Top Match Round-up: Relegation Battle Steals Spotlight in Bundesliga
With just 6 rounds to play in the Bundesliga, the focus turns to the battle against the drop in gameweek 29, though the race for European spots is still very much on.
Hertha Berlin vs Hannover - Friday, 19:30 KO
Kicking off this week’s Bundesliga action, Friday’s night’s meeting between Hertha Berlin and Hannover is a huge one for both sides. The hosts have been the surprise package of the season but will be desperate to cling onto the third spot they've held for so much of the campaign. They will be strong favourites against a Hannover side whose five consecutive defeats have left them on the brink. Anything short of a win for the visitors would surely relegate them, currently 10 points adrift at the bottom.
Werder Bremen vs Augsburg - Saturday, 14:30 KO
Separated by just a single point and a single place in the table, it’s Augsburg who currently occupy the relegation play-off place with Werder Bremen’s heads just above water for now. Markus Weinzierl was earmarked for big things after leading the visitors to Europe last season but 6 games without a win leave his side in real trouble. Werder Bremen have been in better form in the ruckrunde and have won both of the last two meetings between the sides, with the last four seeing both register on the scoresheet.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Hoffenheim - Saturday, 14:30 KO
The other massive game in a relegation dogfight, with five sides separated by just two points, sees second from bottom Frankfurt host 14th placed Hoffenheim. The latter are now managed by 28-year old Julian Nagelsmann, whose playing career was cut short before being kept on at Augsburg to help coach the youth teams. His impact has been instant, picking up 14 points from 8 games, which is a record only Bayern and Dortmund have bettered since his appointment. In the opposing dugout Niko Kovac will take charge of just his fourth game, picking up 3 points from 3 so far.
Wolfsburg vs Mainz - Saturday, 17:30 KO
The Saturday evening kick-off between Wolfsburg and Mainz will be very interesting to watch. The visitors are hoping to keep hold of their place in the European places, just four points adrift of Hertha in third but only above seventh placed Schalke on goal difference. They’ll be aiming to become only the third opponent to win at Wolfsburg in all competitions this season after the Wolves shocked the world with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the week. Confidence will be sky high but Dieter Hecking’s side can’t afford to let next week’s game at the Bernabeu distract them too much if they are to have a chance of playing in Europe again next season.
Schalke 04 vs Borussia Dortmund - Sunday, 14:30 KO
The most high-profile game of the round comes on Sunday as title hopefuls Dortmund travel to Gelsenkirchen. Thomas Tuchel’s side have to contend with a reverse fixture against Liverpool the following week but will be determined to keep the pressure on Bayern for as long as possible. Schalke, meanwhile, have aspirations of their own having fallen out of the European places on goal difference following a shock heavy defeat to Ingolstadt, though they have won 5 of their last 7 at home.
