Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich host Hoffenheim on Saturday looking to bounce back from their shock European defeat at FC Porto amidst an injury crisis.
Bayern are 10 points clear at the top of the German league table and just three more wins from having their third straight Bundesliga title confirmed.
But the Bavarian club are licking their Champions League wounds with Pep Guardiola’s Bayern facing an uphill task for Tuesday’s quarter-final, return leg, at the Allianz Arena after losing 3-1 to Porto on Wednesday.
Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger are all still battling injuries, and with Bayern playing every three or four days, the depth of their star-studded squad is being tested.
Guardiola is set to rest a few players to keep them fresh for Porto, but Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol dismissed any talk of Munich being vulnerable.
“We mustn’t focus too much on Bayern’s defeat in Porto – they’re more than capable of bouncing back,” said Gisdol, who has extended his Hoffenheim deal until 2018.
Jurgen Klopp says it’s business as usual for Borussia Dortmund against neighbours Paderborn on Saturday despite his surprise resignation as coach after seven years in charge.
Having led Dortmund to consecutive German league titles in 2011 and 2012, then runners-up for the last two years, Klopp shocked the footbal world on Wednesday by announcing he is leaving next month.
Dortmund host relegation-threatened Paderborn and with six games left, Klopp wants to bow out with his side further up the table than their current position of tenth and six points from a European berth.
“It’s just another normal football game, albeit one that’s vitally important for both sides,” said Klopp, with Paderborn two points from safety.
“It’s going to be a proper fight and we have to show we’re up to the task.
“I’m not on a goodbye tour, there’s still work to do.”
While the top four places are all virtually decided with Bayern, Wolfsburg, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League next season, there is all to play for at the bottom.
Just four points separate the last five teams with Hamburg, Stuttgart and Paderborn in the drop zone, but Hannover and Freiburg are both on 29 points and just two away from dropping into the relegation mire.
Bottom side Hamburg appointed their fourth coach of the season on Wednesday when Bruno Labbadia, who they previously sacked in 2010 after just nine months in charge, took over from Peter Knabel, who was dismissed as caretaker coach after just two games in charge.
Labbadia has taken his players away on a mini training camp to get their heads in the right place having failed to win any of their last eight games and taking just two points in the process.
Hamburg can expect no charity at neighbours Werder Bremen on Sunday in the north German derby.
Having themselves spent some time at the bottom this season, Bremen are up to ninth and just four points from a European berth.
“I’m not too bothered about Hamburg’s possible relegation. Perhaps another exciting team will take their place,” said Bremen coach Victor Skripnik to add spice to an already potent fixture.
Bundesliga fixtures (in UAE time)
Friday
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (10.30pm)
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (5.30pm), Bayer Leverkusen v Hannover (5.30pm), Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich (5.30pm), Hertha Berlin v Cologne (5.30pm), Freiburg v Mainz (5.30pm), Augsburg v Stuttgart (8.30pm)
Sunday
Werder Bremen v Hamburg (5.30pm), Wolfsburg v Schalke (7.30pm)
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