Bayern Munich continued their near unstoppable march to an eighth Bundesliga title in a row with a routine 5-0 victory over Dusseldorf last weekend. That kept them seven points clear of their nearest rivals, Borussia Dortmund, who managed to put six past bottom club Padeborn in an emphatic away win.
The race for a top four finish, which will secure Champions League football next season, is shaping up to be an incredibly tight one as the top five all won last week. With Bayern clear at the top, just four points separate Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Monchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen in fifth.
Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich
The stand-out game of the weekend sees leaders, Bayern Munich, travel to fifth place Leverkusen. The hosts know they need to win at the Bay Arena on Saturday afternoon to maintain their challenge for a top four finish and come into the game after securing a crucial 1-0 win at Freiburg last week thanks to a solitary Kai Havertz strike.
However, their only home game since the resumption of the season resulted in a heavy 4-1 defeat to Wolfsburg, an outcome that saw them drop down to fifth. Prior to that, they had won their previous four games on home soil, scoring 13 goals in the process.
Bayern Munich are enjoying an eight-game winning streak and will hope to secure another win that will take them closer to yet another Bundesliga title. Since a 2-1 defeat at Monchengladbach in December, the German champions have won their last nine games on the road in all competitions and beat Dortmund 1-0 when last on their travels to all but secure the title.
Munich have only lost twice this season, once at Monchengladbach but also at home against this weekend’s opponents, Leverkusen. A brace from Leon Bailey was enough to secure an impressive 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena that day, despite them having to finish the game with ten men after Jonathan Tah saw red for a professional foul.
When the sides met at the Bay Arena last season, Leverkusen were victors then too, this time a 3-1 success thanks to goals from Leon Bailey again, as well as Kevin Volland and Lucas Alario.
Borussia Dortmund v Hertha Berlin
Borussia Dortmund go into their Saturday evening kick off against Hertha Berlin at Signal Iduna Park off the back of a thumping 6-1 victory at Padeborn last week. However, their 1-0 home defeat against Bayern Munich a fortnight ago has all but ended their hopes of the title, so preserving their top four place must now be the priority.
Dortmund had been unbeaten at home in the league until that defeat, so will be keen to get back to winning ways on home soil with three clubs breathing down the necks.
Hertha Berlin sit in mid table but are only four points off sixth place, which could gain them a Europa League qualifying spot. They have returned from the enforced break in excellent form, winning three and drawing once in their four games, which included a 3-0 win at Hoffenheim and an impressive 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig. They have also scored 11 goals in those four games, so will definitely provide Dortmund with a very tough task.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Dortmund ran out 2-1 winners at the Olympiastadion thanks for goals from Jadon Sancho and Thorgan Hazzard, but their last meeting at Signal Iduna Park saw Hertha come away with an excellent 2-2 draw.
The race for the top four
RB Leipzig will be confident of maintaining their place in the top four with a win when they welcome bottom side Padeborn, whilst Monchengladbach have the chance to move up to third for 24 hours at least, if they can win at Freiburg on Friday night.
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