Bundesliga Preview: Round 28
Schalke 04-FC Energie Cottbus
Arminia Bielefeld-FC Bayern Munich
FC Köln-VfB Stuttgart
Eintracht Frankfurt-Borussia Mönchengladbach
Karlsruher SC-TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
VfL Bochum-Borussia Dortmund
Wolfsburg-Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Hamburger SV-Hannover 96
Hertha Berlin-SV Werder Bremen
Friday, April 17 2009, 20.30
Schalke 04-FC Energie Cottbus
The Royal Blues have had a disappointing season by their own standards, but things have picked up since the dismissal of former FC Twente manager Fred Rutten. Schalke have won their last two matches against sides troubled by relegation both by the score of 2-0; away at Arminia Bielefeld and at home to Karlsruhe.
Another win would put more pressure on free-falling Hoffenheim for a spot in next season’s Europa League, who Schalke are chasing down. The Gelsenkirchen based side welcome another team in the drop-zone to the Auf Schalke Arena in the form of Energie Cottbus, and should be odds on favourite to claim a third win in a row.
A win would take Cottbus out of the relegation zone, at least until the rest of the matches later in the weekend. However, Bojan Prasnikar’s side haven’t won on the road since late November and are now 6 games without a win away from their own stadium. Furthermore, Cottbus have a wretched record against sides from the top half of the table with just one win all season and a mere 6 goals scored in 13 matches so a home win looks most likely.
Saturday, April 18 2009, 15.30
Arminia Bielefeld-FC Bayern Munich
Bayern couldn’t have wished for more compliant opposition last week when they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over Eintracht Frankfurt, going two up in the first 20 minutes to settle their nerves after their hapless showing in Barcelona. They recovered some more face with a creditable 1-1 draw against the Catalans in the return fixture midweek, and the Bavarians might just be steadying the ship after a rocky patch. Despite their recent woes they are still joint second on 51 points, and travel to Arminia Bielefeld.
The hosts are just keeping themselves out of the relegation places hanging precariously just one point and one place above it. Bielefeld have the worst home record in the league with just 2 wins all season, and haven’t won at home since mid-November. Even without several of their top name players Bayern shouldn’t have any trouble overcoming Bielefeld to keep the pressure up on leaders Wolfsburg.
1.FC Köln-VfB Stuttgart
In form Stuttgart travel to mid-table Köln with outside hopes of making a late bid for the title. Two seasons ago they sneaked up on the rails catching the rest of the league by surprise to claim the title on the final day, and Markus Babbel’s men could be outside bets for the Championship. They snatched a last-gasp win over Hamburg last Sunday to solidify their status as contenders, and overall have lost just one of the last 13 matches winning nine of them, including the last three.
The hosts are meeting expectations on their return back to Germany’s top flight sitting comfortably in mid-table, but their home form has been mediocre. Their last home win dates from early November, and they’ve gone six matches without a win on home turf. Stuttgart will therefore be confident of claiming all three points as they seek to creep to Championship success again.
Eintracht Frankfurt-Borussia Mönchengladbach
Friedhelm Funkel’s side will be looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat at the hands of Bayern last weekend. They failed to exploit any pre-match nerves Bayern may have been experiencing and capitulated to their first defeat in five. Frankfurt are struggling to turn the draws into wins this season, and that has seen them potentially dragged into a relegation dogfight.
They are are separated by just 6 points from their opposition, who occupy the final relegation spot. Hans Meyer’s side were bottom at round 16, and spent 7 weeks anchoring the table before recent better results have seen them claw themselves back into contention of avoiding the drop back to the 2. Bundesliga.
However, Borussia eschewed the chance to make up further ground in the league recently against Bochum and Karlsruhe by throwing away valuable points against fellow relegation candidates. Time and games are beginning to run out for Borussia, so a win would not only potentially draw them away from trouble but draw Eintracht further into it.
Karlsruher SC-TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
The sides with the worst current form come head-to-head at the Wildparkstadion - neither side have won in the last eight outings. Karlsruhe have struggled to follow up last season’s excellent first showing back in the Bundesliga, and lie some six points adrift of safety at the foot of the table. Hoffenheim meanwhile after their blistering start to the season, which saw them top the table, have been decimated by injury and buckled under the weight of expectation.
Their current sixth place is still remarkable given the fact this is their first season ever in Germany’s top flight, but they’ve added just nine points to their total since Christmas, a run which has seen them drop out of contention for the Championship. A place in next season's inaugural Europa League could still be on the cards, but coach Ralf Rangnick needs to galvanise his troops to avoid the season concluding on a down note. They haven’t scored in the last two games, and slumped to a 0-3 loss at home to relegation threatened Bochum last week. If ever there was a guaranteed 0-0 draw this weekend in the Bundesliga this could be it…
VfL Bochum-Borussia Dortmund
Whilst not the Ruhr derby they all want to win, there will still be plenty of pride at stake as these two local rivals meet up at the Ruhrstadion.
Bochum lurk uncomfortably close to the relegation trap door in their third season back in the top-flight. A 0-3 win at free-falling Hoffenheim drew them away from dreaded relegation for the time being thanks to a hat-trick from Slovakian striker Marcel Sestak. They’ll be hoping for more of the same as they come up against mid-table Borussia Dortmund. Jürgen Klopp’s men have hopes of a Europa League position, and possibly more, if they can keep their current run of form up.
They’ve won their last three matches including condemning Championship hopefuls Hertha to only their second home defeat of the season a fortnight ago. Swiss striker Alexander Frei has finally found his shooting boots and has notched four in the last three, and will be a genuine threat to the Bochum defence.
Wolfsburg-Bayer 04 Leverkusen
League leaders Wolfsburg have a potentially tricky assignment against hard to predict Bayer Leverkusen. Felix Magath’s men have notched an impressive nine straight wins sweeping them majestically from mid-table in early January to the top of the table. Their 5-1 humiliation of Bayern served to enhance their Championship credentials, and they could be on for their first ever Bundesliga title.
That win against Bayern a fortnight ago, combined with last weekend’s defeat for Hamburg took them three points clear at the top of the table ahead of their visit to the BayArena. Leverkusen have lost as many as they have won at home this season, but have the best away record in the league. Bruno Labaddia’s men haven’t won on their own patch since mid-November, so it would be a brave pundit to back against Wolfsburg making it ten wins on the bounce.
Sunday, April 18 2009, 17.00
Hamburger SV-Hannover 96
Hamburg conceded vital ground to leaders Wolfsburg against Stuttgart last Sunday when they went down to a late winner from Mario Gomez. Martin Jol’s men looked like their exertions on three fronts (league, German Cup and UEFA Cup) may just be catching up with them. Fans of HSV will be heartened by the fact that they have the second best home record in the league loosing just once all season, conceding the second fewest number of goals at home in the league.
Hannover meanwhile are the worst team in the league away from home, and are yet to record a win on their travels managing a paltry two points, and conceding the highest number of goals in the process. They aren’t quite clear of relegation worries lying just six points off relegation. They beat Championship hopefuls Hertha last weekend and will be hoping to throw another title chasing team off course this weekend.
However, even taking into consideration the fatigue factor of a potentially arduous trip to Eastlands to play Manchester City, a home win would appear to be the most likely outcome.
Hertha Berlin-SV Werder Bremen
A recent blip has seen Hertha slip off the pace being set by Wolfsburg at the top of the table. Three straight defeats have seen the side from the capital slip from first to fourth as reverses to Stuttgart, Dortmund and Hannover all cost Lucien Favre’s side vital ground in the Championship chase.
It’s been a case for home sweet home for Hertha this season; 10 of their 15 wins coming at the Olympiastadion, where they can count on the fervent backing of their passionate home support. They come up against a Werder side who have failed to live up to expectations in the league this season and find themselves languishing in a most unaccustomed 10th place. Consistency has been the issue for Thomas Schaaf’s men this season; strong in the cups but unable to record regular wins in the league they are now well off the pace being set at the top of the table.
They’ll be further hampered by playing midweek in the UEFA Cup in Italy against Udinese. Hertha’s need for points is undoubtedly greater, they could be nine points off the top of the table and demoted to fifth by the time they kick-off, whilst the most that Werder can hope for is a spot in the Intertoto competition, so a home win is most probable.
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