Bundesliga Matchday 19 Preview: Can anyone come near Bayern Muenchen?

Bayern played it's make up match on Wednesday and celebrated a 2-1 win over VFB Stuttgart.  Although the Schwaben with its defence gave Bayern a run for their money, in the end Thiago scored twice to give Pepiola's side a 2-1 victory.  With a 13 point lead and 50 points after 18 matches, is it possible for anyone to come near Bayern this season?

Matchday 19 kicks off in Braunschweig, when the taillight of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund.  Last season's Champions League finalist, trails Bayern by 17 points and with ten wins, three draws and five losses, Juergen Klopp's side has been burdened with injuries  and is in dire need of a victory. Braunschweig has a lot of work to do to remove itself from the relegation zone in the next 16 matches.  Despite the fact that the club plays well, it has been an uphill battle to record the three victories so far.

Second place Leverkusen hosts VFB Stuttgart on Saturday.  If the Schwaben can come out with another performance like on Wednesday against Bayern, they have a very good chance to defeat Leverkusen at home.  They certainly don't want to lose two matches in a row.  Leverkusen with a four point lead over Dortmund will remain in second place either way, but would lose more ground over FC Bayern.

Schalke 04, with the return of Klaas van Huntelaar has some additional firepower and will certainly look for another victory at home against Wolfsburg.  A win by the Royal Blues could move them as far up as second place, depending on the results of Gladbach's  and Dortmund matches.  A Wolfsburg win would move the factory team ahead of Schalke.  This should be a match to watch.

Hoffenheim and Hamburg are separated by three points, with Hamburg in 16th place and Hoffenheim in 12th.  This is how little separates the bottom half of the league from relegation.  The Hanseaten are desperate for a win and Hoffenheim hopes to get back to its high scoring games and a continued climb up the Bundesliga ladder.

A fiesty Augsburg side hosts a beleaguered Werder Bremen.  Augsburg has had some success this season and with 25 points are out of immediate danger of being relegated. They could become a formidable obstacle to Werder Bremen, another side only separated from a relegation spot by three points.  The nod has to go to Augsburg for a win at home.

The remaining two matches on Saturday sees Mainz hosting SC Freiburg and Hannover hosts Gladbach.  Gladbach, currently in fourth spot will make Hannover's life difficult.  Hannover is currently in tenth spot.  This match could easily end in a draw or a win for the hosts.  All bets are off on the Mainz vs Freiburg match.  Both sides have the ability of walking away with three points.  Freiburg needs the win to move up he Bundesliga ladder and make some space between remaining in the top flight or ending up in a relegation spot.  Mainz needs a home win to remain in touch with the top half of the league.  This will be a another match worth watching.

On Sunday Eintracht Frankfurt will be guest in the Allianz Arena.  The Eagles have finally broke the jinx and won a home match, but require another victory to maintain the momentum.  An upset is possible for the Bayern side, but unlikely at home.  The question is who will Pep have in the starting lineup?

Berlin hosts Nuernberg in the other match on Sunday.  Both sides have the ability to win. Berlin, which moved up into the league after only a one  year absence look like they are here to stay.  Nuernberg finally recorded a victory, but remains in 17th spot.  Despite Nuernberg's revival, Berlin should win this one at home.

What is guaranteed this weekend are plenty of goals, some surprises and some forgone conclusions, but in the end the fans will be thrilled again, as one of the best leagues in Europe takes to the pitch.

Friday January 31

Eintr. Braunschweig vs Borussia Dortmund  1-2

Saturday February 1

1899 Hoffenheim vs Hamburger SV       
Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart       
Schalke 04 vs VfL Wolfsburg       
FC Augsburg vs Werder Bremen       
FSV Mainz 05 vs SC Freiburg       
Hannover 96 vs Bor. Mönchengladbach

Sunday February 2

Hertha BSC vs 1. FC Nürnberg       
Bayern München vs Eintracht Frankfurt    



Posn  Team             GP   W   D   L    GF/GA   Points
1      FC Bayern        18    16   2    0       42:9         50
2      Leverkusen       18    12   1    5       34:19       37
3      Dortmund         19    11   3    5       42:23       36
4      M'gladbach       18    10   3    5       35:21       33
5      Schalke             18      9   4    5       35:26       31
6      Wolfsburg         18      9   3    6       29:22       30
7      Hertha BSC       18     8  4     6       27:21       28
8      Mainz                18     8   3    7       27:33        27
9      Augsburg           18     7   4    7      23:27        25
10   Hannover            18    6    3    9      26:32        21
11    Bremen              18     5     5   8     22:37        20
12    Stuttgart             18    5    4    9      30:33        19
13    Hoffenheim        18     4    6   8     36:42        19
14  Frankfurt             18     3     6   8     21:29        18
15    Freiburg             18     4     6   9     19:33        18
16    Hamburg            18      4    4  10    33:41        16 
17    Nürnberg            18    1    11   6     21:33        14
18    B'schweig           19    3     3  13    11:34         12

Bundesliga Matchday 7 Preview: FCB and BVB try to break gridlock, crunchtime for Freiburg

With the midweek DFB Pokal competition out of the way, all eyes will turn to the Bundesliga. With only three goals separating top runners Bayern and Dortmund, both sides will attempt to gain the point advantage and the top of the table.  Pep Guardiola and Juergen Klopp rested some of their star players during the DFB Pokal and should be well prepared to meet the challenges.  For SC Freiburg its crunch time if the side is to move up from the leagues basement.

Both Bayern and Dortmund have home pitch advantage when Bayern hosts Wolfsburg and Dortmund hosts beleaguered SC Freiburg on Saturday.  For Freiburg it will be a major task to overcome the Borussen.  Wolfsburg, currently in sixth spot with three wins and three losses, the appearance at the Allianz arena will be a difficult one.

The Friday opener, which will be broadcast and GolTV Canada at 2:30 pm EDT, will feature FC Augsburg hosting Bourussia Moenchengladbach. Both sides have nine points to their credit, with three wins and three losses.

Third placed Bayer Leverkusen hosts fourth placed Hannover 96.  Both teams need a win to maintain contact with the leaders of the league.  The home team advantage has to go to Leverkusen.  Hannover also has to overcome the midweek thumping by FC Bayern.  Hoffenheim hosts Schalke 04 and the two clubs are separated by one point.  Schalke needs a success to live up to the expectations of a top contender in the Bundesliga.  This may be a difficult task in Sinsheim.

Berlin hosts Mainz 05 and both sides were eliminated by 2nd Bundesliga outfits, Koeln and Kaiserslautern from DFB Cup competition.  Despite an early surge in the league this season, both sides have now suffered losses and will try to  make up the deficit.  Berlin has the home pitch advantage.

The final Saturday match is in Frankfurt with Hamburg as the visitors.  Both teams require a success story.  This should be a closely contested match and all bets are off.

To conclude the matchday, Werder Bremen host Nuernberg and Stuttgart travels to Braunschweig.

With six games in the books, a pattern is emerging with Bayern and Dortmund establishing their dominance of the league.  Leverkusen and Hannover are still close enough to challenge the league leaders, making their result important this weekend.  Failing disasters, both Dortmund and Munich should emerge victorious.  With Champions League week ahead of the sides next week, the line ups will be based on strategy.  Dortmund will host Olympique Marseille next Tuesday, while Bayern travels to Manchester City.  Schalke 04 travels to Basel, while Leverkusen takes on San Sebastian at home. 


Friday 27 September

FC Augsburg vs Borussia M'gladbach   2-2

Saturday 28 September

Borussia Dortmund vs SC Freiburg     
FC Bayern vs VfL Wolfsburg     
Bayer Leverkusen vs Hannover 96     
1899 Hoffenheim vs Schalke 04     
Hertha BSC vs FSV Mainz 05     
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Hamburger SV     

Sunday 29 September
Werder Bremen vs Nürnberg     
Eintracht Braunschweig vs VFB Stuttgart


Place-----Team-----------------------GP---W---D----L---GF/GA ---Pts
1--------Borussia Dortmund-----------6----5----1-----0------16:5-------16
2--------FC Bayern Muenchen--------6----5----1-----0------13-2-------16
3--------Bayer Leverkusen-------------6----5----0-----1------15:7-------15
4--------Hannover 96--------------------6----4----0-----2-----10:8-------12
5--------Borussia M'gladbach----------7----3----0-----4-----17:13------10
6--------FCAugsburg--------------------7----3----0-----4------8:11-------10
7--------VFL Wolfsburg-----------------6----3----0-----3-------9:8--------9
8--------Mainz 05-------------------------6----3----0-----3------9:12--- ----9
9-------Werder Bremen------------------6----3----0-----3-------5:8---------9
10------ Hertha BSC Berlin-------------6----2----2-----2-----10:7---------8
11------1899 Hoffenheim--------------- 6----2----2-----2-----15:15--------8
11------VFB Stuttgart--------------------6----2----1-----3-----11:9----------7
13------Eintracht Frankfurt--------------6----2----1-----3-----8:10----------7
14------FC Schalke 04-------------------6----1----1-----4------6:14----------7
15------1. FC Nürnberg------------------6-----0----4-----1-----6:9-----------4
16------Hamburg--------------------------6----1----1-----4-----11:16---------4
17------SC Freiburg----------------------6-----0----3-----3------8:12---------3
18------Eintracht Braunschweig--------6-----0----1-----5------3:15---------1