Browsing the 1.Bundesliga: Matchday 19 Preview

The Lad is Due

Let’s get right to it, as this review is likely longer than you lot would read anyway.  No matter what happens, Borussia Dortmund stay top, so that’s a bit boring from the off.  Why can’t they be terrible like Manchester United and make the title challenge more interesting?

Friday, 21 January 2011

Hamburger SV v Eintracht Frankfurt

The matchday begins with a potential Europa League 6 pointer.  Hamburg  are one point ahead of Eintracht and looking to build on the confidence it gained by taking 3 points off Schalke 04 at the Veltins Arena in Matchday 18.  Frankfurt might still be reeling after giving Hannover 96 an early 2 goal lead en route to a 3-0 loss.

Hamburg won 3-1 over Eintracht in Matchday 2–that time with Eintracht allowing 2 late goals in giving away 3 points at home.  In that match, Hamburg had midfielder David Jarolim in the center of the park helping Die Rothosen maintain a 56% possession rate and win the passing battle.  Hamburg will be without Jarolim for this one, though–suspended due to yellow card accumulation–so Eintracht will need to take advantage of his absence and press its attack through the center in order to get the ball to forward Theofanis Gekas.

And the Hamburglars might not have Horseface van NistelRuud on the pitch as rumors now abound that that transfer to Real Madrid is being pushed through.  But I thought Real was Robbie Keane’s childhood club?  Ah well.

Saturday, 22 January 2011

Bayern Munich v 1.FC Kaiserslatutern

Two key figures will be absent in this match as Bayern will be seeking revenge after its earlier 2-0 loss to the Red Devils.  For the Bavarians, the left wing will be absent James Bond villain Franck Ribery–out due to a knee injury sustained last week.  As for  Die roten Teufel, masterful forward Srdjan Lakic is suspended owing to the red card he took in the 1-1 draw against FC Koeln.  The newly promoted side will sorely miss Lakic’s goal-scoring touch, especially after its supporters saw him bank a hat trick in the DFB Pokal match played midweek.

Without having to focus on a marauding Lakic, Bayern will turn its defensive attentions to midfielder Christian Tiffert most likely, and if the assists maestro is sufficiently closed off, it will likely be a long day for Lautern.  And, after the rough performance he had against Wolfsburg, Bastian Schweinsteiger will probably be motivated to put in a ferocious full 90 in this clash.  If Bayern go up an early goal, Kaiserslautern supporters might want to hide their eyes as it could get ugly.

Borussia Dortmund v VfB Stuttgart

In terms of the table, this match means so much more to Stuttgart than to Dortmund.  If BvB drop points, it remains top–such is the gap between 1st and 2nd.  If the Swabians can get a full 3 points, though, it would likely move out of relegation position and–NOOO!–dump St Pauli in its place.  After recording a 1-0 win over Mainz 05 last weekend–its first clean sheet since thumping Werder Bremen 6-0 early November–Stuttgart will be hard pressed to repeat the feat against a BvB side that’s only been held goalless twice all season.

Possession will be a key element for Stuttgart.  In matches where points have been earned, the Swabians nearly always won this statistic.  Of course, for Dortmund, it doesn’t matter–give them a couple minutes and they’ll put you two goals down per usual.  Without injured duo Sven Bender and Mario Goetze in the midfield, though, this looks to be Stuttgart’s golden moment to hang a third loss on the league leaders.  With Shinji Kagawa still on Asian Cup duty and Lucas Barrios ailing slightly from illness, Juergen Klopp’s depth will be tested for perhaps the first time all season.

Bet they still win by two goals though.

Mainz 05 v Wolfsburg

The draw vortex awaits!  Wolfsburg could be set to match a league record if it earns an 8th consecutive draw against the O-Fivers at the Stadion am Bruchweg.  If that happens, Mainz will be drawn for the 1st time all season after 11 wins and 7 losses.  The evil 1-point powers of Schteve McClaren  against the all-or-nothing attitude of Thomas Tuchel’s side.  Who has the red light saber in this one?

Lewis Holtby seems to be okay after the concussion he suffered last week whereas the rumored Wolfsburg transfer of Mark van Bommel hasn’t happened yet, so Die Woelfe will still be a bit thin in the midfield with Makoto Hasebe playing in Qatar.  Arne Friedrich has a full 90 under his belt after last week, and his return to the defensive center will likely play a big part in a Wolfsburg side that lost 4-3 to Mainz in the 1st half of the season.  This match might boil down to whether McClaren’s tactical formation is successful in providing service to Grafite.

SC Freiburg v 1.FC Nuremberg

Well, it seems every matchday’s got to have a stinker of a draw, but this one might have two.  The first features a Freiburg side without the services of Papiss Demba Cisse–adductor muscle injury–and his somewhat capable replacement Stefan Reisinger is also out.  For Der Club, it looks like Ilkay Gundogan might not make the squad–out last matchday for a foot injury and not on the squad sheet for the midweek DFB Pokal Cup match.

Blech.

Hannover 96 v Schalke 04

This is a massive match for either side.  Hannover are continuing its completely surprising Champions League bid and are in 2nd position entering this matchday.  While many pundits predicted the 96ers to be fighting against relegation rather than for Europe, all expected Schalke to be battling for the league title rather than stuck in mid-table.  The 1-0 loss to Hamburg in Matchday 18 was gutting for Felix Magath’s side but a win here and against Hoffenheim next matchday could give the Royal Blues points and confidence before the next edition of the Revierderby.

A key to this match will be if Schalke’s attacking players can finish in front of goal.  Hannover typically cede time on the ball to the other side–so Raul and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar must convert on crosses sent in by Jefferson Farfan.  The possession stat also shows that the 96ers get their goals on the counter attack, so Schalke’s midfielders must maintain focus and drop back to lend cover for the defenders and GK Manuel Neuer.

What could be interesting is if Magath opts to utilize teenager Julian Draxler–the 17 yr old squirt was a late substitution against the Hamburglars when they were chasing an equalizer–to refresh the offensive attack.  But will the lad be ready for Slomka’s counter attacking tactics?  Hmm.

1.FC Koeln v Werder Bremen

While this match will likely not be attractive, it will be one in which each side plays till full time.  Since taking over, Frank Schaefer has the Billygoats believing in his leadership and Koeln do not quit–regardless of the score.  As for Werder, last week’s final-kick comeback over 1899 Hoffenheim showed that–while his side has largely been disappointing–Bremen has a squad that will fight for its long-time gaffer Thomas Schaaf.

Koeln have a laundry list of players out for this one, but for Werder, one player will likely be sorely missed.  Defender Sebastian Prodl is suspended for this matchday and he’s been a bit of an integral part of Werder’s set pieces–particularly on corner kicks where he uses his height to attempt headers on goal.  Along with the slightly disturbing trend of GK Tim Wiese looking out of position at times when the ball is in play, Koeln could take advantage through the center–or wherever Mikael Silvestre plays.

Sunday, 23 January 2011

Borussia Moechengladbach v Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Upset alert!  After recording 3 points for the first time in forever last week, the Foals entertain a Bayer side bruised and possibly short on confidence. The loss to Dortmund last week was rough for the Werkself not only because it widened the gap in points but showed Leverkusen can be caught out of position rather handily on counter attacks and set pieces without learning its lessons.

Did someone say counter attacks?  Marco Reus just perked up.  After putting up a goose egg for the month of December, the dynamic midfielder is due–and it just so happens he tends to operate in the spaces Leverkusen was woeful in closing during the 3-1 Dortmund debacle.  A Leverkusen player who would occupy that space defensively–Tranquillo Barnetta–is off for injury along with Lars Bender on the other side of Bayer’s midfield.  And, with center back Manuel Friedrich suspended, Leverkusen will be missing a bit of leadership on the pitch.

Oh, and Dante doesn’t show up on the injury list Foals fans.  Can M’gladbach get off the foot of the table this weekend?

1899 Hoffenheim v FC St Pauli

Stinker #2 for the matchday.  Hoffenheim have no strikers that want to play for them–Ryan Babel turned 1899 away–and Demba Ba was last seen still hanging in England.  St Pauli’s captain and forward Marius Ebbers is out due to injury.  If either club scores a goal in this one, it’s probably all over but the crying–if St Pauli take the loss, it could end up in the relegation zone.  This cannot happen!

So, there you have it–much ado about nothing.  By the way, Edson Buddle scored in his first 2.Bundesliga match for Ingolstadt, a 1-1 draw against MSV Duisburg.