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On the eleventh game day of the Bundesliga, 1. FC Union Berlin is looking forward to an attractive test of strength with the Champions League winner from Munich – but will have to do without top scorer Max Kruse.
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski is about to make his 200th Bundesliga appearance for Bayern. Six games, six personalities that are worth keeping an eye on:
Borussia Dortmund – VfB Stuttgart
SVEN MISLINTAT: The current sports director of VfB worked in Borussia’s scouting department for eleven years. He is considered the discoverer of several superstars such as Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Ousmane Dembélé and has been involved in BVB’s major successes in the recent past: the 2011 championship, the 2012 double, and the 2013 Champions League final Mislintat relies on many young talents at the newcomer Stuttgart – and so far with success. The 48-year-old calls the emotional return to his hometown on Saturday a “coming home”.
RB Leipzig – Werder Bremen
YUSSUF POULSEN: The Danish international not only scores important goals, but also likes to score a dream goal. In the end, the striker was not allowed to show that, he only sat on the bench at the important games in Munich and against Manchester. But coach Julian Nagelsmann reassured: “Those were two tactical decisions. Yussi just didn’t fit in. ” It will be different against Werder, as Nagelsmann wants to bring a real striker again. And Poulsen is first choice with three goals and an assist in eight games.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – Hertha BSC
VALENTINO LAZARO: His debut at Borussia Mönchengladbach was unfortunate, but his comeback was all the more spectacular. The 24-year-old Austrian international, who Borussia loaned from Inter Milan, was injured in the first test match for his new club. With his first goal for Gladbach, which he scored spectacularly with a “scorpion trick” at 3: 4 in Leverkusen, he went down in history. “But you can’t be really happy when you lose,” said Lazaro. Now, within a short space of time, he will meet his former clubs: After Inter Milan, now on Hertha BSC at the weekend.
SC Freiburg – Arminia Bielefeld
VINCENZO GRIFO: The 27-year-old was one of the few Freiburgers without a win for nine games where the form was last consistently right. The Italian international has scored one goal in each of the last two games, and has already scored four goals this season. Grifo also met at the last meeting of the two clubs four and a half years ago in the 2nd division, which the Freiburg team won 4-1 on the Alm. Now he should lead Baden to their first home win of the season.
FSV Mainz 05 – 1. FC Cologne
JONAS HECTOR: Such a free ticket is rare in professional football: the Cologne captain is basically allowed to line up himself at the behest of his trainer Markus Gisdol. “Jonas decides for himself whether it is a topic for the weekend,” said the football teacher. Hector could celebrate a comeback after a two and a half month injury break. The 30-year-old former national player suffered a whiplash injury at the game in Bielefeld (0: 1) at the end of September and started team training on Tuesday.
1. FC Union Berlin – FC Bayern Munich
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI: Even the most successful goalscorer in Bundesliga history cannot show such a rate. Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski is about to make his 200th Bundesliga appearance for Bayern. The Pole has scored 174 times so far in the Munich jersey. Gerd Müller celebrated 154 goals in his first 200 league games, Klaus Fischer 138 for FC Schalke 04. After a break in the Champions League, Lewandowski, who was recently slightly ailing, is fully operational again, as Bayern coach Hansi Flick reported. (dpa)
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