VAVEL • 30th August 2024

Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 2, 2024

Bayer Leverkusen take on RB Leipzig on Saturday hoping that their first-ever Meisterschale defence continues in perfect fashion with victory over fellow title challengers Die Roten Bullen.

Contrary to what Bayern Munich had done prior to last season, winning Germany's top tier 11 times in a row, lifting the Bundesliga is one thing, retaining it is another.

Xabi Alonso's side began the 2024-25 campaign travelling to face local rivals Borussia Monchengladbach in an engrossing encounter.

Die Wer...

VAVEL.com • 27th May 2024

Fortuna Dusseldorf 0-3 VfL Bochum (3-3 agg., 5-6 pen.): The Undescendables complete miracle comeback

Bochum overturned a three goal deficit on aggregate to complete a miracle comeback as Kevin Stoger starred for Die Unabsteigbaren and inspired the visitors to an emphatic penalty shootout victory.

The opening stages of the first half suggested that the second leg was likely to play out in a similar vein to the first; however, after an initial spell under pressure, Bochum cemented a foothold in the game as Hofmann put the visitors ahead on the night.

Despite carrying a threat on the counter, it

VAVEL.com • 25th May 2024

Bo Svensson: Success at Mainz and suited style of play

Bo Svensson was unveiled as the new Union Berlin manager on Thursday. The Dane will take over officially on July 1.

Since Urs Fischer, the mastermind behind the fairytale rise of Union, was relieved of his duties in November, it has been a struggle for Die Eisernen.

Despite the appointment of Nenad Bjelica to succeed the club legend, he was dismissed in early May, and the Schlosserjungs narrowly avoided the relegation playoffs on goal difference.

The 44-year-old was appointed after he was ide

VAVEL.com • 24th May 2024

Five Breakout Stars from the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign

There is no denying that the 2023–24 Bundesliga campaign has been one of the most entertaining and competitive to date.

From Bayern Leverkusen shocking the world to go unbeaten for the entire campaign to Stuttgart finishing second after narrowly avoiding relegation the year prior to Bayern occupying third place for the first time since 2011, and let’s not forget that in their debut season in the German topflight, Heidenheim could still qualify for Europe if Leverkusen are victorious in the DFB

VAVEL.com • 22nd May 2024

VfL Bochum vs Fortuna Dusseldorf: Relegation Play Off Preview, 2024.

VfL Bochum will bid to stay in the Bundesliga for a third successive season on Thursday evening.

It has been a campaign full of ups and downs for the hosts. Die Unabsteigbaren registered their first win on November 3 against relegated Darmstadt and would follow that up with victories over Wolfsburg and Union Berlin before the winter break.

Humiliating losses of 5-0 and 7-0 to Stuttgart and Bayern Munich respectively would define the first half of their season. Meanwhile, the seven draws during

VAVEL.com • 17th May 2024

Wolfsburg vs Mainz 05: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 34, 2024

It is shaping up to be a tense final day at the bottom end of the Bundesliga for Mainz 05 as the potential of the relegation play-offs lurk over their shoulder.

Die Nullfunfer currently reside in 15th place on 32 points, two above Union Berlin, who occupy 16th, the relegation play-off spot.

However, Bo Svensson side boast a hugely beneficial goal difference of -14, out of reach for Union below, and Bochum above. Given that only a point separates the visitors from 17th-placed Die Unabsteigbaren

VAVEL.com • 17th May 2024

FC Union Berlin vs SC Freiburg: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 34, 2024.

It will be a tense final day for Union Berlin as Die Eisernen's fate remains undecided. Languishing in 16th place, Marco Grote's side currently occupy the relegation play-off spot.

However, there is still the real possibility that Union get pulled into the automatic relegation places following FC Cologne's bid to perform a great escape.

Koln's dramatic comeback last week against the hosts saw them turn around a two goal lead and win 3-2 after a Damion Downs 92nd-minute winner sealed all three

VAVEL.com • 17th May 2024

Werder Bremen vs VfL Bochum: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 34, 2024.

The tight nature of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign means that Werder Bremen remain with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe heading into the final day of the season.

Bremen sit in 11th place on 39 points, three points behind eigth placed Freiburg.

Interestingly enough, Germany's coefficient standing has gifted the Bundesliga one extra spot in Europe. If Bayern Leverkusen were to lift the German Cup then all of sudden eigth place is enough for Europa Conference League football while sev

VAVEL.com • 10th May 2024

SC Freiburg vs FC Heidenheim: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 33, 2024.

Everyone at SC Freiburg are bracing themselves to say goodbye to legendary head coach Christian Streich this weekend, as the 58-year-old takes charge of SC Freiburg's final home game of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign.

The German took charge in January 2012, 711 matches ago, and has led them to Europe four times, including a German Cup final in 2022.

It will be an emotional day for everyone associated with the Breisgau-Brasilianer; however, Streich, being the ultimate professional that he is,

VAVEL.com • 9th May 2024

Augsburg vs Stuttgart: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 33, 2024.

Following their 5-1 thrashing by Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund last week, Augsburg will be hoping to conclude their final home game of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign with three points as they eye Europa Conference League qualification.

The hosts currently occupy ninth place, sitting on 39 points in an insanely tight race for the last European spot up for grabs this year. Freiburg are the team who go into the closing two fixtures holding all the cards given their seventh placed s

VAVEL.com • 6th May 2024

Heidenheim 1-1 Mainz 05: Mainz pegged back in relegation battle

Mainz will remain in the relegation places for another week after a hard fought 1-1 draw at Heidenheim. Despite Bochum presenting Die Nunfunfer with an escape route having inflicted a dramatic 4-3 defeat on their fellow relegation battlers Union Berlin, Bo Svensson's side could not capitalise.

The visitors took the lead towards the end of the first half following a Jonathan Burkardt goal, his eighth of the campaign. The inform striker with a clinical finish from just inside the box to convert a

VAVEL.com • 3rd May 2024

Heidenheim vs Mainz 05: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 32, 2024

FC Heidenheim have been the surprise package of this season's Bundesliga. Following their first ever promotion to Germany's premier division, they have taken to it like a duck to water.

Currently, Frank Schmidt's side sit 10th on 37 points and have confirmed their Bundesliga status with three fixtures still to play.

In fact, Heidenheim are not just looking to secure a top half finish but also have the possibility of a late push for a place in Europe given confirmation that the Bundesliga have

VAVEL.com • 3rd May 2024

FC Union Berlin vs Bochum: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 32, 2024.

As the 2023-24 Bundesliga season nears its conclusion, what began as a fairytale has become a nightmare for Union Berlin. This time last year, Die Eisernen were celebrating Champions League qualification for the first time in their history, and now they face the real possibility of relegation after a disastrous campaign.

Nenad Bjelica's side sit 14th on 30 points, level with Sunday's opponents Bochum. A goal difference of just one separates the two teams, while 16th-place Mainz languish two poi

VAVEL.com • 5th April 2024

FC Heidenheim vs Bayern Munich: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 28, 2024

After the disappointment of suffering their first defeat in Der Klassiker for 10 years, Thomas Tuchel finally admitted that Bayern Munich’s title hopes had been quashed.

The 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund was indicative of the larger issues at play in Munich, with Edin Terzic's side turning up to the Allianz Arena and deliberately setting up to win the game, succeeding in relatively comfortable fashion.

Bayern Leverkusen now have a 13-point lead over the winners of the previous 11 Bundesliga

VAVEL.com • 29th March 2024

Werder Bremen vs Wolfsburg: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 27, 2024

A disappointing 3-1 defeat to Europe pushing Augsburg before the international break extended an eleven match winless run and prompted the appointment of Ralph Hasenhüttl and the dismissal of Niko Kovac.

The former Southampton manager has been out of work since November 2022 and will have hopes of steering Die Wölfe away from relegation. Currently, Hasenhüttl's new side sits 14th with 25 points, six points above Mainz in the relegation play-off places following three straight defeats and severa

VAVEL.com • 16th March 2024

Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Bundesliga Preview, Gameweek 26, 2024

Following his red card last weekend against Bremen, Marcel Sabitzer will be unavailable for this match. Salih Özcan and Felix Nmecha will battle it out for a starting spot alongside Can in the midfield, with Özcan likely to be preferred because of his defensive capabilities.

Sébastian Haller and Samuel Bamba remain out with long term ankle and muscle injuries, respectively.

Lastly, after limping off midweek against PSV Jadon Sancho will not feature this weekend. The winger is expected back aft