit in the form of FC St. Pauli. Alexander Blessin’s Kiezkickers go into this one buoyed by a 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel in their relegation six-pointer, which saw them put seven points between them and Heidenheim in the relegation play-off spot. Despite their position in the league, the Boys in Brown can still boast the fourth-best defensive record in the league. It was a tense affair in the last meeting between these sides, with the reigning champions edging out a 2-1 victory, so Alonso will need his stars to be firing once again if they’re to keep the pressure on Bayern.
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig will look to continue their hunt for UEFA Champions League football next season against rock-bottom Kiel. Die Roten Bullen have enjoyed a resurgence under interim head coach Zsolt Lőw and can make it three consecutive wins against Kiel, after recent victories over TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Wolfsburg have seen them climb back into the top four, two points ahead of the season’s overachievers 1. FSV Mainz 05.
There’s a battle of the Borussias on Sunday as Dortmund welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach to Signal Iduna Park. Just two points separate these neighbours in the table, with Dortmund looking to continue their late push for European football, having risen up the table after taking seven points from a possible nine in some tough fixtures in recent weeks. Gerardo Seoane’s men are without a win since Matchday 27, and as such will be hoping to ignite a strong finish to the campaign.
With just six points separating fourth and tenth place, there’s sure to be plenty more twists and turns in the hunt for Champions League football next season as we enter the real business end of the season. SV Werder Bremen have also emerged as outside contenders for Europe in recent weeks thanks to three wins on the bounce and an in-form Oliver Burke. Ole Werner’s men welcome an ailing VfL Bochum 1848 side who are 10 points from outright safety, so it’ll certainly be one to watch within the context of the battle for survival too.