Last weekend certainly lived up to the hype with the top of the table clash between leaders Bayer Leverkusen and reigning champions Bayern Munich delivering a fantastic match which keeps the Werkself very much in pole position. They will be looking to build on their win knowing that Bayern are sure to show a reaction. Elsewhere we have a new coach on the Bundesliga scene, with other trainers under pressure. Here we bring you five talking points ahead of the weekend action…
1- How much pressure is Thomas Tuchel really under?
After the loss to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, Thomas Tuchel really needed his Bayern side to show a positive reaction in midweek in their Champions League round of 16 clash with Lazio in Rome. The 1-0 defeat in which the German champions didn’t register a single effort on target and also had Dayot Upamecano sent off was not the performance or result Tuchel needed.
This being Bayern Munich, the crisis talk is in full swing and is partly justified as a result of the team performing statistically worse under Tuchel than it did under Julian Nagelsmann, who was unceremoniously sacked last season. The board are backing Thomas Tuchel (for now), but more than ever, he needs a big performance and a good win this weekend away at Bochum. Anything less and the knives will be well and truly out (if not stuck in his back).
2- Is it too late for Bo Henriksen to save Mainz?
Changing your coach twice in a season is never a good sign and is an indication that your club has major problems and the panic button has been pressed. Mainz took the difficult decision to sack Bo Svensson back in November after starting the season with a nine-game winless run which included six defeats. Jan Siewert (previously U23 coach) was then installed, duly won his first match in charge against RB Leipzig, but then subsequently went eleven matches without a win leading to his dismissal this week.
The Nullfünfer have now turned to FC Zürich trainer Bo Henriksen to try to dig them out of the relegation mess they find themselves in. They are only off the bottom of the table courtesy of a slightly better goal difference over Darmstadt and with just 13 games remaining, they face an uphill battle to retain their Bundesliga status. Is Henriksen the man to save the day?
3- Is there any stopping Bayer Leverkusen?
Last weekend was the supposed real test of Leverkusen’s mettle this season and they passed with flying colours as they showed themselves superior to Bayern in terms of the result, but more important in terms of tactics and mentality. Their lead is now five points and with thirteen games to go, the Meisterschale (a first for them) is becoming more and more of a realistic prospect.
Next up for the Werkself is Heidenheim- a wholly different test to the one they face last weekend, but one they will still have to face in their usual manner. Last season’s 2.Bundesliga champions have surprised many people this season and are currently unbeaten in their last eight matches, so Leverkusen will have to be at their best again to come away from the Voith Arena with all three points.
4- Is it time for Frankfurt to unleash Hugo Ekitike?
Eintracht Frankfurt travel to Freiburg on Sunday to take on a Breisgauer side that is missing its entire first-choice centre back contingent. Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart and Manuel Gulde are all injured and Christian Streich’s side are also on a three-match losing streak to make matters worse.
It would seem a good time to face the Black Forest side, who like the Adler also had a European tie in midweek. What better time to unleash new striker Hugo Ekitike from the start? The winter signing from PSG has had two cameo appearances from the bench thus far, but with Eintracht not exactly banging the goals in right now, some fresh impetus against a depleted Freiburg could be just the trick.
5- Should Mönchengladbach fans be starting to worry?
The season hasn’t been great for the Foals so far but a quick look at the Bundesliga table makes for quite alarming reading and Gerardo Seoane’s side need to be careful. They have only picked up two points from the last twelve on offer and find themselves 13th in the table.
The fact that they are only a single point above Union Berlin in 15th and just a mere six above Köln doesn’t make for comfortable reading. They face a tough trip to RB Leipzig this weekend and then face Bochum next weekend (they are currently level on points). They then face the Rheinderby against fierce rivals Köln, by which time their position could be even more precarious than it is now.
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