On the penultimate matchday before the winter break in the Bundesliga, last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, who are in a crisis, host second placed VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday (20:00 CET).
With only 14 points from 15 games and nine defeats already so far this season, the team that have qualified for the last 16 in the Champions League are currently in 16th. “We now have two games left in order to improve our position in the table ahead of the second half of the season,” said manager Jürgen Klopp after the 1-0 loss to Hertha Berlin at the weekend. This desired impetus will have to come against Wolfsburg, who will be wanting to secure their place in second going into the winter break, nine points adrift of leaders FC Bayern München. Dieter Hecking’s side, who secured their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League last week with a 3-0 win against OSC Lille, have 30 points to their name, which is more than ever before after 15 Bundesliga games. However, after three wins in a row, Wolfsburg drew 1-1 against SC Paderborn last time out.
The statistics are in favour of the visitors ahead of the game. Out of their last six games in Dortmund, VfL’s only victory came back in December 2012. VfL manager Dieter Hecking has lost his last three games in Dortmund.
Explosive game among the chasing pack
Behind leaders going into the winter break Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg are five clubs, who are only separated by one point. An explosive game is expected when seventh placed 1899 Hoffenheim meet third placed Bayer Leverkusen at 20:00 CET.
Bayer 04 manager Roger Schmidt and his team have only won six of their first 15 games and have 24 points so far. “We said before the season started that we wanted to play attacking and attractive football. We are not saying that we play every team into the ground. We’re third and I’m content and happy with our style of play,” said the 47-year-old after the 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach at the weekend.
Thanks to a 3-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim, who had lost four of their last five games, moved up to seventh and are on 23 points. They have only picked up one point in six home games against the Rhineland club, who profited from Stefan Kießling’s “phantom goal” in their last game in Sinsheim.
Bremen want to move out of relegation zone
Werder Bremen will try to move out of the relegation zone in their away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach at 20:00 CET. The hosts will be trying to pick up points in their battle for the Champions League places.
Bremen made sure that they didn’t fall to their eighth defeat of the season last time out as they scored a late equaliser to draw 3-3 with Hannover 96, but are slowly losing touch with mid-table. With 34 goals conceded, Bremen have the worst defence in the league and are also involved in a relegation battle. Manager Viktor Skripnik is calling for a more dogged performance from his team, who currently sit second from bottom: “We have to be more courageous and show a different side to our game away from home,” said Skripnik.
Mönchengladbach continue to head towards the Champions League after their 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. The Europa League participants now have 24 points and sit in fourth. Bremen’s only win in their last nine visits to Borussia-Park came on 23rd October 2010, when they won 4-1.
Frankfurt to host Hertha BSC
Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Hertha BSC to the Commerzbank-Arena at 20:00 CET. Thomas Schaaf’s side are trying to get into the European places, whilst the visitors are aiming for mid-table. After three wins in a row, Eintracht opened matchday 15 of the Bundesliga with a 3-2 loss to Hoffenheim, who are also fighting for the European places. They now have 21 points and are in eighth. A win would give them three important points in their fight for the Europa League places.
Hertha BSC celebrates an unexpected 1-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend and want to keep that run going. “The team has an unbelievable drive and will,” said Hertha manager Luhukay after the game. The club from the capital have 17 points and currently sit in 13th.
Schalke want to pick up points
After their first defeat at home in seven and a half months, Schalke 04 will be wanting to pick up points when they visit SC Paderborn at 20:00 CET. The 2-1 loss to 1. FC Köln, three days after qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, saw Schalke drop to sixth place, but are only one point behind third.
André Breitenreiter and SC Paderborn sit in mid-table in tenth after two draws. The two clubs from North Rhine-Westphalia have never played each other in a competitive game. Paderborn have only last one of their eight home games so far this season, whilst Schalke have lost five games away from home.
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On the penultimate matchday before the winter break in the Bundesliga, last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, who are in a crisis, host second placed VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday (20:00 CET).
With only 14 points from 15 games and nine defeats already so far this season, the team that have qualified for the last 16 in the Champions League are currently in 16th. “We now have two games left in order to improve our position in the table ahead of the second half of the season,” said manager Jürgen Klopp after the 1-0 loss to Hertha Berlin at the weekend. This desired impetus will have to come against Wolfsburg, who will be wanting to secure their place in second going into the winter break, nine points adrift of leaders FC Bayern München. Dieter Hecking’s side, who secured their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League last week with a 3-0 win against OSC Lille, have 30 points to their name, which is more than ever before after 15 Bundesliga games. However, after three wins in a row, Wolfsburg drew 1-1 against SC Paderborn last time out.
The statistics are in favour of the visitors ahead of the game. Out of their last six games in Dortmund, VfL’s only victory came back in December 2012. VfL manager Dieter Hecking has lost his last three games in Dortmund.
Explosive game among the chasing pack
Behind leaders going into the winter break Bayern München and VfL Wolfsburg are five clubs, who are only separated by one point. An explosive game is expected when seventh placed 1899 Hoffenheim meet third placed Bayer Leverkusen at 20:00 CET.
Bayer 04 manager Roger Schmidt and his team have only won six of their first 15 games and have 24 points so far. “We said before the season started that we wanted to play attacking and attractive football. We are not saying that we play every team into the ground. We’re third and I’m content and happy with our style of play,” said the 47-year-old after the 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach at the weekend.
Thanks to a 3-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim, who had lost four of their last five games, moved up to seventh and are on 23 points. They have only picked up one point in six home games against the Rhineland club, who profited from Stefan Kießling’s “phantom goal” in their last game in Sinsheim.
Bremen want to move out of relegation zone
Werder Bremen will try to move out of the relegation zone in their away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach at 20:00 CET. The hosts will be trying to pick up points in their battle for the Champions League places.
Bremen made sure that they didn’t fall to their eighth defeat of the season last time out as they scored a late equaliser to draw 3-3 with Hannover 96, but are slowly losing touch with mid-table. With 34 goals conceded, Bremen have the worst defence in the league and are also involved in a relegation battle. Manager Viktor Skripnik is calling for a more dogged performance from his team, who currently sit second from bottom: “We have to be more courageous and show a different side to our game away from home,” said Skripnik.
Mönchengladbach continue to head towards the Champions League after their 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. The Europa League participants now have 24 points and sit in fourth. Bremen’s only win in their last nine visits to Borussia-Park came on 23rd October 2010, when they won 4-1.
Frankfurt to host Hertha BSC
Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Hertha BSC to the Commerzbank-Arena at 20:00 CET. Thomas Schaaf’s side are trying to get into the European places, whilst the visitors are aiming for mid-table. After three wins in a row, Eintracht opened matchday 15 of the Bundesliga with a 3-2 loss to Hoffenheim, who are also fighting for the European places. They now have 21 points and are in eighth. A win would give them three important points in their fight for the Europa League places.
Hertha BSC celebrates an unexpected 1-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend and want to keep that run going. “The team has an unbelievable drive and will,” said Hertha manager Luhukay after the game. The club from the capital have 17 points and currently sit in 13th.
Schalke want to pick up points
After their first defeat at home in seven and a half months, Schalke 04 will be wanting to pick up points when they visit SC Paderborn at 20:00 CET. The 2-1 loss to 1. FC Köln, three days after qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, saw Schalke drop to sixth place, but are only one point behind third.
André Breitenreiter and SC Paderborn sit in mid-table in tenth after two draws. The two clubs from North Rhine-Westphalia have never played each other in a competitive game. Paderborn have only last one of their eight home games so far this season, whilst Schalke have lost five games away from home.
