FC St. Pauli - Karlsruher SC

Both teams are rivals and both need every Point to get out of the trouble they are facing right now. It seems that this can be a very hard battle for important Points, if the look on the table shows. With 18 Points both had not much success this Season so far. Also it can be that the relegation battle continues until the end of the Season. With 4 teams directly involved at the moment because the others are already 7 especially 6 Points ahead of them and to close the gap they need an excellent streak anyway.

After the break St. Pauli seems to be on a good way and they managed 2 wins in a row before failing in Bielefeld. Of course they were very good in the game and take the lead but they missed a lot what brought Bielefeld back into the game very late. This was almost a neck breaker for St. Pauli but they have to continue the good work and take the focus on the KSC game today. This is the next important one above all in front of their crowd they should have some advantage what must be taken, of course.
The team looked very balanced and therefore no one expect big changes from Lienen for this encounter. Maybe the position behind the attack can be very open as with Buchtmann and Möller-Daehli he has two excellent players to choose there. Also Choi can be an option on this position. It is more as open who starts there, no decision out so far, although Choi is out again. Möller Daehli returns after injury and should be in the starting eleven immediately after showing a lot of good performances before his break anyway.

The new Coach Slomka has not found the right balance for the team so far. Also he is not able to win a game on the road as with most of his former clubs. He always has a top home record but on the road he failed most of the time (look at Hannover, where he was many years). He had the opportunity to manage a win after taking the lead in Bochum but in the end they got the equalizer. The next match to top team Union they had no chance and lost easy 0-2. Maybe because of important absent player. This time he can count on Yamada and Prömel, both returns from suspension. On the other side he has with Kom the next player suspended for today. Both returning players are immediately in starting lineup. Prömel in central midfield beside Meffert while Yamada can play on the offensive wing. He can replace Valentini who is slight injured and doubtful. If he can play, he may can give the back wing and replace Bader there. Up front was Hoffer not in his best shape and Diamantakos showed that he has the better form right now what brings him some advantage to start beside Mugosa. But it is also possible that Slomka change the system to 4-2-3-1. This means that they play with one central offensive midfield player like Yamada is. But let's see what Slomka decide for this important game.

Bundesliga Saturday Matches

Bayer Leverkusen - FSV Mainz 05

- FSV won only against Freiburg (9) more as against Bayer (8) in BL.
- And they scored only against Wolfsburg (32) more as against Bayer (30).
- But from the last 4 matches won Bayer 3, first match 3-2 although they were 0-2 down.
- Special fact .... never won Leverkusen both matches in one Season against FSV Mainz 05.
- Since Matchday 9/10 Leverkusen were able to win two matches in a row now.
- To win 3 matches in a row happened not this Season so far.
- Special fact ..... Mainz lost only 1 from 10 matches before the "Rosenmontag" (5-4-1).
- 3 years ago they could beat Leverkusen with 1-0 at the same time.
- Mainz lost all they last 6 road games, such a run happened only in their premier Season.

Leverkusen miss Tah, Wendell (suspended) and Calhanoglu
Mainz are without Serdar, Berggreen and Onisowo.


Bayern München - Hamburger SV

- This encounter takes place the 104. time today. Bayern won 62 by 22 draw and 19 defeats.
- The next record are the 232 goals which was scored in this encounter already.
- None of the last 16 home games were lost by Bayern (13-3-0).
- They scored 56 goals in these games and conceded only 5.
- The last 5 matches were all won from the home side and they scored a lot of goals as well.
- The last win from Hamburg in Munich was in September 2009 with 1-0.
- The last 6 results from Hamburg in Munich are 0-6, 0-5, 2-9, 1-3, 0-8 and 0-5.
- Hamburg are unbeaten in the last 4 BL matches (3-1-0), the longest streak they are running this S.
- Bayern is unbeaten in the last 25 BL games in their Arena (21-4-0).

Bayern without Boateng and Alonso
Hamburg coming to Munich without Papadopoulos and Mathenia.


SC Freiburg - Borussia Dortmund

- Freiburg lost the last 11 matches with Dortmund, only against Bayern they had a bigger losing run.
- It is the longest streak for Dortmund against an opponent in BL, only against Uerdingen more.
- Freiburg won 7 of their 10 home matches and are very hard to beat there in their small stadium.
- They never managed more wins at the same time right now.
- Dortmund won 1 of their last 6 road trips (1-3-2) With 2-1 in Bremen at Matchday 17.
- In the last 13 road games they conceded always at least 1 goal, the longest run since 27 years.
- Freiburg has with 36 goals conceded one of the weakest defensive lines in the league.
- No other BL club is waiting so long for a clean sheet as Freiburg (7 matches - top 10 teams).

Freiburg miss Stenzes and Haberer (suspended)
Dortmund coming without Götze, Röde and Bender.

Hannover 96 - VfL Bochum

The last match of this Round take place in Hannover where 96 hosts VfL Bochum. The home side coming from an awful week, losing twice to Fürth in league and Frankfurt in Cup. Nevertheless they have to look forward and take the focus to promotion race where they are still on track. With a win they get much more comfortable and have some advantage in the upcoming weeks. The opponent from Bochum had a lot of expectations to begin of the Season but failed hardly, therefore they are in big trouble if this continues in the upcoming weeks. Sooner or later they are full involved in relegation battle if results are not their way now.

The start into 2017 was hard because they had a lot of problems with Kaiserslautern where they could win 1-0 at home anyway. The next two matches were lost and they have to find a way back to winning otherwise Braunschweig and Union are getting closer and have the chance to overcome them. Although Coach Stendel count on the strongest available starting lineup in Cup they knocked out. The chance to get more was there but Sane missed a penalty in minute 90. After having 4 days to prepare to this game it should not affect them much. Compared to the last two games there will not be much changes. Coach Stendel counts on the same lineup again, only 1^st keeper Tschauner returns after be replaced by Sahin-Radlinger in Cup. There are not much options anyway because with Hübers, Benschop and Bech they miss some injured. On bench he has with Sobiech and Füllkrug good options for the offensive. Both wants to start of course but with Harnik and Karaman they have huge rivals which has some advantage right now.

The outcome from the first 17 matches was average and they expected much more. In winter trainings camp they were poorly and lost 4 from 5 matches. This maybe was a sign for the actual form and the situation in team. The start in Berlin was lost 1-2 to Union what the last results are always has predict. One week later against KSC at home they could get a Point although they were already down 0-1 again. Against one of the top teams this day they have to bring a top performance if they want to get anything out of this game. It would be a hard task anyway.

Why all this trouble, maybe it is because of too many injuries right now. Important players are still out and their return is a big question mark. With Stöger, Eisfeld and Bandowski they miss three long term injured while with Perthel, Fabian and Quaschner are there doubtful for the match today. If all 3 are not ready it is getting a mess for Coach Verbeek. Perthel was injured, was close to return but has a new injury now. Fabian was already out for the KSC game but he has chances that he can play. Quaschner got injured against KSC and has still problems. If Fabian is ready, Bastians can more to the left while Rieble can take Perthel’s positon on the right.

Sunday - BL Infos

VfL Wolfsburg - 1899 Hoffenheim

- 8 times took this encounter place in Wolfsburg and the record is clear on home side with 5-2-1
- 1899 could only win one time and this was 5 years ago, also in February 2012 with 2-1
- All the last 3 duels were won from Wolfsburg.
- In overall 17 BL games there were 62 goals with this teams, an average from 3,65.
- All 8 matches played in Wolfsburg produced 3 goals or more.
- The first match between both this Season ended what a surprise with a 0-0.
- VfL playing the weakest BL Season in their history with only 19 Points after 19 Rounds.
- On the other side 1899 is playing one of the best Seasons since they are in BL.
- Wolfsburg scored only 7 goals at home what is incredible low, weakest number ever.
- Also they got only 8 Points out of the 10 home games, what is the next weak Point.
- 1899 collected already 14 Points from 9 road games what is a high for them.
- Hoffenheim was unbeaten until last weekend, but there they lost to newcomer RB 1-2 (unlucky).
- With Wagner they miss their top striker because with his red card he brought 1899 on losing way.



SC Freiburg - 1.FC Köln

- Since 11 home matches is SCF unbeaten to Cologne (7-4-0).
- The last 4 were all won from Freiburg and they can count on a great home strength again.
- SCF won 6 of their 9 BL home games this Season (home advantage).
- Only in Season 1994/95 and 2003/04 they have more Points as this time.
- Cologne managed the best start into second half of the Season with 2 wins and 7-1 goals.
- Since 2010/11 celebrated Cologne 3 wins in a row again (streak).
- Cologne is very hard to beat and they conceded only 16 goals this Season (defensive wall).
- Freiburg on the other side has conceded already 33 goals what is one of the weak Points.
- Both teams has not many goal scorer in their rows, only 7.
- Freiburg has 3 players with min 5 goals in their rows while Modest scored 54% of Cologne's.
- This number makes it very hard, if Cologne miss their top striker.