GERMANY – Robert Kovac’s embryonic Bayern Munich managerial career is to be the focus of microscopic dissection when his side travels to Wolfsburg on Saturday.
The Allianz Arena club is used to success, having won six consecutive Bundesliga titles. But they find themselves in a spot of bother after failing to win any of their last four matches.
The international break didn’t provide any relief to the Bavarians’ German national team brigade as they couldn’t help Joachim Loew to any victory. Kovac might therefore need services of a top of the range sports psychologist if he is to shake Jerome Boateng, Matt Hummels, Thomas Muller Serge Gnarby, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich out of a month-long RUT.
Pacesetters Borussia Dortmund find themselves with an unexpected three point cushion thanks to a goal scoring blitz that has yielded 15 goals in just three Bundesliga games. Lucien Favre is expected to hand top scorer Paco Alcacer his first start at Stuttgart as the Spanish international’s red-hot form from the bench has already realised a chart topping six goals in just 81 minutes of action.
Conquerors of Bayern Munich in their last outing – Borussia Moenchengladbach will be defending second position when they welcome Mainz on Sunday evening. The prolific goal scoring form of summer signing Alassane Plea, who has already plundered five goals since moving from French club Nice, should propel Gladbach past a Mainz side boasting a lone victory all season.
However, Bundesliga action gets underway on Friday night with Eintracht Frankfurt hosting newcomers Fortuna Dusseldorf. Last season’s German Cup winners have turned their season around following an insipid start that saw them pummeled 5-0 by Bayern Munich in the Super Cup and get knocked out of the Cup by lower division opposition. In the absence of suspended Croatian front man Ante Rebic, Dutch behemoth Sebastian Haller will lead Frankfurt’s attacking line.
Other appetizing match ups to look out for include the visit of Ralf Ragnick’s RB Leipzig to hard working Augsburg, Bayer Leverkusen’s clash with strugglers Hannover, Hertha Berlin’s collision with Freiburg in the German capital and Schalke’s game with high flying Werder Bremen.
FRIDAY:
-Eintracht Frankfurt v Fortuna Dusseldorf @09:30
SATURDAY:
-Augsburg v RB Leipzig @04:30
-Stuttgart v Borussia Dortmund @04:30
-Bayer Leverkusen v Hannover @04:30
-Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich @04:30
-Nuremberg v Hoffenheim @04:30
-Schalke v Werder Bremen@07:30pm
SUNDAY:
-Hertha Berlin v Freiburg @04:30
-Borussia Moenchengladbach v Mainz @07:00pm
