RasenBallsport Leipzig could leapfrog champions Bayern Munich and move to the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday (February 27) – but only if an extraordinary sequence of results play out at the Allianz Arena and the Red Bull Arena Leipzig.
Bayern will face FC Köln at home in the lunchtime kickoff while Leipzig will face a difficult-looking task when they take on Borussia Moenchengladbach in the day’s late game.
Only two points separate the two clubs at the summit of the standings and the margin for error in the two games is pretty small.
The champions have been boosted by the news that Serge Gnabry has resumed full training and will return to the squad against Köln on Saturday.
Thomas Müller has also returned to training for the first time since his positive COVID-19 test. However, Kicker is reporting that the 31-year-old who has netted 10 times in 20 league appearances this season will not be included in the matchday squad against Köln.
Head coach, Hansi Flick says the side will be better off when Muller finally receives the all-clear to return to competitive action.
“There are still tests to be made. He will be back when the doc gives the green light. The earlier he returns, the happier we are.”
Bayern may have overcome a slight wobble in their Bundesliga performances, with a commanding 4-1 success at the Olimpico against SS Lazio in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. The win at the Olimpico means that Flick has now won 93% of his Champions League matches (14 of 15) – that’s the highest win percentage of a manager with at least 2 games in the competition’s history.
Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Bayern 2-1 in their last Bundesliga game to move into the Champions League places. Die Adler will move up to third on Friday night with a win at Wohninvest Weserstadion against Werder Bremen who are just five points away from the drop zone.
Sixth-placed Borussia Dortmund need to put a string of wins together to return to the Champions League places and will attempt to kick start that run when they face Arminia Bielefeld who are in the relegation zone and desperately in need of points.
Bayern Leverkusen are just one place above Dortmund on the log and having been knocked out of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, will be looking to finish as high as they possibly can in the Bundesliga. Die Werkself will be up against ninth-placed Freiburg at the BayArena in Sunday’s late game.
Fixtures Matchday 23
Friday
Werder Bremen vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Saturday
Bayern Munich vs FC Köln
Borussia Dortmund vs Arminia Bielefeld
VfB Stuttgart vs Schalke
Wolfsburg vs Hertha Berlin
RasenBallsport Leipzig versus Borussia Moenchengladbach
Sunday
Union Berlin vs Hoffenheim
Mainz 05 vs Augsburg
Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg
Story by Sammy Wejinya
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