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Bundesliga Preview: Dortmund look to lift the gloom, Bayern host Leverkusen
3 December 2014
Borussia Dortmund will aim to lift the gloom at Signal-Iduna-Park when they face Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Dortmund's 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday saw them slip to the bottom of the table after 13 games and piled more pressure on Jurgen Klopp.
The charismatic coach has masterminded only three Bundesliga wins all season and their campaign reached a new low when they dropped to the foot of the table last weekend following an eighth defeat.
Klopp continues to believe his squad can turn things around, and says he does not need a vote of confidence ahead of the clash with a Hoffenheim side sitting in seventh place after beating Hannover 4-3 last weekend.
Second-bottom Hamburg will be eyeing a third successive home victory when they face out-of-form Mainz, who are without a win in their last five matches.
Stuttgart moved off the bottom last weekend with a comfortable 4-1 win at Freiburg and on Saturday face Roberto Di Matteo's Schalke, a side that have won their last two league matches and sit sixth in the table.
Leaders Bayern Munich will put their unbeaten run on the line against third-placed Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena.
Pep Guardiola's side have only lost once in all competitions this season, against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, but Leverkusen pose one of their toughest tests so far.
"Every team's a threat," said Bayern full-back Rafinha. "Wolfsburg, Gladbach – they're having a really good season – as are Leverkusen.
"We're seven points clear of second place, but that's not enough for us.
"When you play out a draw, that's two points dropped. We have to win as often as possible, at home and away. If we stay focused on ourselves we'll continue to be successful.
Second-placed Wolfsburg travel to Hannover looking for a third away victory of the season in the Bundesliga.
Wolfsburg have lost their last five meetings, conceding 13 goals in the process, against Hannover so they will be eager to set that record straight on Saturday.
Fourth-placed Augsburg will look to record a fourth successive victory when they travel to Cologne, while Borussia Monchengladbach can end their dismal run of form when they host Hertha Berlin.
Gladbach have not won in the league since November 2 and occupy fifth spot as a result of three consecutive league defeats.
Viktor Skripnik's Werder Bremen side travel to Eintracht Frankfurt looking to build on last weekend's win over Paderborn, while the latter entertain Freiburg.
Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 0: Klopp´s men climb off the bottom
5 December 2014
Borussia Dortmund climbed off the foot of the Bundesliga table and out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim on Friday.
Jurgen Klopp's men have endured a torrid start to the domestic season and came into the clash at Signal Iduna Park propping up the rest of the division.
Dortmund were the better side throughout much of the encounter and sealed victory courtesy of Ilkay Gundogan's first-half header.
For Gundogan, who recently returned after a long spell out with a back injury, it was a first goal for Dortmund since netting in the 4-2 win over Bayern Munich in the DFL Supercup in July 2013.
The hosts could have won by more and were wrongly denied a second goal when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw a header incorrectly disallowed for offside shortly after half-time, while the Gabon international saw another effort chalked off by the officials in the final 20 minutes.
Hoffenheim had late appeals for a penalty waved away when substitute Tarik Elyounoussi went down after tangling with Neven Subotic, but Klopp's men held on to their slender lead to secure only their second victory in the past 11 league outings.
Dortmund made five changes from their 2-0 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend and were ahead after 17 minutes through Gundogan following a bright start.
Aubameyang got away down the right-hand side and delivered a teasing cross that goalkeeper Oliver Baumann came for but failed to get a touch on, allowing Gundogan to net with a flying header.
Sven Schipplock, who had been a doubt for the game with a groin problem, snatched an effort wide from 20 yards in the 37th minute as Hoffenheim went in search of an equaliser.
The visitors almost found one two minutes into the second period, but Mats Hummels was alert enough to run back towards his own goal and clear Sebastian Rudy's free-kick away from danger.
Dortmund should have seen their advantage doubled shortly afterwards, but, after Aubameyang nodded in Sebastian Kehl's flick-on at the far post, the linesman raised his flag to signal offside, with replays showing that to be the incorrect decision.
Aubameyang had the chance to render that injustice irrelevant on the hour, but his low effort after bursting through the middle was kept out by the left foot of Baumann.
The Hoffenheim goalkeeper excelled himself again a minute later, reacting smartly to tip Hummels' powerful header over the crossbar.
Dortmund continued to dominate and Aubameyang was again denied by the linesman's flag in the 72nd minute, with replays this time proving it to be the tightest of calls.
Gundogan should have put the result beyond doubt when he volleyed over from 10 yards with seven minutes to go, and there were vociferous appeals from the Hoffenheim players three minutes later as they pleaded for a penalty after Elyounoussi tumbled under a challenge from Subotic.
Referee Felix Zwayer was unmoved, however, as Dortmund were able to cling on to a much-needed victory.
Jurgen Klopp was a relieved man after watching Borussia Dortmund defeat Hoffenheim 1-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Dortmund came into the game at Signal Iduna Park sitting at the foot of the table, following a run of just one win in their past 10 league outings.
But last season's runners-up secured a much-needed victory, Ilkay Gundogan's first goal for the club since July 2013 lifting Dortmund out of the relegation zone and up to 14th place.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang was unfortunate to see two goals ruled out for offside in the second half - one a clear mistake from the officials and the other a very tight call.
There was one late scare when Dortmund survived vociferous appeals for a penalty after Neven Subotic tangled with Tarik Elyounoussi in the area, but Hoffenheim's protests were waved away and Klopp's men managed to hold on.
"I feel relief!" Klopp told reporters afterwards. "The happiness will come later.
"It was a really intense game. We must continue to work. We had an enormous amount of luck in the penalty situation. And insane bad luck too with the offside situation.
"In terms of points, we still do not have a fantastic yield, but the three were the maximum.
"It was a good game and a deserved victory. But it is only one.
"The atmosphere was unique. Thank you for this. Let's keep going!"
Huub Stevens hopes Stuttgart's superb second-half display at Freiburg has given them the confidence to pull away from the drop zone.
Stevens returned to the Mercedes-Benz Arena last Tuesday, just five months after resigning at the end of last season, and was able to inspire an immediate impact as Stuttgart claimed only their third win of the Bundesliga campaign by beating Freiburg 4-1 in his first game in charge last Friday.
Second-half goals from Carlos Gruezo, Timo Werner and Martin Harnik made sure of the points for the visitors at the Mage Solar Stadion after Harnik's 31st-minute opener had been cancelled out by Vladimir Darida.
Ahead of Saturday's visit of in-form former club Schalke, Stevens is adamant that Stuttgart have the quality to move clear of danger.
He told Bild: "When I arrived last season [with Stuttgart a point above the relegation zone], there was particularly great uncertainty. Now there is a degree of uncertainty but it is not so great.
"I hope the boys have learned from the second half in Freiburg that they can have more confidence.
"If you can keep this squad together [in the January transfer window], then I think that's enough to stay in the Bundesliga."
While Schalke are the opponents this weekend, it is the visitors' local rivals Borussia Dortmund that are shaping up to be one of Stuttgart's rivals to avoid the drop.
Jurgen Klopp's men – who finished second in each of the last two seasons – are bottom of the league with just 11 points.
And, although Stevens does not expect Dortmund to be fighting relegation this term, he believes they must spark a turnaround sooner rather than later.
"I cannot imagine that [Dortmund will be battling relegation]," Stevens added. "But clearly they have to be careful. Games like in Frankfurt [where Dortmund lost 2-0 last Sunday] show that it is going against you.
"This must not happen too often, because then it will be hard to get out because they are not used to playing against relegation. But they have so much quality, even more so if some players come back from injuries."
Bundesliga Review: Frankfurt and Hamburg enjoy home wins
7 December 2014
Eintracht Frankfurt made it three Bundesliga victories in a row with an impressive 5-2 defeat of struggling Werder Bremen on Sunday.
A tight first period ended all square, with Alexander Meier putting the hosts ahead only for Theodor Gebre Selassie to level with a close-range header on the stroke of half-time.
However, the home fans at Commerzbank Arena then had plenty to shout about after the interval as Haris Seferovic, the in-form Meier and Stefan Aigner put their side in control.
Luca Caldirova pulled one back after 79 minutes but Marc Stendera quickly responded with a fine strike to ensure there was no way back for the visitors.
Meier's brace means he has now scored four times in the last three games and he also reached double figures for the season.
That result left Werder Bremen second-bottom of the table as Hamburg had earlier secured a 2-1 success against Mainz at Imtech Arena.
Janderson Cleber's first-half strike and a 54th-minute penalty by Rafael van der Vaart following Nikolce Noveski's handball gave the hosts a third straight win at this venue.
Shinji Okazaki set up a tense finish when netting in the 89th minute, but the Japan striker and Yunus Malli missed chances to equalise in stoppage time.
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes revealed his plan to retire at the end of the season following Saturday's 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
The Leverkusen captain, capped 26 times by Germany, has been with the club since 2005 and has opted against extending his contract beyond its June 2015 expiry date.
"The decision to quit in the next year as a player is not easy for me," the 32-year-old told the club's official website.
"However, I was open-minded about many things during my whole 15 years in professional football and also investigated other interests.
"I now think the time has come to make a cut and me develop both professionally and personally.
"The time in Leverkusen was formative for me. Bayer 04 are German giants with regular international presence, here I have become a national player, here I was able to enjoy the Champions League.
"In the summer I'm going to look back on a great and eventful time at Bayer 04."
Rolfes missed almost three months of action this season after undergoing ankle surgery and has not completed 90 minutes in the Bundesliga this term.
Sporting director Rudi Voller said that "all doors are open" for Rolfes to return to Leverkusen in a coaching capacity.
Di Matteo delighted to end ´negative sequence´ at Stuttgart
7 December 2014
Schalke coach Roberto di Matteo said he was pleased his side could break their run of outs away to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.
The 446-kilometre journey to the south of Germany has been a tough one of late for Schalke, as they had lost their past four at the Mercedes Benz Arena - prior to Saturday's 4-0 win.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored twice inside 21 minutes, including in the first minute, sandwiching a Max Meyer goal as Schalke ran riot.
Choupo-Moting rounded off his hat-trick in the 61st minute.
Di Matteo, who has been at Schalke since October, said getting back to winning ways at the venue - where they had conceded 10 goals in their previous four visits - was a positive for his men.
"I'm obviously very happy about our win today. Stuttgart is not the best place for this club, especially in the past," Di Matteo said.
"But we are happy we could end this negative sequence. We produced a good team performance.
"The early goal helped us and our match tactics, that's for sure.
"We scored four goals today, but we also defended very well.
"We didn't allow a lot of space and just a few chances.
"I'm happy about it and that we got these three points. It's important for the standings and we hope to continue winning."
Schalke sit in fifth on 23 points, goal difference behind fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Di Matteo lauded Schalke's strength in their unpredictability, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Choupo-Moting leading their line.
"We are more unpredictable because we have two very dangerous strikers. They work together on the pitch and they understand each other very well," he said.
"But the whole team feels comfortable in this system. We don't allow a lot of space for our opponents.
"But it's about how you adapt to a system. A system can help but it's the players who have got to play it."
Choupo-Moting, a 33-time Cameroon international, credited Di Matteo for commandeering their rampant victory.
"It's a special day for all of us, but for me as well. That was the first hat-trick of my career," Choupo-Moting said, as reported by Bundesliga's official website.
"Scoring in any game is always a pleasant experience and to go in front so early on away from home was very important.
"We were determined to get the three points today and played well from the first minute to the last.
"We wanted to give our all for the duration of the 90 minutes and we managed to follow our coach's instructions today."
The Germany legend says the use of technology in football will go far beyond the use of goal-line cameras in future
Bayern Munich honorary president Franz Beckenbauer believes that referees will eventually be replaced by drones hovering over the pitch as the use of technology grows in football.
The Bundesliga has approved the use of goal-line technology for the 2015-16 season onwards, following its successful deployment in the Premier League this term.
Beckenbauer, however, feels even referees could ultimately become obsolete as the game embraces more and more technological advances.
"We are living in a century that's all about technology. We all know that it doesn't end with goal-line technology," Beckenbauer told Sky90.
"At some point, we won't even need a referee any more. Drones will be keeping an eye on whatever happens on the pitch at some point.
"I genuinely think this is the future. I won't be alive when it happens, though, so it's up to other people to fight it.
"This isn't something that's been discussed at Fifa. It's just a personal idea of mine."
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has dismissed any notion he has lost faith in first-choice goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.
The Germany international was dropped for last Friday's 1-0 win against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, with back-up Mitchell Langerak coming in and keeping a clean sheet.
Dortmund have endured a miserable domestic campaign and had gone into the clash at Signal Iduna Park bottom of the Bundesliga table.
However, they have been much better in the UEFA Champions League and head into their final Group D game against Anderlecht on Tuesday needing just a point to guarantee top spot.
Klopp remained guarded over his plans regarding his goalkeepers, but insisted he would happily put the experienced Weidenfeller back in.
"I have always been happy to bring in less-experienced players," Klopp said.
"It has nothing to do with your previous achievements, it's only about the current moment.
"It will be a decision for the moment [matchday]. I trust Roman 100 per cent. Mitch also. That is all."
Marcel Schmelzer lined up in a back four including fellow stalwarts Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels and Lukasz Piszczek for the first time in 72 competitive outings against Hoffenheim.
With Klopp's first-choice backline finally freed of the injuries that have ravaged it in the past 18 months, Schmelzer believes Dortmund can now build for the future, starting against Anderlecht and continuing against Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
He said: "We want to use the match against Anderlecht to help us develop our game and make the next step in the Bundesliga on Saturday."
Bundesliga Preview: Augsburg seek Bayern repeat as Dortmund look to build
10 December 2014
High-flying Augsburg will attempt to repeat their stunning upset of Bayern Munich in April when the sides clash on Saturday.
Augsburg beat their illustrious Bavarian neighbours 1-0 when the teams last faced each other, consequently ending Bayern's 53-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga.
Markus Weinzierl's men have made a superb start to their fourth season in German's top tier and four successive wins have them in third – the highest position in their 107-year history.
Paul Verhaegh, Daniel Baier and Halil Altintop, whose brother Hamit enjoyed four years at Bayern, have been central to Augsburg's form, but they know they will be up against it in round 15.
The Bundesliga leaders have, after all, won 11 and drawn three of their 14 games this term, scoring 33 goals in the process. Moreover, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer – fresh from being nominated for the FIFA Ballon d'Or – has conceded just once in his previous 12 league appearances.
Wolfsburg, five points clear of Augsburg in second, will be out for their ninth win in 10 league outings when they play host to Paderborn, who have taken two points from a possible 12 to slip to 10th.
Sunday's other game pits together Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach, level on points just outside the top three.
The action gets underway on Friday, when Hoffenheim host Eintracht Frankfurt in a battle between eighth and seventh.
The partnership between Alexander Meier – the Bundesliga's 10-goal leading marksman – and Haris Seferovic has been key to Eintracht exceeding expectations, but the former has warned them against complacency.
"Haris and I understand each other well, and it's improving all the time," said Meier. "I'm normal; he's crazy!
"We've now won three in a row, but if we lose the next three then we're back in the thick of it at the bottom."
A number of struggling giants are in action on Saturday. Werder Bremen host Hannover, while rock-bottom Stuttgart and Hamburg are away to Mainz and Freiburg respectively.
The name of Borussia Dortmund is, indubitably, the biggest surprise in the bottom six. However, Jurgen Klopp's men did return to winning ways by beating Hoffenheim last Friday before a Ciro Immobile goal earned a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht that ensured they pipped Arsenal to finish top of their UEFA Champions League group.
"The goal was good for me and for the team," the Italy striker told Dortmund's official website ahead of the visit to Hertha Berlin.
"Now I want us to win the three remaining games in the Bundesliga so we can go into the Christmas break more relaxed."
Hoffenheim 3 Eintracht Frankfurt 2: Firmino the last-gasp hero
12 December 2014
Roberto Firmino's late goal gave Hoffenheim just their second win in six Bundesliga games as the hosts beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2.
A thrilling contest was settled in the 87th minute with a scrappy effort from the Brazilian as Hoffenheim moved above their visitors and into seventh.
Kevin Volland netted on the stroke of half-time to hand the hosts, who lost 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund last time out, the lead.
Stefan Aigner levelled 13 minutes into the second half before Adam Szalai restored Hoffenheim's advantage, which was again cancelled out by Haris Seferovic.
But Firmino had the last say to cap a thrilling encounter.
The home suffered an early blow when Niklas Sule went off injured, but their disappointment was assuaged by Volland's opener as he calmly rounded Frankfurt debutant Timo Hildebrand - once of Hoffenheim - to roll in the opener two minutes before the break.
Aigner's smart close-range finish put Frankfurt on level terms, but that lasted just seven minutes as Szalai was left with the simplest of finishes after Hildebrand had let Volland's shot through his legs.
In the 77th minute Seferovic was rewarded for his persistence in the box, managing to squeeze home an effort from a tight angle.
But that was not the end of the drama as Frankfurt failed to deal with a corner and Firmino prodded in the winner.
Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke believes Marco Reus wants to remain at the club.
Reus has been a major part of Dortmund's success over the past few seasons, but has seen the likes of Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski both move to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.
Speculation has been rife that Reus could be the next high-profile player to leave Signal Iduna Park, with rumours circulating that Real Madrid have been given first option on his signature.
Watzke moved to dismiss such talk last week and has since come out to say that he thinks Reus, currently out injured with an ankle problem, would prefer to stay at Dortmund.
"I believe that fundamentally Marco would love to stay here because he loves the city and he loves Borussia Dortmund," Watzke told Stern magazine.
"But I'm sure the people who are interested in him moving will provide him with other arguments."
Bundesliga Review: Schieber dooms Dortmund, Bayern win again
13 December 2014
Julian Schieber got one over on his former club as Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga woes continued with a 1-0 loss at Hertha Berlin.
Dortmund headed to the capital looking to build momentum after winning 1-0 against Hoffenheim in their last league game and securing top spot in UEFA Champions League Group D in midweek, but were undone by Schieber, who left Signal-Iduna Park in July.
Schieber, 25, kept his composure to power into the net in the 40th minute after Per Ciljan Skjelbred had dispossessed Jakub Blaszczykowski and slipped him through on goal.
The result keeps Dortmund very much in the mire at the wrong end of the table, although their fans may take some solace from local rivals' Schalke's 2-1 home defeat to Cologne.
Anthony Ujah's 47th-minute strike and a penalty from Matthias Lehmann did the damage for the visitors, with Leroy Sane's late goal proving to be nothing more than a consolation for Roberto Di Matteo's team.
There were no such difficulties for unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, though, as they produced a scintillating second-half display to seal a 4-0 triumph at Augsburg.
Bayern's four goals came in the space of just 13 minutes, centre-back Mehdi Benatia's 58th-minute opener followed by a double from winger Arjen Robben and a powerful drive from Robert Lewandowski.
The comfortable win means Pep Guardiola's side - who have conceded just three goals in 15 top-flight outings this season - are 10 points clear of second-placed Wolfsburg ahead of their clash with Paderborn on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Davie Selke rescued a 3-3 draw for struggling Werder Bremen versus Hannover, the teenage forward netting two minutes from time after the hosts had thrown away a 2-1 lead.
Saturday's other early fixture saw Freiburg draw 0-0 with Hamburg, while the late game between Mainz and Stuttgart finished 1-1.
Jurgen Klopp slammed Borussia Dortmund's lack of determination after his side slumped to a 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at Hertha Berlin.
A first-half strike from former Dortmund forward Julian Schieber was enough for Jos Luhukay's side to overcome Klopp's struggling side.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession at the Olympistadion, Dortmund were unable to make the pressure count and Klopp conceded that last-term's runners-up are in dire straits ahead of the mid-season break.
"We have had too little determination in a game that means so much," he said.
"The first half should not have happened because we played well in the game but we do not concentrate for the goal.
"This is completely the wrong way so we now have two more games until the winter break to improve our situation for the second half dramatically."
Dortmund, who finished top of their UEFA Champions League group earlier this week, started promisingly in the capital, but were unable to trouble Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft during a cagey first half.
And they were made to pay for their blunt attacking play when Jakub Blaszczykowski, making his first appearance since January after returning from injury as a substitute for the stricken Henrikh Mkhitaryan, lost possession in his own half to Per Ciljan Skjelbred.
The Norwegian broke swiftly through the visitors' midfield before finding Schieber - a close-season signing from Dortmund - who produced an excellent driven finish to leave his ex-employers in the bottom three.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is optimistic that teenage sensation Martin Odegaard will choose to sign for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Odegaard, who does not turn 16 until next week, has been attracting interest from the elite of European football after starring for Norwegian side Stromsgodset
The attacking midfielder became the youngest player to represent Norway earlier this year and his impressive displays have seen him linked with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
The player himself reportedly spoke of his "dream" to represent Liverpool last month, but it is not yet clear who will win the race for his signature.
Bayern chairman Rummenigge is confident that the youngster will opt to join Pep Guardiola's men after spending time with the club earlier this week.
"We will try very hard to sign him and I think we have a good chance," Rummenigge told Bild.
"He is an absolutely exceptional talent and a good guy, very mature for his age."
Odegaard made 23 appearances in Norway's top flight in the 2014 season, scoring five goals.
Ribery: I could leave Bayern Munich for USA, Qatar or UAE
By Mark Doyle
Dec 14, 2014 11:32:00
The ex-France international says he is settled in Bavaria and feels happily married to the club, but nonetheless admitted that he is open to a new experience elsewhere
Bayern Munich ace Franck Ribery has revealed that he could see himself moving to the United States, Qatar or United Arab Emirates before he retires.
The 31-year-old winger is a key cog in Pep Guardiola's starting line-up and is under contract to the Bundesliga champions until June 2017.
However, while Ribery insisted that he is settled in Bavaria and has little interest in leaving for another European side, he is drawn to the idea of a new experience in Asia or the States.
"I've been here for almost eight years," he told Welt am Sonntag. "Bayern and I are like a married couple!
"I bought us a house here. My son was born here. I raised my daughters here. They speak better German than me: articulate and grammatically perfect.
"I could play for another club in Europe but my heart is beating too much for Bayern.
"But I could imagine going to the US, Qatar or Dubai for a new experience."
Meanwhile, Ribery admitted that he is desperately awaiting the release of former Bayern president Uli Hoeness, who was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in March.
"We all want him back here," the ex-France international added. "I miss him, just as everyone else here does."
The Netherlands international has laughed off the suggestion that he is better than Barcelona ace Lionel Messi and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
Bayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben has remained humble in the wake of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's comments that he is the best outfield player in the world.
The Netherlands international impressed in Saturday's 4-0 Bundesliga win over Augsburg, scoring twice to take his tally for 2014-15 to 10 goals in 17 appearances in all competitions.
Nevertheless, Robben feels it might be pushing it a bit to claim he is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
"Did Rummenigge say I'm the best in the world? Well, I don't think that's right to be honest," the 30-year-old told the official Bundesliga website.
This weekend's win over Augsburg means that Bayern cannot be overhauled at the top of the Bundesliga before Christmas - yet Robben is not getting carried away just yet.
"The win over Augsburg was more important than being crowned Herbstmeister [winter champions]," he added. "We had some difficulties in the first half, so the three points are what's most important.
"We have two more games until the winter break and have to get good results in those games. We'll have a break at last after that."
Bayern hold a nine-point lead over second-placed Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga table, while they sit 15 points clear of joint numbers three Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg.
Bundesliga Preview: Wolfsburg look to pile more misery on Dortmund, Bayern host Freiburg
15 December 2014
Wolfsburg can secure second place in the Bundesliga ahead of the upcoming mid-season break when they visit Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Dieter Hecking's side have been the surprise package of the current campaign, and victory at Signal Iduna Park would see them assured of finishing the first half of 2014-15 as Bayern Munich's closest challengers.
With teams set for a break following the next two rounds of action, and Wolfsburg enjoying a six-point buffer between themselves and Bayer Leverkusen, Hecking's men will hope to make sure of their place at the top of the chasing pack.
Victory would also pile more misery on Dortmund who have massively under-performed in the league with just four wins so far.
That has seen them become embroiled in a relegation battle, however, they have improved at home in recent weeks with successive victories.
Wins over Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim have helped their predicament somewhat, but they are only out of the bottom two on goal difference and bottom club Stuttgart trail them by one point.
Leaders Bayern will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign against Freiburg, and stretch their winning league run at the Allianz Area to 11 matches.
Freiburg, like Dortmund, need the points to aid their flagging fortunes, but their record against Bayern is not good with no win over the Bavarian giants since 1996.
However, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has called for focus from his side to ensure they continue their stellar start to the campaign.
"We have to prepare well," he said. "Every game starts at 0-0, in every game you have to fight and that is the same tomorrow [Tuesday]."
Behind the front two things are becoming congested with six clubs separated by three points. Leverkusen head that group and will hope to still be there after their trip to Hoffenheim.
The latter are currently seventh in the table, and have only lost once at the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar Arena in the Bundesliga this season, and just twice in 2014.
Of the other top-eight contenders, Augsburg travel to Hannover, Eintracht Frankfurt host Hertha Berlin, and Schalke visit Paderborn.
Meanwhile, at the bottom, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen face tough away trips.
Stuttgart travel to fellow strugglers Hamburg, and Huub Stevens will be keen to build on the four points from three matches since he replaced Armin Veh.
Having beaten Freiburg on his return to Stuttgart, Stevens was unable to replicate that success against Schalke and Mainz, but given Hamburg's own problems the bottom club could claim a third away win of the season.
The task facing Bremen is much tougher as they face fourth-placed Monchengladbach, however they will be buoyed by Eintracht Frankfurt's success at Borussia Park in November.
Elsewhere, two sides with at least a three-point buffer to the bottom three meet as Cologne entertain Mainz at the RheinEnergie Stadion.
Borussia Dortmund v Wolfsburg: Klopp looks for home comforts
15 December 2014
Jurgen Klopp hopes Borussia Dortmund can maintain their recent upturn on home turf against Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
Dortmund have endured a nightmare Bundesliga season so far, with a paltry return of four wins from 15 matches leaving them just a point above bottom-placed Stuttgart.
However, in a campaign characterised by dreadful domestic fortunes, Klopp's side have shown small signs of recovery at Signal-Iduna Park in recent weeks.
Dortmund have claimed successive 1-0 Bundesliga home wins over Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim, whereas they have taken just one point from their last seven top-flight away fixtures.
And Klopp feels it is a blessing that Dortmund will take on high-flying Wolfsburg, who are second in the table behind Bayern Munich, in front of their own fans in their final home match of 2014.
"They [Wolfsburg] are super-confident and play good football," he said. "The best news is that the game takes place at the Signal-Iduna Park.
"I hope that the fans will create a kind of atmosphere again that wouldn't be possible in this situation anywhere else in the world.
"We don't have an attitude problem. We simply have to do everything to improve our situation this week.
"I can promise that we will commit ourselves totally."
High-flying Wolfsburg just missed out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League last term, but appear set to make a return to European football's top table in 2015-16.
Dieter Hecking's men have lost just three of their 15 Bundesliga fixtures this season to establish themselves as all-conquering Bayern's nearest challengers.
A disappointing 1-1 home draw with Paderborn at the weekend represented something of a setback for Wolfsburg, but defender Naldo has targeted a return to winning ways at struggling Dortmund.
"You've got to win games like this," he said of the Paderborn draw. "But we can't keep our heads down.
"We're playing Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday and want to make up for missing the three points."
Dortmund will be without playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is out until the new year with a thigh injury, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos as he continues his recovery from a fractured leg.
Klopp will also make a late decision on the fitness of Sebastian Kehl following a rib injury.
Weidenfeller will return as Dortmund No.1, insists Kopke
By Stefan Coerts
Dec 16, 2014 13:50:00
The Germany international was recently dropped from the starting XI, but the national team's goalkeeping coach expects him to win his place back after the winter break
Former Germany goalkeeper Andreas Kopke is confident Roman Weidenfeller will soon win his place back at Borussia Dortmund.
The 34-year-old was recently dropped by Jurgen Klopp in favour of Mitch Langerak on the back of the club's awful start to their Bundesliga campaign.
Nevertheless, Kopke believes Klopp will soon reinstate Weidenfeller to his starting XI again.
"I have been in touch with Roman and gave him some words of encouragement. But I have little doubt about it that he will return to the starting XI after the winter break," Kopke told Bild.
"The entire situation in Dortmund is obviously quite difficult. They are trying everything they can to get back on track. This time it has affected Roman. That's of course quite bitter for him.
"It's not about individual interests at Dortmund at the moment.
"The only thing that matters for them is to get back on track. They have to get back on their feet and leave the relegation zone."
Dortmund currently sit 16th in the Bundesliga table with 14 points from 15 games.
