The fewer points are up for grabs in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, the more explosive the duels will be. The 32nd match day promises exciting games – at the top of the table as well as at the bottom.
Cologne’s record gives Hertha hope
On Friday evening, the bottom Hertha BSC is challenged at 1. FC Köln – and absolutely needs a win to keep the chances of staying up. Despite the unfortunate situation, the omens are good: the Berliners have won seven of the last eleven away games in Cologne, and the old lady also won the home game in the first half of the season. In addition, Cologne has not yet won a game against a bottom team this season (two draws, one defeat). The Cologne team without a win in five home games is hoping for a positive end to the season after staying up in the league and extending the contract with coach Steffen Baumgart.
Excitement guaranteed in Bochum
Regardless of the result in Cologne, there is still a lot of pressure on the boiler in Bochum. VfL have not won in six games, are second to bottom in the table and will be hosting FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon, who are also not yet fully secured. In the previous five meetings in league one and two, the away team always won. Even if this phenomenon were to repeat itself, excitement is guaranteed: FCA have always won their last ten Bundesliga wins by just one goal.
Wolfsburg against Hoffenheim in goal mood
TSG Hoffenheim, on the other hand, has been harmless away from home in the last ten games and has only won once away from home in this period. Because you are currently only four points ahead of the relegation place, a win at VfL Wolfsburg is urgently desired. But the Wolves in particular, still in the middle of the race for Europe as seventh, lost only two of the 14 Bundesliga home games against TSG – and always scored at home against the upcoming opponents.
Rhine-Main Derby for Europe
Behind VfL (48 points) are 1. FSV Mainz 05 (46) and Eintracht Frankfurt (43). Both teams will compete in the Rhein-Main-Derby on Saturday afternoon and can still hope for a place on the international stage. Mainz, third in the second half of the season with 25 points, recently lost two games in a row. Cup finalist Eintracht, who will part with coach Oliver Glasner, has now been ten games without a win in the league.
Who takes fourth place?
1. FC Union Berlin and SC Freiburg play an outstanding round again, have 56 points on the account – and the first leap into the Champions League in mind. In a head-to-head duel, one team could now pull away decisively, but both teams can calculate their chances: Union is still undefeated at home, SCF is the second-best away team.
Bayern vs. Schalke: sticking point in the final phase?
The duel between FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 is also highly explosive. While the record champions would like to present themselves in a long-distance duel with Dortmund, the royal blues dream of big points in the table cellar – which would come as a surprise despite the rising form curve: S04 have been waiting for a win against Munich for 22 games. The possible Schalke trump card: 13 of 31 goals of the season were scored in the last quarter of an hour – Bayern had to swallow ten goals in the last 15 minutes.
BVB: With home strength to the title?
Whether Bayern blunder or not, Borussia Dortmund will want to do their own homework against Borussia Mönchengladbach and keep the championship race open in Saturday night’s game. After the goal festival against VfL Wolfsburg, BVB want to celebrate their ninth home win against the Foals in a row – and their 14th Bundesliga home win this season. BVB have never achieved more in one round.
Has the Hoeneß effect fizzled out?
Even the Sunday afternoon is not lacking in explosiveness. At 3.30 p.m., VfB Stuttgart, currently in relegation place 16, welcomes Bayer Leverkusen. After the change of coach to Sebastian Hoeneß, the Swabians went five games undefeated, but recently suffered two painful defeats. They have only won one of their last 21 matches against the Werkself – and Xabi Alonso’s team want to consolidate sixth place in the league after the Europa League semifinals on Thursday evening.
When feared opponents: Bremen can secure the league
The day of the game between RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen will be decided – with the guests staying up in the league? Ole Werner’s team has only won one game in the last nine games, and the lead over relegation place 16 has shrunk to seven points. The people of Leipzig, who in turn want to consolidate third place, have always returned to the north empty-handed. After all: The appealing performance against FC Bayern Munich should be encouraging.
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