By Rich
FC Schalke 04 remain stuck at the bottom of the table after a scoreless draw on Friday against visitors VfL Wolfsburg. The match featured two Schalke goals that were then disallowed after VAR reviews for offsides. Friday’s draw is now the third consecutive goalless draw for the club: their first in history. Wolfsburg are now unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga games against Schalke and haven’t conceded a goal in their last four. Among the first matches on Saturday will be the derby between Freiburg and nearby Stuttgart, a contest that will feature a slight Japanese accent. Freiburg’s Ritsu Doan was one of the heroes of Japan’s 2022 World Cup campaign, and is coming off an assist in Freiburg’s last home match. Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo scored the goal that saved the club from the relegation play-off last season, and also scored the least time Stuttgart picked up a point, in Matchday 17’s 2:2 draw at Hoffenheim. Freiburg have won their last 5 meetings with Stuttgart, including this season’s reverse fixture on Matchday 3. Also worth watching on Saturday is the match between hosts 1. FSV Mainz 05 and visitors FC Augsburg, as the two clubs are separated by just two points in the table. Although Mainz will have the home field advantage, that advantage hasn’t counted for much this season: the 05ers have collected just two victories in the MEWA Arena this campaign. Augsburg’s Mergim Berisha, on the other hand, has scored in all three of his appearances this calendar year. He is expected to continue up front alongside Dion Beljo as the club hopes to avenge their injury-time loss in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. The big match on Saturday, however, is the late game between hosts RB Leipzig and visitors Union Berlin, which will feature Croatia international teammates Josko Gvardiol and Josip Juranovic lining up on opposite sides. Although kept off the scoresheet last time out against Cologne, the Roten Bullen are on an unbeaten run of 18 matches, and that has been partially without Christopher Nkunku, who just returned to training after a long-term knee injury. Union Berlin have collected five consecutive victories in all competitions since the beginning of the year, and are just one point behind Bayern. Union are also on a four-match win streak against Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Looking ahead to Sunday, Hertha will look to escape the relegation zone when they host Gladbach, but that will depend on the outcome of Saturday’s Freiburg-Stuttgart derby.
FC Schalke 04 remain stuck at the bottom of the table after a scoreless draw on Friday against visitors VfL Wolfsburg. The match featured two Schalke goals that were then disallowed after VAR reviews for offsides. Friday’s draw is now the third consecutive goalless draw for the club: their first in history. Wolfsburg are now unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga games against Schalke and haven’t conceded a goal in their last four. Among the first matches on Saturday will be the derby between Freiburg and nearby Stuttgart, a contest that will feature a slight Japanese accent. Freiburg’s Ritsu Doan was one of the heroes of Japan’s 2022 World Cup campaign, and is coming off an assist in Freiburg’s last home match. Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo scored the goal that saved the club from the relegation play-off last season, and also scored the least time Stuttgart picked up a point, in Matchday 17’s 2:2 draw at Hoffenheim. Freiburg have won their last 5 meetings with Stuttgart, including this season’s reverse fixture on Matchday 3. Also worth watching on Saturday is the match between hosts 1. FSV Mainz 05 and visitors FC Augsburg, as the two clubs are separated by just two points in the table. Although Mainz will have the home field advantage, that advantage hasn’t counted for much this season: the 05ers have collected just two victories in the MEWA Arena this campaign. Augsburg’s Mergim Berisha, on the other hand, has scored in all three of his appearances this calendar year. He is expected to continue up front alongside Dion Beljo as the club hopes to avenge their injury-time loss in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. The big match on Saturday, however, is the late game between hosts RB Leipzig and visitors Union Berlin, which will feature Croatia international teammates Josko Gvardiol and Josip Juranovic lining up on opposite sides. Although kept off the scoresheet last time out against Cologne, the Roten Bullen are on an unbeaten run of 18 matches, and that has been partially without Christopher Nkunku, who just returned to training after a long-term knee injury. Union Berlin have collected five consecutive victories in all competitions since the beginning of the year, and are just one point behind Bayern. Union are also on a four-match win streak against Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Looking ahead to Sunday, Hertha will look to escape the relegation zone when they host Gladbach, but that will depend on the outcome of Saturday’s Freiburg-Stuttgart derby.
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