In every week of trick and treats we’ve seen upsets within the DFB Pokal, horror challenges, and great objectives. Looking forward to matchday 9 within the Bundesliga, listed here are three issues to be careful for this footballing weekend.
Friday Night time Fright
The opening recreation of matchday 9 will nearly definitely be a deal with moderately than a trick with Bayer Leverkusen internet hosting VfB Stuttgart.
For Leverkusen, that is about retaining tempo with each Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig who at the moment occupy the highest two spots on 20 factors. Ought to B04 falter at house, they may very well be seven factors adrift from the highest two and presumably already out of a title race.
Xabi Alonso’s facet have solely gained two out of their final 5 Bundesliga matches having dropped factors in opposition to Bayern, Holstein Kiel, and Werder Bremen.
One other worrying ingredient to B04’s recreation to date this season is their leaky defence. They’ve by far the worst defensive file within the high 4 and are but to maintain a clear sheet within the Bundesliga this season.
From a Stuttgart perspective, a win would see them get again into the highest six earlier than the remainder of the weekend’s matches. Once more, just like B04, Stuttgart will know that ought to they not get one thing out of this recreation they may very well be additional reduce off from the European locations and compelled to play catch up.
Stuttgart seem like they’re simply popping out of a difficult patch having drawn three video games 1-1 in all competitions earlier than dropping to Bayern 4-0. Nevertheless, having gained their final three in all competitions, Stuttgart will likely be coming into this with excessive hopes and perception. They’ve displayed some excellent performances this season, explicit in Europe. If they might do this once more on Friday and get at a ropy B04 defence, they could simply get one thing from the fixture.
Şahin’s Saturday Scare
One of many large speaking factors from matchday 9 is the topspiel on Saturday night time as Borussia Dortmund host RB Leipzig.
There are various underlying tales at play apart from two large German golf equipment battling it out in one of many world’s most iconic venues.
From a Dortmund point-of-view, it is a should not lose moderately than a should win. After all the three factors will do wonders for them however they’re coming off the again of three losses in all competitions. Moreover, Leipzig nonetheless stay unbeaten so a draw right here can be seen as outcome for the house facet.
Then after all there’s head coach Nuri Şahin, who after these three losses, is beneath unimaginable stress to carry out. He could know the membership in and out but it surely’s clear that he at the moment lacks the expertise different high managers possess.
If BVB get humiliated by Leipzig on Saturday, this might effectively be Şahin’s final recreation answerable for the membership. One potential substitute ought to Şahin be sacked is just lately departed , although he isn’t but talking with BVB representatives.
Now let’s discuss in regards to the different elephant within the room: Jürgen Klopp.
This would be the first time BVB have performed Leipzig for the reason that information broke that the as soon as beloved supervisor of Dortmund can be becoming a member of the Purple Bull Group as head of worldwide soccer in January.
It’s anticipated that the house crowd will let their ideas referred to as to what they consider the transfer. General, it’s been seen as a large kick within the tooth to Dortmund followers as they noticed Klopp as somebody who understood the traditions of the sport (one thing which performs a large position in German soccer tradition). Seeing him go to the whole antithesis of such beliefs will solely add to a extra fiery ambiance on Saturday night time.
A Nightmare on Hopp Straße
You’ll must excuse the poor try and hyperlink a horror film with Dietmar-Hopp Straße. Nevertheless, one other key speaking level this weekend might come from the match between TSG Hoffenheim and St. Pauli.
Hoffenheim sit simply outdoors the relegation play-off, three factors forward of their friends. This appears like an early relegation six-pointer as Hoffenheim might both put respiratory area between themselves and the underside three or St. Pauli can maintain themselves near security.
Hoffenheim come into this fixture with the higher type having drawn two and gained one from their final three Bundesliga matches.
Nevertheless, if there’s one factor St. Pauli know tips on how to do, it’s to remain in video games and maintain groups out for giant intervals. The three fixtures they’ve bought factors from this season have been a 3-0 and two 0-0s.
Granted, St. Paui are the league’s lowest scorers however in addition they have the perfect defence from the underside eight golf equipment.
It will not be the prettiest watch however within the general story of relegation, this will likely be an early indication as to how shut the drop goes to be this season.
Matchday 9 Fixtures:
Friday
Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart
Saturday
Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin
Eintracht Frankfurt vs VfL Bochum
TSG Hoffenheim vs St. Pauli
Holstein Kiel vs FC Heidenheim
VfL Wolfsburg vs FC Augsburg
Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig
Sunday
SC Freiburg vs FSV Mainz 05
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Werder Bremen
GGFN |