A northern derby tinged with relegation fears, Gladbach and the Champions League and Leverkusen's late surge in form are up for debate as DW's experts preview Matchday 31.
This weekend, if Bayern Munich win in the capital and Borussia Dortmund
lose away in Stuttgart, Bayern Munich will be crowned Bundesliga
champions for a record fourth consecutive time. Bayern Munich would then
have a 10-point lead with three games left, ending any mathematical
chance of Dortmund winning the title.
Jonathan Harding: Werder Bremen ready to make relegation battle a tale of five
Werder Bremen haven't played badly of late, and when they visit a struggling Hamburg on Friday I fully expect them to win.
Bruno Labbadia brought organization, efficiency and stability to Hamburg when he first arrived. Soon though, the ugly face of inconsistency returned and now, with just three points in their last five games, HSV are just struggling. With both Nicolai Müller and Pierre-Michel Lasogga very doubtful for Friday, not even Hamburg's home support look likely to save the club from being involved in yet another relegation battle.
Perhaps one reason Hamburg's slide down the table is so inevitable is that they don't have someone like Claudio Pizarro. The Peruvian has lifted Werder Bremen out of the mire and given them a chance in what until recently had looked a hopeless fight for Bundesliga survival. Although they've only picked up one more point than Hamburg in their last five league outings, Werder Bremen have looked the better team by far. A brave outing in Munich came off the back of an impressive home win against Wolfsburg.
A win would pull Werder level on points (34) with Hamburg, who, along with Augsburg, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, make up a group of five fighting to avoid the relegation playoff spot.
Stefan Bienkowski: Gladbach need another home win to line up assault on top-four spot
While Hoffenheim have seen their position in the league rise thanks to improved form, Gladbach's hold on a top-four spot has slipped because of their inability to pick up points on the road.
This is why this weekend's clash at Borussia Park is so important to the Foals. This is a must-win game for Gladbach if they hope to put themselves in a strong position to secure a Champions League spot ahead of a tough final three games.
Is fourth slipping away from Gladbach?
After hosting Hoffenheim, André Schubert's side has to travel to Bayern Munich, host Bayer Leverkusen and then finish the season in Darmstadt. These three games could spell disaster for their hopes of finishing in the top four.
Gladbach have to continue an impressive run of home form that has seen them pick up eight wins from their last 10 home games. To do that against a resurgent Hoffenheim (13 points from their last five games), who are potentially two wins away from safety, could define Gladbach's season.
Ross Dunbar: Schmidt and Brandt saving Leverkusen
Saturday's visit to Schalke couldn't have come at a better time for Bayer Leverkusen. Roger Schmidt's side have won their last five league games and last week they leaped into third place, ahead of challengers Hertha Berlin.
For a while, around the time of the Europa League exit to Villarreal, Schmidt's job seemed to be hanging on a shaky peg.
Leverkusen are playing like a team again
However, since his three-match touchline suspension, nothing has been able to take the German's mind off the task at hand. Schmidt's vision for high-intensity, aggressive football has been blurred by the seemingly endless list of injury and fitness issues in his squad. Charles Aranguiz is finally fit again, while Kevin Kampl returned with a decisive goal versus Frankfurt last Saturday. Even more encouraging is that Ömer Toprak resumed full training last week.
While Javier Hernandez's streak has cooled down in recent weeks, Julian Brandt is in sizzling hot form having contributed seven goals in his last six games (four goals, three assists). The rapid speed of Brandt's development accelerates at an interesting time ahead of a potential call-up to the German Olympic squad. To feature in the Champions League, though, would be precisely the challenge that Brandt - and Leverkusen - must consistently expose themselves to if they want to move forward. A win at the Veltins Arena would go a long way to securing third-place.
Matchday 31 fixtures:
Hamburg vs. Werder Bremen (Friday)
Wolfsburg vs. Augsburg (Saturday)
Stuttgart vs. Dortmund
Cologne vs. Darmstadt
Hertha vs. Bayern Munich
Ingolstadt vs. Hannover
Schalke vs. Leverkusen
Gladbach vs. Hoffenheim (Sunday)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Mainz
What are you looking out for this weekend in the Bundesliga? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and facebook.
CREDIT TO:http://www.dw.com/en/what-to-look-out-for-on-matchday-31-of-the-bundesliga-this-weekend/a-19203100
Jonathan Harding: Werder Bremen ready to make relegation battle a tale of five
Werder Bremen haven't played badly of late, and when they visit a struggling Hamburg on Friday I fully expect them to win.
Bruno Labbadia brought organization, efficiency and stability to Hamburg when he first arrived. Soon though, the ugly face of inconsistency returned and now, with just three points in their last five games, HSV are just struggling. With both Nicolai Müller and Pierre-Michel Lasogga very doubtful for Friday, not even Hamburg's home support look likely to save the club from being involved in yet another relegation battle.
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Perhaps one reason Hamburg's slide down the table is so inevitable is that they don't have someone like Claudio Pizarro. The Peruvian has lifted Werder Bremen out of the mire and given them a chance in what until recently had looked a hopeless fight for Bundesliga survival. Although they've only picked up one more point than Hamburg in their last five league outings, Werder Bremen have looked the better team by far. A brave outing in Munich came off the back of an impressive home win against Wolfsburg.
A win would pull Werder level on points (34) with Hamburg, who, along with Augsburg, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, make up a group of five fighting to avoid the relegation playoff spot.
Stefan Bienkowski: Gladbach need another home win to line up assault on top-four spot
While Hoffenheim have seen their position in the league rise thanks to improved form, Gladbach's hold on a top-four spot has slipped because of their inability to pick up points on the road.
This is why this weekend's clash at Borussia Park is so important to the Foals. This is a must-win game for Gladbach if they hope to put themselves in a strong position to secure a Champions League spot ahead of a tough final three games.
Is fourth slipping away from Gladbach?After hosting Hoffenheim, André Schubert's side has to travel to Bayern Munich, host Bayer Leverkusen and then finish the season in Darmstadt. These three games could spell disaster for their hopes of finishing in the top four.
Gladbach have to continue an impressive run of home form that has seen them pick up eight wins from their last 10 home games. To do that against a resurgent Hoffenheim (13 points from their last five games), who are potentially two wins away from safety, could define Gladbach's season.
Ross Dunbar: Schmidt and Brandt saving Leverkusen
Saturday's visit to Schalke couldn't have come at a better time for Bayer Leverkusen. Roger Schmidt's side have won their last five league games and last week they leaped into third place, ahead of challengers Hertha Berlin.
For a while, around the time of the Europa League exit to Villarreal, Schmidt's job seemed to be hanging on a shaky peg.
Leverkusen are playing like a team againHowever, since his three-match touchline suspension, nothing has been able to take the German's mind off the task at hand. Schmidt's vision for high-intensity, aggressive football has been blurred by the seemingly endless list of injury and fitness issues in his squad. Charles Aranguiz is finally fit again, while Kevin Kampl returned with a decisive goal versus Frankfurt last Saturday. Even more encouraging is that Ömer Toprak resumed full training last week.
While Javier Hernandez's streak has cooled down in recent weeks, Julian Brandt is in sizzling hot form having contributed seven goals in his last six games (four goals, three assists). The rapid speed of Brandt's development accelerates at an interesting time ahead of a potential call-up to the German Olympic squad. To feature in the Champions League, though, would be precisely the challenge that Brandt - and Leverkusen - must consistently expose themselves to if they want to move forward. A win at the Veltins Arena would go a long way to securing third-place.
Matchday 31 fixtures:
Hamburg vs. Werder Bremen (Friday)
Wolfsburg vs. Augsburg (Saturday)
Stuttgart vs. Dortmund
Cologne vs. Darmstadt
Hertha vs. Bayern Munich
Ingolstadt vs. Hannover
Schalke vs. Leverkusen
Gladbach vs. Hoffenheim (Sunday)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Mainz
What are you looking out for this weekend in the Bundesliga? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter and facebook.
CREDIT TO:http://www.dw.com/en/what-to-look-out-for-on-matchday-31-of-the-bundesliga-this-weekend/a-19203100
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