Weekend Preview- Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund head coach Juergen Klopp
The upcoming weekend in German football promises a host of exciting encounters. With Dortmund currently sitting at the top of the table with perfect 12 points from 4 matches and Munich with 10 points, each team will be looking to capitalize on other’s errors. If the stats are anything to go by, the matches scheduled for match day 5 should provide us with a goal fest.
The new season in Germany is now a month old and Borussia Dortmund has been the best team so far. Jurgen Klopp’s men are the only top team yet to drop a game from their 4 matches. New summer signings, Pierre-Emerick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have bolstered their attacking prowess.
The in-form team play Hamburger SV this weekend, with the latter securing a double over Dortmund last season. If Hamburger were to win again, this would be the first time Borussia, under Klopp, would lose to the same opponent thrice consecutively.
This fixture has provided plenty of goals in the past : 329 goals in 92 games- most in the Bundesliga history.
Dortmund’s striker Robert Lewandowski has picked up a knee injury while on international duty with Poland, and is likely to sit out the game.
Bayern Munich- Hannover 96
The last time Bayern Munich hosted Hannover 96, the home side were 5-0 winners. It so seems this time around too, Hannover will have to put them themselves to the test. Not only are Bayern currently unbeaten in this season, they are chasing a Bundesliga record of 36 unbeaten games. The Bavarians are in scintillating form, dropping points only against SC Freiburg with a 1-1 draw.
If Hannover do manage to get the ball in their cling and steal a victory at the Allianz Arena, it will only be the first victory for Hannover coach Mirko Slomka in the Bavarian’s home ground.
Schalke 04- FSV Mainz 05
Nicolai Muller of FSV Mainz 05 is the lastest Muller on the German scene. Already having struck 5 times this season, he could very well surpass “Der Bomber” Gerd Muller’s record 40 goals in a season.
Schalke will be confident going into the weekend, defeating Bayern Leverkusen 2-0 with aid from new signing Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The two mid table teams go head-to-head this weekend. This game is being touted as a goal fest, with two of the top goalscorers in the league playing a part in this game. Schalke’s Hungarian striker Adam Szalai, scoring four of his club’s 12 goals so far, will be playing against his former team. Mainz’s impressive start to the season has been fired by Nicolai Muller’s club-record goal scoring streak.
Hertha Berlin- VFB Stuttgart
The Berliners have not lost their previous 19 home games at their home ground, The Olympiastadion. Dutchman Jos LuhuKay will be looking to extend this impressive streak.
However, Stuttgart will be arriving in Berlin buoyed by their first Bundesliga win this season- a triumphant 6-2 victory against Hoffenheim.
New coach Thomas Schneider emphasized the importance to score goals in order to keep moving ahead in the table.
Hoffenheim – Borussia Mönchengladbach
The Rhein-Necker Arena promises plenty of goals from this fixture, based on this season’s performances of both teams. In total, eight matches involving these two sides this season have seen over 42 goals, averaging over 5 goals per game.
Borussia Mönchengladbach, popularly known as the Gladbach, have seen a fearsome attacking quartet have helped them score 10 goals already this season, which is next to Hoffenheim, who have found the net 12 times so far. However, Hoffenheim have also the conceded the most times this season.
Other fixtures this weekend are:
Bayern Leverkusen- Wolfsburg
Werder –Eintracht
FC Augsburg- SC Freiburg