Bundesliga Preview, Matchday 26: Bayern look to stretch lead after Leipzig slip

Bayern München were left facing another tricky test in their quest to retain Germany’s top prize as the 2020-21 German Bundesliga season entered Matchday 26.

Hansi Flick’s side remained at the summit of the standings after a 3-1 win at Werder Bremen, building up a four-point gap after RB Leipzig failed to win against Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern recovered brilliantly from their loss to Frankfurt last month.

The European champions are on a winning streak of five games in all competitions after victories against FC Köln, Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen and their Champions League triumph against Lazio over two legs, also scoring an outstanding 18 goals in those five games.

VfB Stuttgart have not lost a game since the opening week of February, helping them to a run of five games without a loss.
RasenBallsport Leipzig lost some ground in the title race after Daichi Kamada’s equaliser after the hour mark forced them to settle for a draw against Eintracht Frankfurt after Emil Forsberg gave them the lead just after halftime.

The result meant that Leipzig have managed one win in their last three games in all competitions. Julian Nagelsman’s charge will travel to the Schüco Arena to face an Arminia Bielefeld side who recorded a shock victory at Leverkusen last week. Although, Leipzig have not lost to Bielefeld in their last three games.

VfL Wolfsburg put in a five star performance in their last game against Schalke. Goals from Wout Weghorst, Ridle Baku, Josip Brekalo, Maximilian Phillip and an own goal from Shkodran Mustafi helped them to a 5-0 win at the Volkswagen Arena.
Werder Bremen on the other hand have recorded just three loses in their last 10 games in all competitions. Both teams will trade tackles at the Weserstadion on Saturday.

Fourth placed Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome 1. FC Union Berlin to the Commerzbank Arena. Adolf Hütter’s Frankfurt are winless in three games and they will look to put an end to their unimpressive form when they face seventh placed Union Berlin.  Six points is what separates the two sides, a loss for any could be costly with the European places at stake.

Borussia Dortmund returned to fifth and continued their quest for a Champions League place with a 2-0 victory over Hertha BSC. The next task for them is a trip to the RheinEnergieStadion to face 1. FC Köln.

Köln are winless in five games and facing a Dortmund side could help them extend their bad run as they have not managed to keep a clean sheet against their opponents in five games. However, facing Dortmund brings back good memories.
During the early stage of the campaign, FC Köln travel to Signal Iduna Park and ran away with all three points thanks to Ellyes Skhiri’s brace. They will hope to repeat that feat again on Saturday.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will travel to the Olympiastadion to battle Hertha BSC. Leverkusen fell to sixth position on the log after a shock loss to Arminia Bielefeld. The game against Hertha will be a bigger task.

Hertha BSC have not lost to Leverkusen in their last three games, keeping a clean sheet in all. They hope their good record against Leverkusen will help them to a win and steer them out of the relegation zone.

SC Freiburg and FC Augsburg will go toe to toe at the Schwarzwald Stadion. Both teams have failed to defeat the other in their last three games, playing out a one-all draw in consecutive games. A win would be important as they seek to finish the season strongly.

FC Schalke 04 are all but relegated. They have managed just one win this season, ensconced at the bottom of the standings, 12 points from safety and have not picked up a victory in 11 games.

Borussia Mönchengladbach just like Schalke are having a bad run of form. They are without a win in nine games, without a clean sheet in seven games and have recorded seven straight losses in all competitions which has helped them drop to 10th. 

Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach have the chance to return to winning ways when they trade tackles at the Veltins Arena. 11th placed 1899 Hoffenheim will play host to 17th placed FSV Mainz 05 at the PreZero Arena on Sunday.

Fixtures (all times in WAT)

Friday, March 19

Arminia Bielefeld vs RB Leipzig – 8:30pm

Saturday, March 20

Bayern München vs VfB Stuttgart – 3:30pm; FC Köln vs Borussia Dortmund – 3:30pm; Eintracht Frankfurt vs FC Union Berlin – 3:30pm; Werder Bremen vs VfL Wolfsburg – 3:30pm; FC Schalke 04 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach – 6:30pm

Sunday, March 21

1899 Hoffenheim vs FSV Mainz 05 – 1:30pm; Hertha BSC vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen –  3:30pm; SC Freiburg vs FC Augsburg – 6:00pm

Story by Sammy Wejinya

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