By Rich M
Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo scored an important late goal in a 1:1 draw on Friday against hosts FC Augsburg. The match’s other goal came just 8 minutes into the match, when Augsburg’s Arne Maier curled a cross that was headed in by Dion Beljo. Beljo’s goal was his second in the current term, and Maier’s assist was his first of the season. Augsburg have scored 11 goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches in the league this season, second only to Bayern in that regard. The draw leaves Stuttgart in the relegation playoff position going into the rest of the weekend’s contests. Hosts Mainz and visitors Bayern both have something to play for when they meet on Saturday. Bayern, of course, are closing in on yet another league title, but are looking over their shoulders at Dortmund, who are just 2 points back in the table. Mainz, for their part, are still in the hunt for European competition, and are currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of 9 matches. Dortmund will make another attempt to overtake Bayern at the top of the table when they host Frankfurt in Saturday’s late game. The visitors are coming off a 1:1 comeback draw against Gladbach last weekend, while the hosts are coming off a 3:3 draw against Stuttgart. Frankfurt, however, are on a 7-match winless streak, which has endangered the club’s chances of qualifying for European competition, while Dortmund have won their last 8 consecutive league home matches. The game will also feature a return home for Frankfurt’s Mario Götze, who made a total of 219 appearances for Dortmund, having come through the academy there. Götze was also part of the team that won back-to-back Bundesliga titles under Jürgen Klopp. The remaining spots at the top of the table will not be decided until Sunday, which features Union Berlin traveling to Gladbach, Leipzig traveling to Leverkusen, and Freiburg hosting Schalke. DFB Cup semi-finalists Freiburg could climb back up to fourth place, at least for a couple of hours, if they can beat Schalke, who are suffering with both injuries and relegation danger. Gladbach very much need a win to keep their slim European hopes alive, and now know they will lose club striker Marcus Thuram this summer. Thuram is now on the verge of scoring his 50th Bundesliga goal, but has already confirmed he will not renew his contract after this season. Leipzig will have to overcome the league’s most in-form club in Leverkusen, and have enjoyed a recent resurgence with wins over Hertha and Augsburg. Leverkusen’s current streak of 7 unbeaten matches is their best run in more than 2 years.
Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo scored an important late goal in a 1:1 draw on Friday against hosts FC Augsburg. The match’s other goal came just 8 minutes into the match, when Augsburg’s Arne Maier curled a cross that was headed in by Dion Beljo. Beljo’s goal was his second in the current term, and Maier’s assist was his first of the season. Augsburg have scored 11 goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches in the league this season, second only to Bayern in that regard. The draw leaves Stuttgart in the relegation playoff position going into the rest of the weekend’s contests. Hosts Mainz and visitors Bayern both have something to play for when they meet on Saturday. Bayern, of course, are closing in on yet another league title, but are looking over their shoulders at Dortmund, who are just 2 points back in the table. Mainz, for their part, are still in the hunt for European competition, and are currently enjoying an unbeaten streak of 9 matches. Dortmund will make another attempt to overtake Bayern at the top of the table when they host Frankfurt in Saturday’s late game. The visitors are coming off a 1:1 comeback draw against Gladbach last weekend, while the hosts are coming off a 3:3 draw against Stuttgart. Frankfurt, however, are on a 7-match winless streak, which has endangered the club’s chances of qualifying for European competition, while Dortmund have won their last 8 consecutive league home matches. The game will also feature a return home for Frankfurt’s Mario Götze, who made a total of 219 appearances for Dortmund, having come through the academy there. Götze was also part of the team that won back-to-back Bundesliga titles under Jürgen Klopp. The remaining spots at the top of the table will not be decided until Sunday, which features Union Berlin traveling to Gladbach, Leipzig traveling to Leverkusen, and Freiburg hosting Schalke. DFB Cup semi-finalists Freiburg could climb back up to fourth place, at least for a couple of hours, if they can beat Schalke, who are suffering with both injuries and relegation danger. Gladbach very much need a win to keep their slim European hopes alive, and now know they will lose club striker Marcus Thuram this summer. Thuram is now on the verge of scoring his 50th Bundesliga goal, but has already confirmed he will not renew his contract after this season. Leipzig will have to overcome the league’s most in-form club in Leverkusen, and have enjoyed a recent resurgence with wins over Hertha and Augsburg. Leverkusen’s current streak of 7 unbeaten matches is their best run in more than 2 years.
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