Bundesliga Match Day 26: Preview and Forecast
Eintracht Frankfurt is just a blast.
The Bundesliga's lone European hope has developed into the league's "must see team." With Luka Jovic, Sebastien Haller, and Ante Rebic as its showcase players, Die Adler has shrugged off any assertions that it is strictly a three-man team.
One of the great things about how this squad has developed under Adi Hutter is just how the complimentary players are seizing the moment. One game it could be Martin Hinteregger or another day it could be Sebastian Rode. or even in the next it could be Filip Kostic. There is always a possibility for someone to step up in the way that 24-year-old Portuguese forward Goncalo Paciencia did last week for Eintracht Frankfurt (Paciencia scored the game's first goal in a 3-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf).
Overall, it has just become a party to watch Frankfurt as the squad plays an exciting style and has some serious top-end talent.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 3, FC Nurnberg 1
Borussia Monchengladbach 3, SC Freiburg 2: This contest has potential to be a lot of fun. M'Gladbach has started to get its bearings, while Freiburg has looked defiant in the face of a potential spot for relegation. With Thorgan Hazard still "O-for-2019" this seems like it could be a good spot for free-wheeling game that would open up for the Belgian star.
FC Augsburg 2, Hannover 96 1: Ji Dong Won has been on fire of late for Die Fuggerstädter, but it has not been a great stretch overall for Augsburg. Alfred Finnbogason would be a welcome addition to the lineup, but the Icelander has been battling a calf injury that has caused him to miss the past four games. With both teams teetering toward relegation. Augsburg is three point ahead of 16th place VfB Stuttgart for the relegation playoff spot, while H96 sits in 17th place with 14 points Both teams need the game in a bad way, but Augsburg is just better at this stage.
Bayern Munich 4, Mainz 05 1: Bayern's loss to Liverpool in the Champions League will have one of two effects. Either Bayern will wallow in self pity before the international break or it will rally vigorously and stomp M05. The feeling here is that Bayern is going to come out firing as Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich should be back to the lineup after both being suspended for the loss to Liverpool.
RB Leipzig 3, Schalke 04 1: Well, it finally happened; Die Königsblauen fired Domenico Tedesco. The young and promising coach completely lost his feel for the team and in doing so, lost the locker room. The roster has looked confused, irritable, and listless all season, so it will be interesting to see if it can re-group in time to keep it out of relegation.
Die Roten Bullen has not been great of late, but this should be a spot where it can walk away with a pretty easy victory. With a very heated race for third and fourth place, FB Leipzig is sitting in third place with 46 points, but has great competition in M'Gladbach (46 points), Eintracht Frankfurt (43 points), Bayer Leverkusen (42 points), and VfL Wolfsburg (39 points).
Yussuf Poulsen just extended his deal, which kind of seems like Leipzig is starting to prepare for life after Timo Werner.
Hoffenheim 2, VfB Stuttgart 1: Stuttgart is desperately trying to claw its way out of a relegation spot, but Die Schwaben will find a tough opponent this week in TSG1899. Even as the home side, Stuttgart is going to have to dig deep against Julian Nagelsmann's boys as Hoffenheim is fighting for a European spot. This one just feels like a tight game that Hoffenheim will win late.
Wolfsburg 3, Fortuna Dusseldorf 1: The Wolves are going to be looking to shake off last week's 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Bayern and while F95 is no pushover, it just seems like Wolfsburg will get back on track at Volkswagen Arena.
Hertha Berlin 2, Borussia Dortmund 2: Dortmund should be favored here and has the talent to skate away from a very tough Hertha Berlin squad, but I'm banking on Die Alte Dame's resolve and ability to make life awful for even the most talented of competitors.
Bayer Leverkusen 3, Werder Bremen 2: This contest should be entertaining and could result in one of the more fun games of the weekend. Bremen has developed into a rugged squad with a tough mindset and man....they just battle all the time. As for Leverkusen, Peter Bosz's influence has caused a resurgence with Julian Brandt, who has been on fire of late and complimented "Mega Star in Waiting" Kai Havertz and Kevin Volland very nicely.
With rumors of Brandt now suddenly being available for a pretty reasonable price (seriously...why???), it looks like the 22-year-old has embraced the opportunity to showcase himself.
Editor's Note: Apologies in advance for abbreviated capsules as an aggressive travel schedule affected timing.
Last match day record: 7-2
Season record: 112-113
Note: Predicted ties count as a win if correct and as a loss if there is a winner; conversely if a game is predicted to have a winner but ends in a tie, it will count as a loss.
