The Bundesliga is coming to a close as the race for the title and Champions League qualification spots intensifies.
Schalke vs Dortmund
The most significant match of week 29 in the German Bundesliga is the Ruhr Derby between Schalke and Dortmund. Schalke has it all to play for while Dortmund is sitting comfortably in second place, with a remarkable 19 points gap separating them and the third place Hertha Berlin.
Die Königsblauen host Tuchel’s BVB on Sunday at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen to write another chapter of a 91 year old rivalry that in the recent past had cost Schalke its championship dream in 2008. While Dortmund are sitting pretty at second position hoping to keep their unbeaten streak since last year December alive, they would do so with one eye on the Bayern match.
Five points separate Dortmund from Bayern at the top and with just six more games to go it seems that they would have to settle for being second best in Germany this year. Gundogan will face a late fitness test to be sure of his participation on Sunday.
Schalke04: Predicted Line up (4-4-2)
Fahrmann – Caicara, Matip, Neustader, Aogo – Sane, Geis, Goretzka, Meyer – Santo, Huntelaar
Borussia Dortmund: Predicted Line Up (4-2-3-1)
Weidenfeller – Schmelzer, Hummels, Sokratis, Piszczek – Gundogan, Weigl – Reus, Mkhitaryan, Durm – Aubameyang.
Ingolstadt vs Mönchengladbach
Below Dortmund, the Bundesliga table is very congested with only 4 points separating the 3rd (Hertha) from the 7th (Schalke) and 2 points separating the 4th (Monchengladbach) from the 7th.
Monchengladbach will hope to capitalize on the thumping 5-0 victory at 3rd placed Hertha Berlin last week when they travel to Ingolstadt at the Audi Sportpark without Raffael, their Brazillian attacking forward who has scored 13 times this season in the league.
Ingolstadt who were the winners of the second division last year have done better than just avoid relegation this season as they sit in the ninth position 8 points adrift of the relegation zone.
FC Ingolstadt 04: Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
Ozcan; da Costa, Bregerie, Matip, Bauer; Gross, Roger, Christiansen; Hinterseer, Lezcano, Hartmann
Borussia Monchengladbach: Predicted Lineup (3-4-1-2)
Sommer; Elvedi, Christensen, Nordtveit; Johnson, Dahoud, Xhaka, Wendt; Stindl; Hahn, Hazard
Werder Bremen vs Augsburg
Werder Bremen will host Augsburg at the Weserstadion on Saturday, a tie that will play a crucial role in determining the relegation battle this season. Bremen are without a win in 8 of their last 10 home games while Augsburg have won only 1 of their last 5 away games.
Werder will be without their the 27 year old Senegalese centre half Papy Djilobodji, who is likely to be replaced by Santiago Garcia. Augsburg are plagued by a host of injuries and suspensions. Markus Feulner and Ja Cheol-Koo will miss the tie with suspension while Verhaegh is out with an injury.
Werder Bremen: Predicted Line-up (3-5-2)
Wiedwald – Garcia, Vestergaard, Galvez – Selassie, Bartels, Fritz, Yatabare, Oztunali – Ujah, Junuzovic.
Augsburg: Predicted Lineup (4-1-4-1)
Hitz – Janker, Gouweleeuw, Klavan, Philipp Max – Baier – Kohr, Bobadilla, Altintop, Caiuby – Alfred.
