Bundesliga Matchday 13 Preview: Clash of the Giants

With international week out of the way, which was relatively successful with Germany's national side getting a draw against Italy and a 1-0 victory over England in London, team mates of the DFB Team will meet Saturday for a  "Clash of the Giants."

Jogi Loew experimented in London and gave some of his younger crop a chance to show their talents.  London resident and Arsenal player Mers Mertesacker got the winning goal with a header of a corner.  Mats Hummels and Schmelzer were replaced early due to injuries as a precaution.  It is not clear if the two Dortmund steadfasts will be available for Saturday's match.  Frank Ribery will be out due to a broken rib. Bayern currently enjoys a four point lead on top of the table and could expand its lead to seven.  Bayer Leverkusen, tied at 28 points with Dortmund has an opportunity to slip into second spot, when the side travels to Berlin.  The Bundesliga table could be completely changed at the end of play on Saturday.

The matchday kicks off with Friday's fixture in the Daimler Benz Arena in Stuttgart, when fourth on the table Borussia Moenchengladbach meets eight placed VFB Stuttgart.  The two sides are separated by six points.  Gladbach with a 7-1-4 sheet in 12 matches will attempt to make up space to close up to the top trio, which it trails by six points.

The remaining matches on Saturday sees Nuernberg hosting Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg, currently in fifth spot will want to build on its success, while Nuernber will attempt to get its first victory of the season.  Wolfsburg trails Gladbach by one point and is currently holding fifth spot.   Augsburg hosts Hoffenheim and the fiesty Bavarians will try to hold off multiple goals from the Hoffenheim side, which holds the notorious record of most goals scored in their matches so far this season.  Braunschweig hosts Freiburg and are even in points.  Can Braunschweig prevail or will Freiburg finally propel itself out of the relegation zone.  Freiburg, which qualified for the Euro League last season, has had an uneasy start.  Eintracht Frankfurt hosts Schalke 04, which still aspires a Champions League spot. Schalke is currently in sixth spot, while Frankfurt has had its problems in the domestic league.

In Sunday's two remaining matches, which see Hamburg host Hanover 96 and Mainz traveling to Bremen, not much movement will be seen on the table.  Mainz, which has had a good start to the season has dropped off with a 5-1-6 record, with Bremen currently holding on to spot ten.  Hanover and Hamburg hold 12th and 14th spot respectively.

Anticipation for this matchday is high and although Dortmund currently trails Munich by four points, the side has been relatively successful in league play against Bayern.  Dortmund has the home pitch advantage and the strategy employed by Juergen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will play a big part.  Possession and solid defending will be a large part of this game and be a decisive factor in the outcome. Either way the fans in Dortmund will be treated to a delight. 

With FOX reaching an agreement with the Bundesliga for next season, the league is expanding its viewing audience in North America.  This will give viewers in the USA and Canada to follow the EPL, the Spanish League and the Bundesliga along with the MLS next season.


Friday 22 November

VfB Stuttgart vs Bor. Mönchengladbach   0-2

Saturday 23 November
   
1. FC Nürnberg vs VfL Wolfsburg       
FC Augsburg vs 1899 Hoffenheim       
Eintr. Braunschweig vs SC Freiburg       
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Schalke 04       
Hertha BSC vs Bayer Leverkusen       
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern München

Sunday 24 November
   
Hamburger SV vs Hannover 96       
Werder Bremen vs FSV Mainz 05   

Position------Team-------------------GP--W---D-----L-----GF/A-----Pts

1--------FC Bayern Muenchen-------12---10----2-----0------27-7-------32
2--------Borussia Dortmund----------12----9----1-----2------33:10------28
3--------Bayer Leverkusen------------12----9----1-----2-----27:14------28
4--------Borussia M'gladbach---------13----8----1-----4-----30:16------25
5--------VFL Wolfsburg---------------12----7----0-----5-----18:14-------21
6--------FC Schalke 04----------------12----5----2-----5-----22:24-------20
7------- Hertha BSC Berlin-----------12----5----3-----4-----20:16-------18
8-------VFB Stuttgart------------------13----4----4-----5-----24:23-------16
9-------Mainz 05-----------------------12----5----1-----6-----17:23-------16
10------Werder Bremen----------------12----4----3-----5----12:19--------15
11------Hannover 96-------------------12----4----2-----5-----13:18-------14
12------1899 Hoffenheim--------------12----3----4-----5-----28:28-------13
13----- FCAugsburg--------------------12----4----1-----7----13:23--------13
14------Hamburg------------------------12----3----3-----6-----26:29-------12
15------Eintracht Frankfurt------------12----2----4-----6-----14:21--------10
16------SC Freiburg--------------------12----1----5-----6-----13:24----------8
17------Eintracht Braunschweig------12----2----2-----8------8:23----------8
18------1. FC Nürnberg----------------12----0----7-----5-----15:25----------7