Top Match Round-up: Bundesliga Title Could be Sealed While Hannover Face the Drop
In a gameweek in which Bayern could be crowned as Bundesliga champions again and Hannover could be relegated, there are five big matches to look forward to this weekend.
Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund - Saturday, 14:30 KO
It’s simple, if Borussia Dortmund do not win at Stuttgart on Saturday, Bayern would effectively be crowned champions with a victory, and officially if Thomas Tuchel’s side were to lose. Die Schwarzgelben will still be recovering from their shock defeat at Anfield but will take heart in their recent record in this fixture, winning 5 of their last 6 meetings with Stuttgart, with a whopping 30 goals scored between the sides in said matches.
Hertha Berlin vs Bayern Munich - Saturday, 14:30 KO
Bayern know that regardless of Dortmund’s result elsewhere, a sixth consecutive win would mean the title would be all but theirs. They face a Hertha Berlin side in something of a tailspin. Having sat third for so much of the season just 1 point from 9 has seen Pal Dardei’s side relinquish their position for the first time in months and a European finish that seemed assured looks far less so at present. With 9 consecutive defeats to Bayern, Hertha could be in for a tough end to an otherwise fantastic season.
Schalke vs Bayern Leverkusen - Saturday, 17:30 KO
In Saturday’s evening kick-off Bayer Leverkusen will look to strengthen their position in third having only leapfrogged Hertha Berlin last time out. A 3-0 victory over Frankfurt was Leverkusen’s fifth consecutive win, with teenager Julian Brandt netting in each of the last four, overtaking this weekend’s opponents Schalke in that time. Andre Breitenreiter’s men are in patchy form by comparison, but have lost just 3 of 15 matches at home all season.
Borussia M.Gladbach vs Hoffenheim - Sunday, 14:30 KO
Sunday’s action will have implications at both ends, starting with Hoffenheim’s trip to Gladbach. Andre Schubert’s men can’t find consistency in their hunt for a return to the Champions League, but they have been superb at home of late, winning their last 5. They’ll face a tough task of extending that run against a rejuvenated Hoffenheim side under the tutelage of 28-year old Julian Nagelsmann. The visitors have dropped just 2 points from the last 15 with the new manager commanding respect despite being younger than a number of his players.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Mainz - Sunday, 16:30 KO
Rounding off this weekend’s action, Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac will know that a fourth consecutive defeat could leave his side with too much to do to avoid relegation. They host a Mainz side in worrying form, in danger of losing their grip on a Europa League finish. The visitors have won just one of five matches away from home, incidentally against Bayern, with that result actually having knocked Mainz off course a little.
