Seen this elsewhere today?

Referees. Eh? Who’d be one? Not me anyway. I watch football, play football, love football but would never want to put myself in the position that thousands of well wishing men & women do. They are vital to the function of the sport and a good referee can make a game better. A bad referee, on the other hand, can truly ruin the game and in some extreme cases the sport itself (Calciopoli). So, in writing this I do not demean, devalue or demonise an entire profession but offer my, lay, opinion on one of the most important facets of the sport.

As Brian Clough famously put it to John Motson  (in relation to Televisions coverage of Football):

“I think what you do to referees is absolutely criminal, I do honestly and I think the standard you feel that should be coming from Referees at the moment is absolutely incredible…he makes a decision in 5 seconds or 2 seconds or 1 second or whatever it is, in the heat of the moment with 22 players, with 33,000 shouting and bellowing. All I’m saying is that you don’t make that point strongly enough. It should be overemphasised how hard it is to Referee a match.”

However, Referee’s have a flaw one that all of us possess and that is Confirmation Bias, it influences their decisions before they make it and makes it more difficult to change their minds despite the evidence in front of them, what can be done about it?

(In this article I will be quoting from an academic article by Raymond S. Nickerson of Tufts University.) Each time a quote appears indented it is from said study.

What Is Confirmation Bias?

Confirmation bias is the cognitive process whereby we reinforce our opinions by systematically accept what confirms what we already believe and discredit or point blank ignore evidence to the contrary. The problem this causes is that it can allow narratives to develop that reinforce stereotypes that may not be true. If that went over your head ask yourself; are Wolves a dirty team? If you haven’t gone in depth and go by the media’s depiction then the answer is yes. Conversely are Bolton a dirty team under Owen Coyle? If you don’t have a strong opinion you’re more likely to assume not, but in the Premier League fair play table the trotters are 5 places behind but nothing is said about it.

What this causes is an extra emphasis on Wolves’ dirty play and no emphasis on Bolton’s, this is a perceived correlation whereby:

“A form of stereotyping involves believing that specific behaviours are more common among…members of a particular group”

This would back up what we have seen, why was this yellow? Probably because it was John Carew who is not ‘known’ for horror tackles unlike, say, Karl Henry is now. Wolves’ players are going to be held by a different standard than those who play in the same league as them which is staggeringly unfair but falls within this illusory correlation that because they play for Wolves they are more physical. The reason for this is not just a spate of bad tackles, which of course there have been a few but also because

“Unusual behaviour by people in distinctive groups is more salient and easily remembered than similar behaviour who are not…of that group”

It is mental gymnastics that we will remember the fouls of Wolves to tally with what we already believe but conveniently forget moments like this.

Johnny Giles wrote an excellent article recently(which I didn’t fully agree with but that’s the way with debate) in which he broached the subject of how he was remembered:

“I took the decision that if I was to embark on a career in which honest comment was essential, in which I might have to condemn bad tackles, for example, then I would have to come clean about my well-earned reputation among my fellow professionals. It was pretty embarrassing, having to tarnish my own image in the Daily Express. Some of my friends thought I was mad to do it and warned me that, in future, I would be known only for the bad tackles, that the creative play would be forgotten.”

So despite a ‘well-earned reputation’ it took a nationally published article to refute what had been ‘known’ for decades. That is the way with confirmation bias unless you’re conscious of it you will be prone to fall into it and it takes an explicit contradiction for you to change your mind, of course some never will.

Specifically, Why Referees

Confirmation bias is universal and it touches on subjects I’ve already broached (Revisionism) as an impartial observer – as referees must be – it undermines their standing. Referees hold a unique position within the game, they have sole power over the course of a football game, their mistakes change matches and are widely publicised. He succeeds or fails on his own judgement and if his judgement is flawed then so is the game. Take for instance the recent case of Nemanja Vidic and Marc Albrighton. Albrighton had gone to the crowd after scoring a goal and promptly was booked, Nemanja Vidic did the very same in the same match – in the same half – and was not. Mike Dean said that Vidic was ‘pushed’ into the crowd. He came to the decision that Vidic shouldn’t be booked (and then dismissed) and fitted the facts to confirm this. Watch the incident again, Vidic is clearly not ‘pushed’ anywhere until Rio does his usual celebration and at that point he is already in the crowd. By the laws of the game and precedence in the match itself Vidic should have been off but Dean made his – incorrect – decision and stood by it. There is evidence to this effect almost every week;

Sometimes it’s because the player isn’t ‘known’ for that :

“If it was Lee (Cattermole) he would have been sent off…It is a strange one to give a yellow card for that” – Steve Bruce –

Sometimes it’s because the result of an accurate decision is unpalatable:

“Having seen it again from my armchair several times in slow motion and from different angles I can see that it was a red-card offence.” –Howard Webb –

In this particular instance it is shown that a desirable outcome can be preferred to the truth. Which as a keeper of the rules of the game is unacceptable for a Referee.

Mark Clattenburg dismissed every Tottenham player that surrounded him when discussing the controversial Nani goal in October; however he did allow Rio Ferdinand to join his conversation. I cannot know for certain but it would certainly seem that Rio was providing confirmation of what he already believed, why else would he allow the United player (not even a Captain) come that close during a conversation with his assistant?

“The idea that people tend to expose themselves more to information sources that share their beliefs than to those that do not has had considerable credibility among social psychologists.”

Oh.

Why? Referees

As indicated above it is all well and good to judge a Referee from the comfort of my home with the ability to pause, rewind and review incidents on the fly, there is currently no way for a Referee to be 100% accurate, 100% of the time. However Referee’s are placed in a position whereby the influences of confirmation bias are exacerbated not alleviated. By placing the referee in a position where they must make a decision immediately then they are more likely to stick by it, this is called ‘the Primacy Effect’:

“When a person must draw a conclusion on the basis of information acquired and integrated over time, the information acquired early in the process is likely to carry more weight than that acquired later”

If a Referee must make a decision there and then, the conclusion he comes to will hold more weight than any subsequent evidence, furthermore:

“Once a belief or opinion has been formed, it can be very resistive to change, even in the face of fairly compelling evidence that it is wrong.”

Also the position of power that Referees find themselves in can be a problem in and of itself. The referee’s who we see week in and week out are the elite of each division and as such that comes with an ego. The demeanour of Mark Clattenburg as Heurelho Gomes questioned what was going on at Old Trafford is the extreme example of how this can show itself.

Being placed in the position to make the decisions in a football game does not lend itself to fallibility, if a Referee were seen to waver over his decisions he would not be long for the professional game. Consider the recent (extreme) example in Scotland where the Referee (Dougie McDonald) awarded a penalty, when in reality the Goalkeeper had touched the ball away, he immediately realised his error but rather than admit it consulted with his linesman and then indicated a different result. This isn’t uncommon, what is though is that after the game the reason he gave for the change was that he had been heavily influenced by his assistant and not that he had realised his own error. The assistant in question – Steven Craven – resigned after the facts came to light as he was disgruntled with the handling of the situation. Why did the referee not just admit his mistake? It would seem that his decision was based on self-preservation and that he identified that concocting a story about his linesman was less damaging than admitting that at first instance he was incorrect.

What does that say about the mindset of a professional referee that when confronted with being wrong it is preferable to invent a lie rather than admit the mistake, how likely is it then that a Referee will accept conflicting information if the result is so abhorrent:

“Friedrich (1993) argued that “ our inference processes are first and foremost pragmatic, survival mechanisms and secondarily truth detection strategies”

It would certainly hold that the mistake, actions and subsequent strike in Scotland bear this out.

The main issue I have with Confirmation Bias in this context is the narratives it can allow to develop. Certain players will develop reputation which will unfortunately distort their actions beyond what has actually happened. This leads to a disparity in the game which should not be tolerated it can lead to a different set of results that given the finely tuned nature of league football could be the difference between promotion/relegation and all the rewards/pitfalls of both. Over the course of a match one or two decisions will not have a profound effect, over 38 games however if those decisions are based on and enforce a bias then that can have a cumulative effect far greater than it initially seems.

Can We Fix the ‘Problem’?

In terms of eradicating the bias? no. It is universal and probably evident in this article denouncing it. What we can do though is acknowledge it. Acknowledge there is a problem and take steps to mitigate it. However, as we have seen the rules of football are quite resistant to change and particularly in adding/removing layers of protection, especially around Referee’s. To admit there is a problem brings the role of the Referee into sharp focus and as already mentioned it is already an extremely hard job at all levels of football world-wide. One must only look at the paltry ban provided to Tresor Mputu for his shameful attack on a referee to see that the protection of Referee’s is not the current priority in Football. In my opinion that should have merited a life-time ban.

However when it comes to contentious, game changing decisions there must be more of an emphasis on right rather than belief. As football has become a Billion dollar industry the price of mistakes are too large now to simply ignore. So what can we do?

It has been shown that:

“ the tendency to use [confirmation bias] can be reduced if people are asked to consider alternatives, but that they tend not to consider them spontaneously”

In this regard it would take a review to come to the ‘best’ decision of course given what has been shown before this probably should not be done by the official himself as having come to the decison independently he is more likely to ignore evidence to the contrary. It should, therefore, be the remit of a third party a qualified or senior/retired Referee who could review the video evidence and advise if anything was missed/misinterpreted in the initial instance. So yes, I am advocating the use of Video Evidence and systematic video review. It is used in virtually every other international sport extensively without issue. I do not of course advocate it’s use for every single refereeing decision but as said before those which are game changing. Goals, Penalties, Red Cards all must be reviewed if they are contentious.

Of course this is an imperfect solution as the word ‘contentious’ would be open to interpretation and interpretation is already the problem. However replacing a flawed system with a less flawed system is better in any circumstance. It’s not just a case of modernising the sport( as that’s a different discussion altogether) but this would remove a significant proportion of human error from the game because:

“Much of the discussion of confirmation bias is predicated on the assumption that…people have been interested in determining truth or falsity….But determining truth or falsity is not the only, or necessarily primary,objective…. Another possibility is that of guarding against the making of certain types of mistakes”.

If we acknowledge the problem and act to prevent it perhaps a ‘reducer’ from Cattermole could be as equally punished as a ‘mistake’ from Fabregas. If we forcibly divorce ourselves from our unintentionally pre-conceived notions of what a player meant to do and act according to what they actually did the game would be fairer as a result. Also if we acknowledge that Referee’s are human and therefore flawed, we can accept that they need help to determine if the ball crossed the line or was prevented from doing so by a hand.

Also, by admitting fallibility it is less likely that Referee’s can develop an Ego like Mark Clattenburg has, in fact his ego could exacerbate the problem as:

“In general, people tend to express a higher degree of confidence than is justified by the accuracy of their performance….[Researchers] refer to the confidence that people feel for highly fallible performance as the illusion of validity.”

If we provide a second stage of scrutiny to a Referee’s performance it would lead to a more thorough (and accurate) review of decisions. I’m aware that this would slow the game down somewhat and that by sometimes ‘letting the game flow’ is a praise for a Referee rather than an indictment. Though by limiting the decisions to the fundamentals of the game (goals, player’s violent actions and penalties) we would get less debate over the Refereeing of games (such as this article) and more on the sport itself and perhaps it would prevent accusations of bias and make corruption that bit harder as you would have to corrupt two officials rather than one.

Conclusion

Of course I acknowledge that quoting extensively from one article is an almost text-book definition of confirmation bias however, I have chosen, read and digested an article which presents both the pros and the cons and it is a piece that admits that:

“Can we assess the merits of our own opinions impartially? Is it possible to put a belief that one holds in balance with an opposing belief… and give them a fair weighing? I doubt that it is. But that is not to say we cannot hope…to do better than we typically do in that regard.”

If this has whetted your appetite for such a debate I encourage you to read the article quoted throughout. Finally, I reiterate that this is not a treatise against Referee’s, what it is is a realisation that they are only Human and we need to provide support rather than condemnation and instead of singing ‘Fergies Rent-Boy’ sing ‘Damn Psychological Social Conventions’ it’s not as pithy but it just might be a bit more accurate.

Chris McQuade can be followed on Twitter @kipp9

Happy holidays to all the BundesligaTalk readers out there, you’ve made this site a joy to be a part of. See you all in 2011!

Just in case any of you are Bundesliga starved and worried about your sanity without any well-informed, opinionated articles to read everyday, you can reach me at dylan@bundesligatalk.com, but only for emergencies!

Cheers guys, happy New Year!

Hanke Signs For Gladbach.

Hannover’s super-sub, Mike Hanke, has completed a transfer to relegation-threatened Gladbach, and will join the club as they resume training throughout the winter break.

Hanke has been in encouraging form this season, with three goals in seven short substitute appearances. Despite his goals, Hanke was not getting the kind of game time his form warrants, so a move, even to Gladbach, was going to be in his best interests. Hanke spoke to the press about his stint at Wolfsburg, and how that experience will help him succeed at Gladbach:

“I’ve previously battled against relegation when I was under contract with Wolfsburg. I know what’s needed in this situation. I’ve never dropped before and I’m planning to keep it that way.”

Gladbach fans will hope Hanke can boost the side and lift them to safety, although at the moment that’s looking a bridge too far. Still, with half of the season left, anything is possible. Hanke will be a welcome addition at Gladbach, and he will definitely bolster his new side’s attacking options.

That Sinking Feeling: McClaren Looks Set For The Sack

Wolfsburg have to be the disappointment of the Bundesliga season so far, and nothing sums that up better than today’s 1-3 loss to Cottbus in the DFB Pokal. While injuries and low confidence will take their toll on any side throughout what is an arduous league season, the kind of form Wolfsburg are on is just unacceptable, and even Steve McClaren has seemingly given up.

The former England national team manager, who rebuilt his reputation in Holland with FC Twente after failing to qualify for the European Championships in 2008 with England, has got to be on the verge of resignation now. After the match, McClaren spoke to the press:

It was just not good enough today. It was not good enough throughout the whole first half of the season. I am disappointed and frustrated. We have hit bottom. The club needs changes now. No one knows what will happen in the next days.”

The club needs changes? The first change Wolfsburg might make over the winter break is the manager. I don’t think there’s a Wolfsburg fan around, or even a Bundesliga fan in general, who thinks McClaren is the right choice to take this team to the end of the season.

There isn’t a lack of quality in the squad, so it isn’t like they aren’t getting results because they lack the playing staff who can get them those results. They aren’t a team who are without experience, either. They have players in their squad who have won titles, and relatively recent too, when Felix Magath led them to the Bundesliga crown in 2008.

Wolfsburg are winless in eight consecutive matches, and they’ve like a completely disorganized group on the pitch. There’s little if any cohesion in midfield, they’ve had a number of defensive lapses, and their strikers aren’t scoring the goals they should because of a lack of creativity coming from the players behind them. They’ve got a lengthy injury list, but they do have competent back-ups who should be doing a much more encouraging job.

McClaren, who won FC Twente’s first ever Eredivisie title last season, has really done himself all sorts of damage at Wolfsburg. At the start of the season, the English tactician was full of confidence and encouragement. He said himself that he was looking at challenging for a Champions League spot if not the title itself. And now, he’s transformed into that ‘wally with the brolly’ of days gone by.

It looks like a sad end to what could have been such a good thing. Let’s hope McClaren can pick himself up again at another club, and let’s also hope that Wolfsburg can recover from what has been a shocking start to the Bundesliga season for them.

Mario Gomez Puts Three Past His Former Side.

It’s the last day of round sixteen, and it’s the end of 2010 for the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich travelled to a Bruno Labbadia-led Stuttgart looking for three points, while Freiburg, without Papiss Cisse, travelled to Leverkusen.

VfB Stuttgart 3 – 5 Bayern Munich

Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich made a mockery of Stuttgart’s defense before Stuttgart pushed themselves back into the game and made the score-line look just a little bit more respectful. Mario Gomez hit a hat-trick against his former side, while Thomas Mueller and Franck Ribery also scored a goal each. The score was 1-5 before the hour mark, and Bayern Munich really took their foot off the gas after that. Martin Harnik hit a brace for the hosts, and Christian Gentner got the third but it was far from enough. Stuttgart will need to regroup over the holidays because they’ve dug themselves into a massive hole at the bottom end of the table. They’re only two points ahead of last place and five away from safety, so things are going to have to change and quick too. Bayern Munich will probably not have wanted the winter break to come so soon, because they’re really beginning to hit top form now.

Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 2 SC Freiburg

Bayer Leverkusen have been made to rue missed opportunities this weekend. With Borussia Dortmund losing on Saturday, it was imperative that they take full advantage of that and secure three points. Unfortunately for Leverkusen, Dortmund still hold a ten-point lead at the top of the table thanks to this result. The hosts took an early lead after Julian Schuster brought Tranquillo Barnetta down in the area for Arturo Vidal to make it 1-0 from the penalty spot. Jan Rosenthal equalized just before the half-hour mark when he controlled a cross on his chest and then smashed it into the back of the net. Stefan Reisinger put the visitors ahead on 65 minutes after a quick one-two with Maximilian Nicu. Leverkusen found their equalizer with Patrick Helmes, whose shot took a deflection but still ended up in the back of the net. I can’t believe this game wasn’t postponed because of the amount of snow that had accumulated on the pitch. It was played in an absolute blizzard, and I can’t see how the referee let it go on. Still, it’s a good result for Freiburg, especially since they were without Papiss Cisse. If he had played, Leverkusen may have lost this one and Bayern Munich would be right back in it!

Theofanis Gekas Condemns Dortmund To Defeat.

With the Bundesliga set to go on holiday for the next few weeks, we were always going to be in for a fantastic weekend of football to properly send our favorites sides off. This weekend has already been full of shocks and surprises, and the biggest of them has to be Dortmund’s 1-0 loss to a defiant Eintracht Frankfurt. Let’s get to the results.

Nurnberg 3 – 1 Hannover 96

This is definitely not the way Mirko Slomka would have been hoping to end the first half of the season, especially because of the fact that they’ve been pushing so hard for a European place recently. Nurnberg, on the other hand, will welcome a return to winning ways. Hannover captain Steven Cherundolo unfortunately deflected an Ilkay Gundogan shot into his own net just before the half-hour mark to put the hosts into the driving seat, and it was really all down hill from there for Hannover. Andreas Wolf scored minutes later from a set-piece, and Nurnberg headed into the break with a two-nil lead. Hannover would equalize from the penalty spot with 15 minutes left on the clock after a handball incident, and Sergio Pinto stepped up confidently and scored. There was no coming back for Hannover though. Nurnberg capped their win with a third goal, this time from Ilkay Gundogan, who has been an instrumental part of Nurnberg’s side this season. Where will he be next season?

Schalke 3 – 0 FC Koeln

I can’t get enough of this Schalke resurgence. They really did look dead and buried not too long ago, and now they’re beginning to look like a proper Felix Magath side. Raul was the man of the match once more as he hit his second hat trick of the season. He may be getting on, but class never fades. Despite their recent good form, the Schalke squad are still only having a four day holiday because of their awful performances early on in the season. If they return fitter and sharper than their competition, it’s likely that the goals will continue to flow for the Konigsblauen.

VFL Wolfsburg 2 – 2 TSG Hoffenheim

Is Wolfsburg a team, or is it just a group of individuals? That midfield is just not performing like it should. They don’t keep possession very well, and they don’t win the ball quickly enough. Tolga Cigerci looks their best midfielder and he’s 17 years old! Steve McClaren’s got to have a think over the break about how to pull this group together because they look nothing like the side that won the league a couple of years ago. Luis Guistavo and Gylfi Sigurdsson (who I can’t get enough of) put Hoffenheim two-nil up going into the break. It’s impressive that McClaren’s boys turned the game around, but how they were two-nil down in the first place is a problem. Diego and Dzeko were on hand to restore order for Wolfsburg, but they’re really not playing like a side who are hoping to challenge for a Champions League place.

Werder Bremen 1 – 2 Kaiserslautern

It’s really going from bad to worse for Werder Bremen. They’ve dropped all the way down to 14th place now, just four points ahead of the relegation zone. Are we all about to watch Werder Bremen battle for survival? It’s been a mixed up league so far this season with sides like Frankfurt and Hannover pushing for European places while sides like Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Hamburg, who are usually up there with the best of them, are really struggling to get going. We’re halfway through the season now, and Werder Bremen are still on the back foot. Thomas Schaaf will really be looking for improvement after the winter break. Fantastic three points for Kaiserslautern though, that’s one more big scalp for them. Srdjan Lakic really was made for the Bundesliga. Alexander Bugera and Sandro Wagner both picked up second yellows and were sent off, but it had little effect on the result.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 – 0 Borussia Dortmund

They’ve lost one! The day has finally come. Theofanis Gekas (did you expect anyone else?) blasted the only goal of the game into the back of the net with just minutes remaining, and Borussia Dortmund were made to rue missed chances. Even though they’ve lost, they’re still well ahead at the top of the table and now that they’ve got the winter break to recuperate and recover, they’ll probably come back strong and push for the title. Fantastic result for Frankfurt. Gekas is turning into one of the transfers of the season.

Trochowski Strike Saves Hamburg's Blushes Against Gladbach.

Gladbach’s terrible run of losses stretches to five after another defeat this afternoon, this time against a struggling Hamburg side. Dutch winger Eljero Elia, who has been the subject of some intense transfer rumors, put the away side in front just a minute after the break. Gladbach didn’t shy away though, and got their equalizer two minutes later through Igor De Camargo.

Unfortunately for Gladbach, German international Piotr Trochowski condemned them to defeat when his free-kick whipped past Bailly with 20 minutes of time left to play. The result puts Hamburg back in the running for a Europa League spot, while Gladbach remain dead bottom with just ten points after seventeen matches.

Neither side has made the start to this Bundesliga season that they would have been hoping to make, and if things don’t turn around soon changes are going to have to be made. When Armin Veh took the helm at Hamburg HSV fans met him with suspicion, and it looks like their early worries have been vilified.

Michael Frontzeck isn’t getting results, but I can’t really see who would at this point. They’ve got to make a change, though. Relegation isn’t an option and if Frontzeck can’t lead Gladbach to safety, the higher-ups better start looking elsewhere for their savior.

Cardozo Will Need To Be Stopped If Stuttgart Are To Win Against Benfica.

With Dortmund eliminated, the Bundesliga has just two representatives remaining in the Europa League. Both of those sides, impressively, topped their groups and would have been hoping for a good draw this afternoon to aid their chances of progressing in the tournament. Stuttgart rather unfortunately drew Benfica, while Leverkusen got a very favorable draw in the form of Metalist.

Stuttgart v Benfica

I don’t think Stuttgart could have drawn a tougher side. Benfica are loaded with top attacking players and they’re very handy in defense too. They haven’t been as impressive as they usually are this season, but I think it’s only a matter of time before they start getting the results they want. Oscar Cardozo and Fabio Coentrao will be particularly key in attack for Benfica, while Brazilian pair David Luiz and Luisao will marshall the back-line for the Portuguese champions. Stuttgart will need to win pretty handily in Germany if they have any chance of getting out of this one, because Benfica can be electric at home.

Leverkusen v Metalist

This should be a real walk in the park for Leverkusen. They can continue to field a second-string in this tournament and focus more on their Bundesliga title challenge. Hopefully the Europa League throws up a bigger test for Leverkusen in the next round. It’ll be a real disappointment if they lose this one.

Elsewhere, Manchester City drew Aris, Liverpool drew Sparta Prague, Napoli drew Villareal, Sevilla drew Porto, Ajax drew Anderlecht, Twente drew Rubin Kazan, PSV drew Lille, Rangers drew Sporting Lisbon, Lech Poznan drew Braga, Besiktas drew Dynamo Kiev, Basel drew Spartak Moscow, Young Boys drew Zenit St. Petersburg, PAOK drew CSKA Moscow, and BATE Barisov drew PSG.

Last season’s finalists, Bayern Munich and Inter, will meet once more in this season’s edition of the Champions League, but this time in the round of sixteen. Inter have looked a much weaker side since Jose Mourinho’s departure in the summer, and Bayern Munich should be able to take full advantage of that. A passage into the quarter-finals looks quite clear, and Louis van Gaal’s men will be delighted that another run to the final is still possible.

Schalke v Valencia

Schalke couldn’t have drawn an easier opponent in my opinion. Valencia are a good side, but Schalke will be too much for them. If Magath’s men can dominate the midfield and shut out Ever Banega, then they’ll have the run of the match in both legs. Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez are key down the flanks for Valencia, but Schalke have been disciplined in defense lately and they should be able to hold them. Raul Gonzalez will return to Spain and face a familiar foe, and I expect him to really turn up in this leg. It’s great to see that both of the Bundesliga’s Champions League representatives have a clear shot at the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Arsenal drew Barcelona, Chelsea drew Copenhagen, Manchester United drew Marseille, Tottenham drew AC Milan, Roma drew Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid drew Olympique Lyon. It should be a fantastic round.

Michael Frontzeck’s Gladbach side are sinking faster than they can swim. They’ve lost their last four Bundesliga matches in a row, and they’ve only managed to pick up ten points after sixteen matches. That’s got relegation written all over it for me. It’s crazy that they’re playing so poorly with the kind of squad they have, but I guess that’s the Bundesliga for you.

Marco Reus and Michael Bradley are unlikely to stick around at Gladbach if they do go down, and you’ve really got to wonder who would stay if Gladbach dropped down to the second division. Raul Bobadilla, Karim Matmour and Thorben Marx are also all unlikely to stay because it’s probable that a top division side somewhere around Europe, or even South America in Bobadilla’s case, would come in for them.

That poses a big problem for Frontzeck. If he pulls off a great escape, he’ll be stuck with the task of fortifying what has been a largely faulty machine. Gladbach could definitely use some help in defense, so that would be the place to start if funds were provided in the summer. Could you imagine if Gladbach had the back-line of, for example, Hannover? They’d be pushing for a European spot because of how fluid they can be in attack if they were able to hold things together in their own end.

Hamburg are by no means in a similar situation, but they have been very mediocre. Armin Veh was a puzzling choice to many HSV supporters when he was hired, and it seems their early suspicions weren’t for nothing. Hamburg have lost four of their last five Bundesliga matches and occupy ninth place in the Bundesliga table, just six points ahead of the relegation zone. Rumors have sprung up about some of their top players looking to move, and if that happens you could see things going from bad to worse for Hamburg.

This game is going to be two teams going all out for the win, and both badly need it. It’s a draw for me!

Bruno Labbadia Makes An Instant Impact As Stuttgart Coach.

Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart capped off their Europa League group stage fixtures with fine results that lifted them to first-placed finishes in their respective groups. Leverkusen managed to knock holders Atletico Madrid out of the tournament with a well-fought 1-1 draw, while Stuttgart, under new management, thumped Odense by a score of 5-1.

Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 1 Atletico Madrid

This result says a lot about the squad depth Bayer Leverkusen has right now. With a makeshift side, they held the holders of the Europa League and consequently knocked them out of the tournament. The game meant little for Bayer Leverkusen who had already guaranteed top spot in their group, so they really do deserve praise for keeping determined and seeing the game through. Patrick Helmes scored the opener on what was a freezing night, and Fran Merida equalized for the visitors with 15 minutes left on the clock. Atletico Madrid had a handful of clear chances but failed to convert them thanks to some sharp defending by Leverkusen. It’s a fine result for the Bundesliga side, who did a good job of keeping their key players fresh for the weekend.

Highlights!

VfB Stuttgart 5 – 1 Odense BK

This is exactly the kind of result Stuttgart fans would have been hoping for from their side. Even though it’s only one game, and one game against much weaker opposition for that matter, it’ll at least give Stuttgart fans something to hope for for the rest of the season. They’ll all jump on the Bruno Labbadia bandwagon, if there is one, and they’ll start think big again. If the squad can start to believe a little, they might finally be able to get their season going. It would really be unbelievable if Labbadia could pull off a top five finish come the end of the season. All in good time! Timo Gebhart opened the scoring, before second-half goals from Christian Gentner, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Ciprian Marica and a Daniel Heogh own-goal just after half-time sealed an emphatic victory for Stuttgart. Peter Utaka scored Odense’s consolation, is it can be called that at all, with 15 mintues left on the clock. Enjoy the highlights!

Highlights!

BVB Fans Won't Be Having Anymore European Nights, But That Sacrifice Could Come With A Great Reward.

Borussia Dortmund’s Europa League form this season left much to be desired, especially since the club’s domestic performances have been nothing short of incredible. BVB only managed to win two of their six group matches and picked up a mediocre nine points, which in the end was a few too short of what was required to qualify for the next round.

Despite the early European exit, I don’t think Borussia Dortmund fans really have anything to be too upset about. Jurgen Klopp and his men have blown their competition away domestically, and I think setting their sights on a successful Bundesliga campaign is far more important than going deep in a competition that really is more trouble than it’s worth, especially if you’re Borussia Dortmund.

Being eleven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga at this stage in the competition counts for very little. Anything could go wrong, and knowing the Bundesliga, most things probably will. But, without that extra set of fixtures in their way, Borussia Dortmund and Jurgen Klopp will be able to focus their attention on one main objective: the Bundesliga title. Having to travel to places like Spain or Russia or Israel can be a real pain, especially if there are big games coming up just a few days later domestically. Also, games like that can really tire a side out; we saw it in the Europa League last season with Fulham. They reached the final of the Europa League and put in some really quality performances; one that immediately springs to mind is their thrashing of Juventus at Craven Cottage. But, they sacrificed their league form and they tired themselves out, and they inevitably lost in the final.

The same thing may have happened to Dortmund. They aren’t the deepest squad in the world, and a few key injuries could really shake them off of their eleven-point pedastal. If Nuri Sahin and Shinji Kagawa went missing for a month or two, that Dortmund side might find it hard to balance some tough Europa League fixtures and their domestic title challenge.

I think it’s for the best that they’ve been knocked out early. If they can remain consistent in the league, they’ll walk away with the title and automatically qualify for the Champions League next season. Jurgen Klopp has done his best to keep his players’ feet on the ground, and it’s so clear to see he’s doing a great job of that. Who knows, if they can keep hold of some of their key players and maybe strengthen a few of their weaker areas, they could push Bayern Munich every season for the title. The real beauty of it is there’s very little pressure on them. No one saw them doing what they’ve been doing, so they can continue to play their football and enjoy where it’s taking them without feeling the constant pressure to perform like Bayern Munich.

The sky looks like the limit for Jurgen Klopp and his Borussia Dortmund side. A European exit, for Dortmund, is an early Christmas present. Less fixtures, less distractions, and more chances of winning an incredible and unexpected Bundesliga title this season. They’ve still got it all to do, but they’ve shown time and again this season that they have what it takes to go all the way.

Labbadia Takes The Stuttgart Hotseat, But Maybe Martin Jol Would Have Been A Better Option.

After two disappointing months in charge of first-team affairs at Stuttgart, Jens Keller has been sacked and replaced by Bruno Labbadia, who had been out of a job since being sacked by Hamburg at the end of last season.

Labbadia has been inherited a world of problems, and I don’t think it’s very likely that he’ll be able to lift this Stuttgart side out of the relegation battle and into mid-table safety. First, he must oversee Stuttgart’s final Europa League fixture of the year this Thursday against Odense, and then he’ll have to face Bayern Munich twice in the space of three days, once in a Bundesliga fixture and again in a DFB Pokal match.

I’m sure the Stuttgart board will have some early patience, because it’s unlikely – even with the new manager bump – that he’ll be able to win all three of those matches. Odense should be a walk in the park, especially at home, so that at least makes for a positive start. Then, Bayern Munich travel to Stuttgart and if he can get a win there it’ll really boost morale and lift confidence. If he can get the win, though. If not, it’s the same old story for Stuttgart. Three days later, Bayern Munich are back for more in the cup and I just can’t see this Stuttgart side getting up for another match against Bayern Munich, especially if they were to lose to them on the weekend.

So really, even with Labbadia, it’s going to be the same old story for Stuttgart for at least a little while longer. After the winter break, maybe he’ll be able to pick up the pieces and reorganize the squad. But, based on his relatively short CV, it’s looking unlikely. When you think of the managers that are available at the moment, it’s kind of a disappointment that Bruno Labbadia is the man Stuttgart hired. Why not Martin Jol?

Ozil Has Been In Stunning Form For Real Madrid.

Germany’s Mesut Ozil, who has fit in so well at Real Madrid since arriving at the Spanish club with fellow German international Sami Khedira in the summer, opened the scoring this weekend for his side in a 3-1 win over Zaragoza. Here’s the goal!

Mainz 0 – 1 Schalke 04

Thomas Tuchel’s side continue to slip, but this time at the hands of a resurgent Schalke side. The game was full of drama and controversial incidents, but justice was done in the end and Schalke deserved all three points. After just eight minutes, Fuchs fouled Farfan in the area and a penalty was awarded to Schalke. Huntelaar stepped up to take it, but the Dutch striker smashed his effort onto the post. I still can’t understand why Raul didn’t take it! On the half hour mark, Schalke made their mark through Jefferson Farfan, who hammered the ball through a maze of Mainz defenders after a fortunate rebound off of the back of Raul. With about 20 minutes left on the clock, Sami Allagui dived for a penalty and got it. Schalke were going to be robbed of a deserved three points, but justice prevailed and Manuel Neuer made the save. Farfan’s goal was enough to secure the three points for Schalke, but they’ve still got lots of work to do if they want to save their Bundesliga season. Mainz, on the other hand, could well finish in mid-table if this keeps up. They look ready for the winter break.

Highlights!

SC Freiburg 3 – 0 Borussia Monchengladbach

In the preview for this match, I wrote that if Papiss Cisse was given the service he needs, Gladbach would be in serious trouble. Well, he got the service, and he scored a brace and Gladbach stay bottom. They need to sort it out or they’ll be relegated by March the way things are going right now. Oliver Barth scored in between Cisse’s goals, and it’s a convincing win from Freiburg. Gladbach had their chances, but they just couldn’t take them and they were always going to concede here.

Nuri Sahin Is The Man Of The Moment Again For Dortmund.

It’s been another action packed start to the Bundesliga weekend. Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund all picked up the wins they were looking for, so no drastic changes in terms of the Bundesliga title race this week. Let’s get to the results.

Bayern Munich 3 – 0 St. Pauli

They were never going to lose this game in my opinion, even without Mario Gomez leading the line. Hamit Altintop opened the scoring with Bayern Munich’s first shot of the game, but they deserved it after long periods of pressure. Bayern Munich didn’t score again until late, with their second coming from the penalty spot. Kessler went in hard on Thomas Mueller and was sent off and a spot-kick was awarded. The sending off was harsh and Thomas Mueller was really over-dramatizing the foul, but I suppose Kessler was last man and he was denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Lahm stepped up and smashed the ball past second-choice goalkeeper Mathias Hain and it was all but over for St. Pauli. Franck Ribery topped it all off with ten minutes left after rounding the goalkeeper and sliding the ball into an empty net. The highlight of the afternoon though, for Bayern Munich fans, would have been Schweinsteiger’s announcement of that he had just signed new long-term deal with the club. The result lifts Bayern to sixth, just a handful of points short of the third Champions League place.

Highlights!

FC Koeln 1 – 0 Eintracht Frankfurt

Finally, a Koeln win. Despite the result, the home side remain in the relegation zone but they’re edging closer to an escape, and they might be able to pull it off before the winter break comes depending on St. Pauli’s form. An encouraging first Bundesliga goal for youngster Christian Clemens won the match for the hosts, but Koeln fans will be concerned with the ankle injury Lukas Podolski sustained early on. The loss knocks Frankfurt out of the running for a European place, at least for the time being.

Highlights!

Hamburg SV 2 – 4 Bayer Leverkusen

Armin Veh’s position at the Hamburg helm has got to be under serious scrutiny after this result. Sidney Sam (obviously) put Leverkusen ahead on the half hour mark, and the sides went into the break at 1-0. After half-time, the game exploded with goals. Arturo Vidal put the ball past his own keeper just minutes after the half, and that could really have shaken Leverkusen’s confidence. Fortunately for them, they kept their resolve and pressed on for more goals. They were rewarded for their efforts on the hour mark by Arturo Vidal who made up for his mistake at the other end. Renato Augusto hit an excellent brace to effectively kill the game off despite Eljero Elia’s goal just before the 80 minute mark. The result keeps Leverkusen in second, but they’re still a whole eleven points behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund. Hamburg, on the other hand, are the embodiment of mid-table mediocrity, and occupy ninth place.

Highlights!

Kaiserslautern 0 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg

How much longer will Steve McClaren be in the job? Things just aren’t going to plan for the English tactician at his new club, but I guess three points at Kaiserslautern was never going to be easy. Still, more would have been expected. Like at least one goal! It’s unbelievable that Wolfsburg can field some of Europe’s most talented strikers, but can’t get them to score any goals. Problems in midfield much? Kaiserslautern won’t be bothered at all by this result, because they still picked up a point. As long as they keep getting a positive result, they’ll stay up. Wolfsburg need to make a couple of smart purchases in the winter transfer window! Both sides had chances, but they were few and far between. Tolga Cigerci looks like he’s going to be the real deal for Wolfsburg, but he needs top players around him if he’s going to develop into the kind of midfielder he looks like he has the potential to be. Both sides sit on 18 points after 16 games, which is fine for Kaiserslautern who are just looking to survive, but for Wolfsburg it’s pretty much a shambles.

Highlights!

TSG Hoffenheim 1 – 1 Nurnberg

This is another pretty drab result. Hoffenheim did themselves no favors in not winning this one, but they haven’t looked great lately in all fairness. Nurnberg will probably end up fighting for survival again this season, so an away point is nothing to be worried about for them. Marvin Compper scored for Hoffenheim just before the hour mark, but Nurnberg stole the equalizer just minutes before time through Christian Eigler. Hoffenheim are still in the race for a European spot, but based on the form of Hannover and Freiburg, they still may have quite a bit of work to do. Mainz is in there too!

Highlights!

Borussia Dortmund 2 – 0 Werder Bremen

It’s hard not to love them at the moment. When Nuri Sahin looped that free-kick over the wall, but still put enough power behind it to beat Tim Wiese, the smile that spread over Jurgen Klopp’s face said it all. The team spirit and togetherness being shown at Dortmund is really something to see. Kagawa – who has been a revelation – scored their second and the would be champions are edging ever closer to the Bundesliga title. Werder Bremen were probably under no pressure to get a win here, but they didn’t play well at all.

Highlights!

Reus Needs To Be At His Best To Save Gladbach From A Sad Relegation.

Saturday’s matches saw Bundesliga title hopefuls Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and league leaders Borussia Dortmund continue their impressive form, which means a side like Schalke, who would have been hoping for a European place before the season started, will need take full points from their match to keep up with their rivals. The catch? They’re playing Mainz! Elsewhere, Borussia Monchengladbach will travel to Freiburg in what will be a tight game. With a win, Gladbach could lift themselves out of last place, while Freiburg could just to fifth, a point ahead of Bayern Munich. Let’s get to the games then.

Mainz v Schalke

Thomas Tuchel’s cinderella story looks to be fading after a dodgy patch of results over the last few weeks. After going seven unbeaten at the start of the season, things were looking very rosy for the Bundesliga’s surprise package. But, after a disappointing loss at home to Hamburg, Mainz’s form has dropped, and they’ve lost another four matches after that one. They certainly don’t look as incredible as they did early on, and some fans might be wondering how far they’ll have faded by the end of the season. With Schalke though, it really could go either way. They might be brilliant, or they might be as bad as we’ve seen them be so many times this season. Lately though, they’ve been on the up. After an embarrassing 5-0 loss to Kaiserslautern, Schalke have reversed their fortunes and have topped their group in the Champions League and they’ve even beaten Bayern Munich by two goals to nil. Now they’ve got another job on their hands, but I think it’s one they’ll be able to handle. Jurado and Raul have developed a strong understanding, Farfan has become one of the hardest working wingers in the league, and the Metzelder – Howedes partership is beginning to blossom. This is a Schalke win for me.

SC Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach

Papiss Cisse has become a very sought after striker amongst Europe’s elite after providing an endless supply of goals for his side so far this season, and if Freiburg have any chance of staying in the top half of the table, they’ll need to retain the services of their leading goal scorer. Gladbach fans, on the other hand, have a talisman of their own in the form of dynamic winger Marco Reus. If anyone’s going to keep Gladbach up this season, it’s going to be him. They’ve got a decent midfield on paper, with Michael Bradley and Thorben Marx battling in the middle, and Matmour and Reus supplying with, but they’ve conceded far too many goals and that’s been their downfall this season. If Freiburg can get the ball into Cisse on a regular basis, then Gladbach will be in some serious trouble here. If the visitors can control the midfield though, and think about creating some attacking moves on their own on the break, they might be able to snatch a result.

Schweinsteiger Signs On And Endears Himself To The Bayern Munich Faithful.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has silenced the rumor mill today after announcing to the Bayern faithful that he will be signing a new four-year deal with the club, that will see him remain with the Bavarian giants until 2016. Right after Die Roten’s 3-0 win over St. Pauli, Schweinsteiger took the microphone from the stadium announcer and spoke to the crowd about his decision to stay.

I have extended my contract and will stay at FC Bayern until 2016. Long live Bayern!

It’s obviously fantastic news if you’re a Bayern Munich supporter, because it was looking touch and go there for a while. There were rumors about him maybe making a move to Manchester United or Real Madrid, but the German midfielder has gone with his heart in the end.

Schweinsteiger has already become a hero amongst Bayern Munich supporters, and this news will no doubt boost his popularity amongst them. He’s like Bayern Munich’s version of Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, or Inter’s Javier Zanetti. I can see him staying at that club until his career ends, nevermind just 2016. He’s a product of Bayern Munich’s youth system, he’s a local kid and he’s become a local hero. There isn’t a reason in the world – at least not in the football world – for him to leave.

He makes of the spine of the side, and losing him would no doubt be a huge problem for Bayern Munich. They may have signed a player like Nuri Sahin or someone like that to replace him, but something tells me it wouldn’t have been the same. Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and and maybe Holger Badstuber, Thomas Mueller and Toni Kroos are going to be in that Bayern Munich side for the long haul, and it’ll be great to see them all playing together at the international level too. Long live Bayern!

Michael Carrick will have very little influence on the game. If anything Carrick is more of a liability than an asset to the current United set-up. Take their most recent game for example, it was Carrick who gave the ball away for Valencia’s only goal and United’s only goal conceded in the tournament so far. Mistakes happen though and if anything a mistake by Carrick is the exception rather than the rule, however his performance beyond that was the rule. Slow, methodical and lightweight Carrick didn’t influence the game one iota. That is the story of his European career, the games against Bayern last year and the Barcelona final of the year before show a player who doesn’t belong on the biggest stage in England or European football.

None of this is to say that Michael Carrick is anything other than a very good player, it’s just that he serves no purpose in Manchester United’s midfield. Carrick is an exceptionally composed midfielder who is usually unflappable and unerring with his passing. He can settle a game down with a few well chosen touches and ensure that his team maintains possession. The problem is that these particular qualities are not necessary in a team who were once famous for the counter-attacking and who have a culture of attacking football. As evidenced by the below Carrick will usually play the ball sideways rather than forwards.

by Guardian Chalkboards

This is not unusual for a midfielder in 2010, many technically limited players will play the ball sideways to a more talented colleague. However, Carrick is not a technically limited player, however he is a creativity black hole. Carrick lacks the imagination of players who possess his passing ability but put it to better use. Of course Carrick is not alone in the United midfield, he shares the pitch with Darren Fletcher a midfield dynamo who does exert his influence on the game. Fletcher doesn’t tackle more and doesn’t score more but his engine means that he will often be found further up the pitch than Carrick which leads to more assists. Carrick currently has zero assists this season even in a team that put seven past Blackburn. The same also applies to a player currently enjoying a mini-renaissance in Anderson. Much like Nani has seemingly come to fruition after a few seasons as a maybe player, Anderson was (according to reports) being sent to Brazil in January. If that were to take place (it won’t) it would be genuinely surprising. Granted it has only been two games but in those two games Anderson has looked very good, nearing a hundred attempted passes you can see (below) that his first thought was to bring the ball forward.

by Guardian Chalkboards

The reason I’ve selected the Blackburn game as an example is that even in a match where Manchester United were dominant Carrick failed to have any attacking influence unlike players who have a much worse reputation than he at Old Trafford.

So, what to do? Well, in my opinion Carrick is unnecessary in Manchester United’s midfield. Darren Fletcher plays the role of midfield dynamo, Anderson/Giggs/Park provide the attacking intent and ostensibly Carrick and Scholes are the deep lying play-makers. However, as shown Carrick is not much of a playmaker. His attributes do not suit themselves to a counter-attacking side in the mould of United, instead his abilities are good for a team who need to get their foot on the ball and relieve pressure through possession. A team like Everton or Stoke could benefit from his metronome-like precision, that would represent a significant step down in stature for Carrick but would be where his talents are best utilised.

For Manchester United Carrick’s current role could be filled in by any youth midfielder not prone to mistakes with no detriment to their play or results, however his ideal replacement (tough tackler with some passing ability), is already at the club but crocked. Owen Hargreaves’ reputation has only risen in his prolonged absence as United and England have craved his play. Carrick was included the England World Cup squad but failed to play a single minute. According to Football365 (who have decried Carrick for some time)

“Four years after the mauling in the San Siro prompted a strategic re-think, United are still bereft of the defensive shield that Ferguson has implicitly acknowledged is imperative if they are to succeed.”

Players of the caliber needed are few and far between rumours have swirled regarding Bastian Schwiensteiger who would fit the role perfectly but looks unlikely to leave Bayern in the near future.

Come Monday night when United take on Arsenal don’t be surprised if you don’t notice Michael Carrick, no one really does. He won’t make any mistakes but he won’t set up any goals either, he’ll just be there as usual, taking up space, slowing the game down and infuriating me. One last chalkboard before we go, the much maligned Mikel who plays the screening role for Chelsea in the exact same fixture this season.

by Guardian Chalkboards

Ya Konan Has Lots To Smile About After His Sparkling Form This Season.

Hannover’s head coach Mirko Slomka has no real reason to be pleased with his side’s performance on the night, but he’ll be delighted with another three points. Didier Ya Konan, who has burst into life this season with an already impressive 7 goals and 4 assists, added another two to his tally to secure the win for Hannover. While the second may have been offside, Hannover could have had five inside the last 10 minutes of the match and really they deserved the win in the end. Georg Niedermeier was on hand to score for Stuttgart, but that was more down to a massive goalkeeping error and a bit of luck than anything else.

If Stuttgart’s relegation rivals FC Koeln and Borussia Monchengladbach win this weekend, then today’s visitors will be bottom of the league. While it definitely sounds like a disaster, it may not be curtains just yet for Stuttgart. At this same stage last season, Stuttgart were in exactly the same position points-wise and table-wise as they are now. If it wasn’t for a massive turnaround in form in the second half of the season, they may have been relegated last year. They’ll be hoping for another big swing in fortune, but lightning doesn’t strike twice.

Christian Gross was the man who lifted Stuttgart to sixth after an awful start last season, and he’s already been axed after losing six of Stuttgart’s first seven Bundesliga matches. With the inexperienced Jens Keller at the helm now and not much changing, it might be time for the Stuttgart higher-ups to employ a more experienced, long-term choice. It’s ridiculous sacking a coach after such a short space of time; that really dents the stability in a squad.

Whatever Stuttgart decide to do, they better do it quick. Things aren’t getting any better, and it won’t be long before Stuttgart’s better players start looking for a way out.

Highlights!

Loew May Have Won The Award, But Jose Mourinho Is My Coach Of The Year.

German national team coach Joachim Loew has been awarded the Coach of the Year award by L’Equipe magazine in France. Joachim Loew guided a German side without many of their star players to the World Cup semi-final, and pulled off incredible results against both England and Argentina along the way.

While Loew certainly did an impressive job, especially after all of the injury problems the German national team had heading into the World Cup – not to mention the shocking death of Robert Enke – it’s still maybe a bit contentious that he won because of the incredible trophy haul Jose Mourinho managed at Inter last season.

The Portuguese tactician won everything there was to win at Inter last season. He lifted the Champions League against Bayern Munich, he won the Coppa Italia, he won the Serie A, and he won the Supercoppa early on in the season. That same Inter side had failed to impress for so long in Europe, but with Jose Mourinho’s arrival things quickly changed. The side was incredibly disciplined and determined, and there’s no greater testament to how well Jose Mourinho did there than how poorly that same side is doing now under Rafa Benitez. Jose Mourinho placed third in the running for the award.

Still, Joachim Loew took one of the youngest sides ever to feature in the World Cup all the way to the semi-final, and made household names out of Thomas Mueller and Sami Khedira especially. Congratulations to Loew, but I still think there’s more to come from the German tactician. If he had gotten his hands on the World Cup, I’d have no argument against him winning this award. I mean, Vicente Del Bosque took Spain to an historic World Cup win, and he finished well behind Loew in the running for the Coach of the Year award.

It means little in the great scheme of things, but it’s good to see that Loew and the German national team are getting the recognition and praise they deserve for being one of the only exciting teams to watch at what was a pretty dull World Cup by most standards. Sir Alex Ferguson labelled the 2010 World Cup ‘like a trip to the dentist,’ so there you go!

Sergio Pinto Has Been A Creative Force For Hannover.

One of the Bundesliga’s most exciting features is the uncertainty of it all. Anyone can beat anyone, and that’s why teams like Hoffenheim a couple of years ago and Mainz now can rise to such great heights. Hannover 96 is another example of this. Last season, the team finished in 15th place, just a few points away from relegation. Now, just a season later, they’re pushing for a European spot and they’re keeping up with the Bundesliga’s best. Oddly enough, they’ve almost swapped places with Stuttgart, who finished in 6th last season and are now fighting a very serious relegation battle just a year later.

Hannover 96’s incredible turn in fortune can be placed on the shoulders of head coach Mirko Slomka, who has really pulled this group of players together and has begun to push them far beyond their limitations. They may not be the most talented squad in the world, but they do play as a tight unit and that’s in no small part down to the manager. They’ll be looking to extend their good form with a comfortable home win here over a Stuttgart side that have looked hopeless this season.

Stuttgart are in real trouble here. Currently, they sit 16th in the Bundesliga table, a whole four points away from safety. Maximum points is a must every week for Stuttgart, but three here are unlikely. Hannover have lost just two of their home games this season, while Stuttgart have won absolutely none of their away games. To say they’re the underdogs here is an understatement.

It’s a Hannover win for me, and it’s another week in the relegation zone for Stuttgart.

He’s Absolutely Terrifying, But What He Lacks In Appearance He Makes Up For With Skill.

Bayern Munich were always going to be expected to beat FC Basel, especially at home, and they did just that. Thomas Kraft started in goal for the home side and he was called to action on a number of occasions but performed very admirably. Louis van Gaal will be delighted with his side’s performance, but he will know that they must quickly turn their focus to the weekend where three points are a must.

Franck Ribery put his side in control after a nervy start thanks to some very determined play down the left by Diego Contento. Anatoliy Tymoschuk, who started in the center of defense next to Breno, put the hosts two to the good from a corner kick. Thomas Mueller sped down the right during a fast break and fed the ball into the 18-yard box where an on-rushing Franck Ribery was on hand to make it three.

It’s the kind of performance Bayern Munich fans will have wanted to see from their side, but it’s their ability to play like this away from home that will make or break them this season. Still, they can head into the round of sixteen with their heads held high.

The draw for the round of sixteen, which takes place on the 17th of December, could throw up some really big matches. Bayern Munich could be drawn against any one of the following teams: Inter, Olympique Lyon, Valencia, FC Copenhagen, Olympique Marseille, AC Milan or Arsenal. There are definitely going to be some epic ties, but Bayern Munich will be hoping for one of the smaller sides to ensure a quick passage into the quarter finals so that they can pay a bit more attention to getting their domestic campaign back on track.

Highlights!

Frei Knows Bayern Munich All Too Well After His Stint With BVB.

Louis van Gaal’s Bayern Munich are set to host an FC Basel side that, with a win, could qualify for the round of sixteen. Die Roten booked their place in the next round of Europe’s elite club competition weeks ago, but Louis van Gaal has stressed the importance of winning every game. Bayern Munich have lacked their usual edge and grit this season, but they’ve still made the Allianz Arena a fortress for them this season. Their home form is too good to argue against, so it’ll take nothing less than a massive effort for the Swiss visitors to get a win here.

Thorsten Fink, head coach at FC Basel, is retuning to familiar territory tonight. The German coach played at Bayern Munich for five years, between 1997 and 2003, and even tasted Champions League success with the Bavarian club. Still, he expects no such success with FC Basel and has reminded his players that the pressure is off them – Bayern Munich will need to perform to please their home fans, their manager, and their ever-watching board. If Basel can take advantage of any cracks in the Bayern Munich frame of mind, they may just cause an unbelievable shock tonight.

Alexander Frei will be the main danger-man for Basel tonight, and although he’s aging, he’s still got that extra bit of quality in front of goal that makes him a player Bayern Munich will need to be wary of. Die Roten will be favorites and for good reason, and really should come away with a clean sheet too. Breno and Tymoschuk, if they are chosen to start in the center of defense for Bayern Munich, should hold firm and deny their opponents too many opportunities at goal.

Louis van Gaal has announced that Thomas Kraft will start between the sticks tonight. The young goalkeeper will be given his chance to impress, but it’s also an area that FC Basel will be looking to exploit. Bayern Munich are through to the next round, but the last thing they need now is another disappointing defeat. They’ll need to keep composed and be wary of complacency if they take an early lead.

A win for Basel could mean the round of sixteen as long as Roma lose to Cluj, so everything is still to play for here for the Swiss side.

Schalke Celebrate A First Place Finish In Their Champions League Group.

With top spot on the line for Schalke, a win was imperative in Portugal against a Benfica side who have looked far from their best in the Champions League. Elsewhere, Werder Bremen were playing for pride in front of their home fans against last year’s European champions, Inter.

SL Benfica 1 – 2 Schalke 04

Get in there Magath! Schalke’s excellent European form has been rewarded with a top-of-the-group finish that will better their chances of reaching the quarter finals of Europe’s elite club competition. The same two goal-scorers who defeated Bayern Munich on the weekend did the damage against Benfica here, and Schalke were unlucky not to be further ahead. Luisao hit the home side’s only consolation. Now, Schalke can rest easy and focus on the Bundesliga until the Champions League returns in the early months of 2011. Magath will be delighted with his side’s performance and their positive form. As long as they can remain consistent, they can push up the table and maybe clinch a European spot for next season with some luck. Still, if anyone can pull it off, it’s Felix Magath!

Highlights!

Werder Bremen 3 – 0 Internazionale

Wow! Rafa Benitez’s Inter have been a shadow of the side we saw under Jose Mourinho last season, and there’s no better evidence of that than this result. Inter’s been plagued by injury and patchy form, and they were undone once more, and this time at the hands of Werder Bremen. Schaaf’s men had already been knocked out of the competition after some really poor results early on, and all they were playing for was pride. Well, with the pressure off, they really got the job done. An Ivan Cordoba own-goal, an excellent left-footed volley from Marko Arnautovic, and a sweet turn and finish from Claudio Pizarro did the damage on the night. That’s three clean sheets in a row for a Werder Bremen side who were woeful in defense just a few weeks ago. Great stuff from the Bundesliga side. The disappointment of an early Champions League exit is softened by this result.

Highlights!

SL Benfica v Schalke 04

I actually saw Benfica when they came to Toronto this summer to play a friendly against Panathinaikos just before the World Cup. David Luiz, who has become one of the most coveted defenders in Europe, was turned over and over again by Pana’s Sebastian Leto, and was eventually sent off – in a friendly! He looked top notch in training before the match, but he had an awful game. If Schalke can get at him, they might be able to expose him. Despite that, Benfica’s front three of Pablo Aimar, Oscar Cardozo and Javier Saviola will definitely pose a big threat to Schalke’s defense. Still, they held Bayern Munich on the weekend and they’ll be confident of their chances here. The atmosphere will be electric, and Magath will need to keep his players focused throughout the 90 minutes. Fabio Coentrao is another break out player in this Benfica side and he’ll fancy his chances down the wing. If Schalke win, they secure top spot in the group.

Werder Bremen v Internazionale

I’m not sure any Werder Bremen fans saw their season going as badly as it has so far. All but out of the Champions League, out of the title race, and even virtually out of the race for a European spot and all by mid-December. True, there’s lots of time left to make amends, but it’s hard to see where that extra spark is going to come from. Naldo’s been a huge loss for them in the center of defense, and it’s one spot in particular where Werder Bremen have suffered this season. Sebastian Prodl is hardly a top class player, but it’s not all been down to him. Despite their defensive instabilities, they haven’t conceded a goal in two games. Inter will likely prove a much greater challenge though, and it’s one they may not be able to meet. The reigning Italian champions have been far from their best as well after losing Jose Mourinho in the summer, and they’ve got an injury list that Werder Bremen would empathize with, but they’ve got a squad full of top players and they can’t be counted out. Their qualification into the next round is sealed though, but Werder Bremen’s is far from it. They’re too far behind to qualify for the Champions League now, but there’s still the slightest possibility that they could nick a Europa League spot as long as they win – and win handily –  here.

Kuba Is A Fan Favorite At Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jakub Blaszczykowski has won Polish Player of the Year after turning in some impressive performances at both club and international level. In the 09/10 season, Kuba, as he is known for short, scored four league goals and contributed a few assists. This season, he has nearly reached those same figures already and we’re only in December. While he isn’t the best finisher in the world by any stretch, his pace, his dribbling ability and his final ball make him a dangerous winger for any opposition to be playing against. Still, this isn’t the Ballon d’Or, and let’s not pretend Poland has a whole host of world class talent to choose from. Nevertheless, congrats Kuba!

Klopp's Main Man: Nuri Sahin Has Bossed The Midfield This Season.

Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund side have looked unstoppable lately, and they had the chance this Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to ten points. Meanwhile, their main title rivals Bayer Leverkusen, will have been hoping to keep pace and take advantage of any slip-ups. Let’s get to the results.

Nurnberg 0 – 2 Borussia Dortmund

They definitely didn’t play with their usual verve and pace, but that could be down to the sub-zero temperature in Nurnberg on Sunday afternoon. Nurnberg pressed their opponents well in the first-half and if it hadn’t been for some last ditch defending by Dortmund, the hosts may have found themselves in the driving seat here. Against the run of play, Dortmund went 1-0 up when a Nuri Sahin free-kick found the head of Mats Hummels, who lost his marker and nodded into the far corner. In the second half, Dortmund took control of the midfield and pressed the hosts for a second, and it came through Robert Lewandowski who started in the place of Lucas Barrios who missed out through injury. Jurgen Klopp has put a side together that play without fear. This title is theirs to lose at the moment.

Bayer Leverkusen 3 – 2 FC Koeln

Jupp Heynckes’ side did it the hard way, but the three points is all that matters. Patrick Helmes poached Bayer’s first, but Geromel equalized minutes later from a Lukas Podolski set-piece. Leverkusen reclaimed their lead ten minutes after the break when Arturo Vidal’s pass ran through Sidney Sam’s legs and into the path of Tranquillo Barnetta, who blasted it into the far corner. Lukas Podolski thought he had equalized just minutes later, but his goal was ruled offside. Leverkusen went 3-1 up after Arturo Vidal’s corner met the head of Manuel Friedrich, but the big German could only smash the crossbar. Luckily, Stefan Reinartz was on hand to put it in the back of the net. Koeln got right back in it though just minutes after the hour mark through Martin Lanig, but the hosts were able to hold firm and deny their opponents an equalizer.

BvB Could Go Ten Points Clear With A Win Away To Nurnberg.

Mainz slipped up on Saturday afternoon against Eintracht Frankfurt, which gives Borussia Dortmund the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table to an enormous ten points. To say they’re running away with it wouldn’t be far from the truth right now, despite it only being December. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen will be ready to pounce on Mainz’s mix-up, and a win for Jupp Heynckes’ side would put them just a single point behind Tuchel’s men. Let’s get to it then.

Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund

It’s hard to see where Borussia Dortmund are actually going to drop points this season. Right now, it looks like only a series of key injuries would really hamper Jurgen Klopp’s side, because clearly no one (besides Bayer Leverkusen) has been able to stop them on the pitch. For Nurnberg, this is obviously going to be a massive task. They’ll need to keep compact and focused, because any hole in their defense or any soft mistake will allow Dortmund to pounce. Nuri Sahin and Sven Bender have probably been the best central midfield partnership in the Bundesliga so far this season, and they’ll be looking to take control of this game from the first blast of the referee’s whistle tomorrow. Shinji Kagawa has been one of Dortmund’s most prominent goal threats, and his technique and pace is sure to cause Nurnberg all kinds of problems. The only element Dortmund will be missing tomorrow is striker Lucas Barrios, but even then, he has an ample deputy in the form of Robert Lewandowski. Nurnberg are on a three match losing streak, and I don’t see their fortunes turning here.

Bayer Leverkusen v FC Koeln

Jupp Heynckes’ men have the opportunity to go within one point of second-placed Mainz with a win here, and it’s likely that they’ll do just that. Koeln, who are now under the management of Frank Schaeffer after Zvonimir Soldo was sacked earlier in the season, are still definitely a side looking to survive this season. Despite that, they have got a wealth of attacking talent in their side and they’ll still pose a threat on the counter-attack. Milivoje Novakovic and Lukas Podolski will be Koeln’s (only) two danger-men, and they’ll need to be well watched. Leverkusen’s Michael Ballack could make his return to action this weekend, and if Heynckes’ men can grab the three points and reintroduce Michael Ballack to a football pitch, it’ll be a very happy weekend for Die Werkself. Petit will be key for Koeln here; his work-rate and his battling qualities in midfield are an asset that Koeln can’t afford to lose right now. Besides his determination in midfield, he also brings an incredible delivery from the set-piece to the table. If they can use that to any decent effect, they have a chance here. It’ll be tough, but stranger things have happened. This is the Bundesliga after all!

Benedikt Howedes Seals Schalke's Win Over Bayern Munich.

While the goals haven’t been flowing yet in this round, there have been some surprise results and a lot of great drama. With the league leaders not playing until tomorrow, the pressure was on some of the Bundesliga’s title hopefuls to keep the pressure on Dortmund. Let’s get to the results.

Borussia Monchengladbach 1 – 2 Hannover 96

Gladbach fans must be feeling very nervous about their side’s chances of staying up after this loss. With really only one consistently impressive player in the side in the form of Marco Reus, it’s hard to see where Gladbach will find their edge in terms of the relegation dogfight. He may be fantastic, but he can’t keep that team up by himself. I think it’ll be interesting to see what happens to that Gladbach side if they were to go down. Michael Bradley, Raul Bobadilla, Thorben Marx and Marco Reus… I’m sure they’ll all be picked apart by bigger clubs. If they don’t sort it out at Gladbach, it could be dark days ahead for the side. Michael Bradley opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark from a long-range free-kick. Unfortunately for the hosts, Bobadilla was sent off for a high challenge on Sergio Pinto and that definitely put their position under threat. Mike Hanke and Didier Ya Konan sealed the win for Hannover with 15 minutes left to go, and condemned Gladbach to another week at the bottom of the table. Mirko Slomka’s side go third, just two points behind second-placed Mainz. It’s a fantastic achievement from Slomka’s men, and they’ll be looking to remain consistent and nick a European spot for next season.

Eintracht Frankfurt 2 – 1 Mainz

How great was it to see Ioannis Amanatidis back for Frankfurt? Gekas and him looked superb together despite the latter’s long injury absence, and that’s definitely something to look forward to for Frankfurt fans. Marco Russ put the hosts one-nil up after Mainz failed to clear a ball, but the away side hit back from the penalty spot through Andre Schuerrle after Halil Altintop brought the youngster down in the area. Frankfurt scored a penalty of their own to win the game just minutes before time though, when Jan Kirchhoff handled the ball in the area. Gekas stepped up and slotted it in, and the win puts Frankfurt back on track. Mainz have been far from their early season best, but they’re still up there and as long as they can pick up wins at home they’ll finish well above where they were expected to this season.

SC Freiburg 1 – 0 Hamburg SV

Guess who’s back? Papiss Cisse is! The Senegalese hitman put his side 1-0 up after just three minutes from after latching onto a free-kick, and then Freiburg held firm to deny their opponents. Cisse, as I’m sure everyone is aware, has been a revelation for Freiburg this season. His finishing ability inside the 18-yard box is superb, and his off the ball movement makes him a deadly poacher. Hamburg completely dominated possession and maybe should have scored a few, but Freiburg had their chances as well. Still, Veh’s side deserved more and they’ll rue missed opportunities here. The win puts Freiburg up to 5th, while Hamburg sink to 9th. Despite that, they’re still in the race for a European spot as long as they can turn their fortunes around quickly and take advantage of their rivals’ slip-ups.

VfB Stuttgart 1 – 1 TSG Hoffenheim

Well Stuttgart really could have won this, and they really do need it too because they’re still mired in the relegation zone. Sejad Salihovic put Hoffenheim one-nil up through an Andreas Beck cross, but Stuttgart got back on level terms through Martin Harnik on the counter-attack. Hoffenheim’s Isaac Vorsah was sent off just minutes before half-time, but Stuttgart were unable to take advantage of that, and they really should have. Any Stuttgart fans out there? How are you feeling about your side’s survival chances this season?

VfL Wolfsburg 0 – 0 Werder Bremen

I thought this game would have been a goal-fest. In the end, it was nowhere near as riveting as I was hoping it would be. The goalkeepers stole the show for both sides, producing numerous saves to deny their opponents. The big controversy came late in the second-half, when a penalty was awarded to Werder Bremen after Josue brought Philipp Bargfrede down in the box. Torsten Frings stepped up to put his side in for the win, but Diego Benaglio denied the German veteran. He’s missed three or four I think already this season, definitely not like him. Three minutes later, Sebastian Prodl brought Mario Mandzukic down in the area, and Edin Dzeko stepped up to slot it home. Unfortunately for the Bosnian and for his side, he smashed it well over the net and the game ended even on nil. This is not the start to the season Steve McClaren and his side were looking to make. The English tactician will want to head into the winter break for some time to rethink his tactics and organize his midfield, because they’ve been nowhere near their best.

Schalke 2 – 0 Bayern Munich

Here it is, the match we’d all been waiting for. Bayern Munich piled on the pressure in the first half, and maybe could have scored six if it wasn’t for Manuel Neuer between the sticks. Metzelder and Howedes played well, but their high-line was being caught out time and again for pace and Schalke really could have been dead and buried by the break. Still, the German number one proved his worth yet again and kept them in it. After the break, it was Schalke who were on the up. A long goal kick from Neuer was controlled well by Raul, who then wriggled past Breno and looked ready to score only for Huntelaar to knock him off his stride. Still, the ball fumbled away from the Spanish striker and landed at the feet of Jose Jurado, who blasted home and put Schalke in the driving seat. Ten minutes later, a Peer Kluge cross found Beni Howedes, whose header smashed the post. Luckily enough, Howedes reacted quickest and poked home from about a yard away. With Schalke two-nil up, it was up to Louis van Gaal to urge his side forward. Mario Gomez scored with minutes left on the clock and for me it was wrongly ruled offside, but it would have mattered little at that point. Bayern Munich lose more ground on their rivals, and it looks a nearly impossible task now for them to defend their Bundesliga title this season.

Mario Gomez: Will He Be The Scourge Of Schalke?

Round fifteen of the Bundesliga kicked off in unspectacular fashion on Friday night with St. Pauli beating Kaiserslautern by one (own-goal) to nil. Hopefully Saturday’s games, though, should be full of action. Werder Bremen hosts Wolfsburg, and Bayern Munich travels to Schalke in two of the bigger games of the weekend. Let’s get to it.

Borussia Monchengladbach v Hannover 96

Relegation-bound Gladbach will be looking to head into the winter break on a positive note, and that means three points here against Hannover. Gladbach are three points away from safety, but they’ll need more than that to leapfrog Stuttgart and Koln who will not want to get too accustomed to being in the bottom three for very long. Frontzeck’s side are definitely up against it in terms of their survival chances for this season, but a win here might give them the boost they need. Hannover, on the other hand, are challenging for a European place after some stellar early-season form. Currently sitting in 4th place, Mirko Slomka’s side will be hoping to thump their opposition and continue to push for a place in Europe’s elite club competition: the Champions League. They’re just a single point behind third-placed Bayer Leverkusen, so if they win here they have every chance of breaking into that coveted top three spot this weekend.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz

Frankfurt haven’t been their bullish best of late, and they’ve allowed themselves to slip all the way down to 9th in the Bundesliga table. Despite their position, they’re still only a few points behind the other Bundesliga sides vying for European qualification, so they’ll be looking to end the year on a positive note and there’s no better place to start than at home against Mainz. Tuchel’s side have been the surprise package of the season and they definitely won’t go down easy, but they’ve not been at their early-season best for a few weeks now and Frankfurt might just be able to take advantage of that. Still, Mainz are second in the league and they’ll want to stay there, so there’s no way they’ll head into Frankfurt with a losing mentality. It’s going to be a good game! Theofanis Gekas will definitely get his chances in front of goal for the home side, and Lewis Holtby will be looking to shine again for Mainz.

SC Freiburg v Hamburg SV

These two sides are tied on 21 points, so the loser here will be dealt a heavy blow in terms of their chances of qualification for European competition. Hamburg under Armin Veh have been nothing spectacular, but Ze Roberto has been near his creative best under the German tactician and Hamburg will look to the Brazilian veteran at every opportunity. Freiburg, meanwhile, can boast one of the Bundesliga’s top scorers this season in the form of Papiss Cisse. Unfortunately, the Senegalese striker has just come off the pace a little bit after scoring so many goals earlier in the season. Still, Hamburg’s defense hasn’t been very convincing, and if there’s anyone who can take advantage of that it’s him.

VfB Stuttgart v TSG Hoffenheim

It’ll be completely devastating if Hoffenheim were to lose this. Stuttgart have been, for me, the worst side in the Bundesliga this season and they’ve deserved their misfortunes so far. They’re second bottom and they look ripe for the taking here. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss they suffered in midweek against Young Boys in the Europa League, so they’ll be tired and rubbish. They’ve got a decent squad, but they’ve been unable to perform on the pitch with any consistency at all. They need a win, but it’s unlikely that they’ll get it against a Hoffenheim side who are full of pace and creativity up front. Dark days could be on the horizon for Stuttgart…

VfL Wolfsburg v Werder Bremen

This is going to be intense. Wolfsburg have been nothing to write home about under Steve McClaren but the English tactician is probably still getting to grips with the Bundesliga and there’s definitely going to be more to come from them. Werder Bremen, on the other hand, managed a very impressive 3-0 win over St. Pauli last weekend but they still look a shambles in defense. There’s going to be goals here. If Dzeko gets decent service, he’s going to torment that Werder Bremen back-line. This is a Wolfsburg win for me, but it could be a 4-3 or something. I’m sensing lots of goals. Hugo Almeida – who scored a hat-trick against St. Pauli – will miss out for Werder Bremen after receiving a straight red card last weekend.

Schalke 04 v Bayern Munich

Oh man. Felix Magath versus Louis van Gaal. This is going to be intense. Bayern Munich have a much stronger midfield, and I think that will, in the end, win them this game. Still though, you can only imagine what this fixture might throw up. Raul, Huntelaar, Farfan, Schweinsteiger, Gomez, Ribery… I could go on. This fixture is going to be a showcase of the Bundesliga’s most talented players. Even though neither side has hit the kind of consistent form they would have hoped for by this stage in the competition, it’ll still be a cracking game and one that no Bundesliga fan will want to miss. It’s a Bayern Munich win for me, but really, anything could happen here.

The Kult Club Get A Fortunate Win Against Their Relegation Rivals.

It’s just disappointing all around really. One goal, and an own-goal, to decide what should have been a game packed with action. Kaiserslautern have been on such high form that anyone would have easily bet money on them smashing a St. Pauli side who have looked destined for the 2. Bundesliga lately, but that’s football.

Marco Kurz warned his side against complacency before the match, but it looked like it still went to their heads against a St. Pauli side who were determined in defense tonight. St. Pauli manager Holger Stanislawski has encouraged his side to score more goals to get positive results, but lucky for them it was a freak own-goal that got them the result they were looking for.

Christian Tiffert tried to clear a Moritz Volz free-kick just minutes after the restart, but instead nodded it into his own net. It’s a bad mistake, and one that has cost his side a much more comfortable spot in mid-table. Kaiserslautern will have to pick themselves up quickly, but it won’t be easy. Their next two fixtures before the winter break are home to Wolfsburg and away to Werder Bremen, which is not exactly easy pickings.

St. Pauli, on the other hand, go away to Bayern Munich and then host Mainz, so both sides are in the same boat. They secured a much-needed three points tonight, but it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting any more this calendar year.

Nuri Sahin Lays Three Goals On For His Team-Mates In The Europa League.

Borussia Dortmund’s Europa League form has been nowhere near as good as their domestic form, and that’s probably because they’ve had to prioritize their league fixtures over their Europa League ones. They’ve looked uninterested in their Europa League duties up until last night, where they whacked their Ukrainian opponents by a score-line of three goals to nil.

It’s been coming from the would-be German champions. This competition may have been a distraction for them up until now, but if they find themselves at the quarter-finals stage, Jurgen Klopp will definitely go for the win. Can you imagine if they did a double over Bayern Munich? And out of nowhere too, because they didn’t look anywhere near as good as this last season!

Borussia Dortmund were without Lucas Barrios who was ruled out with a knee injury, so they started Robert Lewandowski. Shinji Kagawa (who else) opened the scoring after just 5 minutes, when Nuri Sahin chipped a cross over to the back post for the Japanese sensation to head in. The hosts continued to create chances in the first half, but failed to add to their tally. Just minutes after the break, Mats Hummels headed home a Nuri Sahin free-kick and essentially put the game to bed. Robert Lewandowski finally got his goal with just a minute left on the clock after Nuri Sahin put him through on goal.

The win puts them on 8 points, three behind group leaders PSG and just one behind second-placed Sevilla. If they can win their next match away at Sevilla, then they’ll have secured qualification into the next round. It’ll be anything but easy, and this isn’t high on the list of priorities for Klopp, but it’d be nice to see them make a run for this cup too.

A Poor Excuse For His Side's Disappointing Away Form.

It’s just so lame. “We don’t win away because other Bundesliga clubs don’t take care of their pitches.” I mean come on. Many of the Bundesliga’s top clubs play a similar kind of attacking football, and they’ve been able to take points on the road. I think it’s a bit ridiculous – and a little bit patronizing – to suggest that other Bundesliga sides don’t take care of their pitches just to spite Bayern Munich.

We see managers do stuff like this all the time though. Arsene Wenger’s famous ‘I didn’t see it’ quote for example, or Jose Mourinho’s ‘the rules don’t apply to them’ quote. You could say they do it to protect their players, to take the pressure off of their team and place it somewhere else. But is that what the Bayern Munich squad needs, less pressure?

Borussia Dortmund are an enormous 14 points ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga table, so you’d think Die Roten’s playing staff should be feeling the pressure to perform more than anything else right now. Also, Borussia Dortmund, who play a very similar attacking brand of football to Bayern Munich, have won all seven of their away games this season – regardless of the pitch.

I just think it’s really week from Louis van Gaal. This is the manager who led Bayern Munich to the title, the DFB Pokal championship and the Champions League final last year. Have things gotten so bad that he’s going to start blaming a pitch for poor performances from his side?

Lakic Will Spearhead Kaiserslautern's Attack.

You’d think this would be a relegation six-pointer for both of these sides, but Kaiserslautern have looked a notch above a side destined for the 2. Bundesliga this season. Their hosts, however, could be in some trouble without three points here. Srdjan Lakic has been in exceptional goal-scoring form all season, and his finishing ability from in and around the 18-yard box has been superb.

St. Pauli have picked up just a single point from their last six Bundesliga matches, and manager Holger Stanislawski has warned his side against profligacy against Kaiserslautern where they will be afforded little in terms of chances on goal. With no real goal-scorer in the St. Pauli squad, the hosts have to take their chances when they have them and they’ve failed to do that so far this season. With just two goals in their last six, they’re unlikely to pierce what has been a resilient Kaiserslautern defense lately.

After Kaiserslautern’s 5-0 win over Schalke, manager Marco Kurz has warned his side against complacency. He knows full well how much it means for his side to remain consistent, and he’ll be looking for a hard-fought win here against St. Pauli.

Sidney Sam Continues To Impress.

While these two sides are at polar opposites of the Bundesliga table, they’ve both managed to qualify top of their groups for the next round of the Europa League. Stuttgart had a tough match away to Young Boys of Switzerland, while Leverkusen travelled to Rosenborg in Norway.

BSC  Young Boys 4 – 2 VfB Stutgart

The name may sound a little bit suspicious, but Young Boys really have impressed this season in European competition. They entered the Europa League after losing against Tottenham in a Champions League qualifier, but they put up a hell of a fight and they were never going to be easy pickings at home, and especially not for Stuttgart. David Degen – whose twin brother Philipp Degen lined up for Stuttgart  – opened the scoring just before half-time. Stuttgart responded in the second half with goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Sven Schipplock, who has only played a single Bundesliga game for Stuttgart in his career. Despite their resurgence, Stuttgart were made to suffer by the home side. With just 12 minutes left on the clock, Young Boys scored three goals and roundly beat their German opposition. Scott Sutter and a late Emmanuel Mayuka brace sent Stuttgart packing. The loss has no effect though on Stuttgart’s Europa League group position. They’ll still finish top of the group, and their qualification for the next round has been booked.

Rosenborg 0 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen

In what was one of the less exciting games of the calendar year, Leverkusen travelled to Rosenborg to secure their Europa League qualification. Over their five Europa League group games, Leverkusen have conceded just a single goal, so the odds were always in their favor here despite a trip up to Norway. Sidney Sam lifted his side to three points with another goal for the highlight reel. Leverkusen are top of their table with 11 points, four ahead of holders Atletico Madrid and Greek side Aris Salonika, which means their qualification at the top of their group is sealed.

Ballack Could Make The Difference For Leverkusen This Season.

Michael Ballack’s return to the Bundesliga has so far been nothing to write home about. The midfield general has been plagued by injury, and he’s rarely had a chance to showcase the phenomenal talent we all remember him for. Finally, though, Ballack has returned to first-team training and it could be at the perfect time for Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen are currently third in the race for the Bundesliga title, but it’s still a lot farther than it sounds. Borussia Dortmund, who currently lead the pack, are a whole 11 points ahead of Ballack’s side, but if anyone can help make up the difference it’s the veteran midfielder. The reason, I think, that Leverkusen are still so far away from the summit is because of their home form. It’s not been as strong as it should be, and that could be down to Leverkusen not scoring enough in front of their home support. Just 11 goals in 7 home matches isn’t good enough, especially when a goal or two extra could have put Leverkusen right up there with Mainz and Dortmund.

A midfield containing Simon Rolfes, Arturo Vidal, Renato Augusto, Tranquillo Barnetta and Sidney Sam is fantastic on paper, but it lacks that little bit of creativity and passing ability that a side needs to carve open a defense and feed the main striker. Michael Ballack can bring that to Leverkusen, and it could really lift them.

Ballack still has all the quality and class that made him the top player that he is, but it’s how Leverkusen manager Jupp Heynckes uses him that will determine how effective he is in that midfield. He has the creativity and vision as well as the finishing ability to play just behind the main striker, but he also has a great long-range pass and a work-rate that could be really useful in deeper areas of the midfield.

Still, wherever Heynckes ends up employing the veteran midfielder, his extra bit of quality and leadership on the pitch could be a big boost for Leverkusen, and he could be the x-factor for them as the season progresses.

“It was a bit of a surprise for me to return to the training pitch already. But I’m absolutely delighted to have kicked a ball again after a long spell on the sidelines.”

Bayern Munich Are In The Money.

I’m not the best with numbers, but it’s not hard to see when a club is in financial turmoil. Portsmouth and Leeds are two prime examples, while Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid have shown the world what it means to have debt. Well, it’s a totally different story for Bayern Munich and that’s something they can be especially proud of. Here’s what the Bayern Munich higher-ups had to say after announcing the club’s financial figures for the 09/10 season:

“Our sporting success has ensured we’ve yet again made a profit. FC Bayern is ideally placed to face the future with equity capital at 65.1 percent, or €206.4 million. It means our club is and remains financially independent and unaffected by market fluctuations.”

It’s fantastic news for the club and for it’s fans, who can be confident in knowing that their club will be able to compete at the highest level for years and years to come without taking out large debts or becoming dependent on a sugar daddy-type owner.

In the transfer market, Bayern Munich will be able to compete with the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea and any other big club in the world without going backwards financially. It’s a great accomplishment, especially in today’s game, to be both financially independent and competitive at the highest level. Here’s a little snippet from the Bayern Munich website to give you an idea of how far the club has come, even from two years ago:

FC Bayern München AG posted turnover of €312.0 million, up by almost 16 percent on 2008-9 (€268.7 million). Profit after tax rose some 20 percent to €2.9 million (2008-9: €2.5 million). Operating profit (Ebitda) rose to €61.2 million (2008-9: €45.0 million). FC Bayern München AG boasts equity capital totalling €206.4 million (€2008-9: 177.5 million).

A Man Under Fire: Felix Magath.

Felix Magath’s side pulled off an impressive 3-0 win at home against Olympique Lyon in mid-week to secure their place in the Champions League round of sixteen. Finally, things were beginning to look up for the Konigsblauen. A weekend fixture away to Kaiserslautern was never going to be easy based on the home side’s form, but no one anticipated a 5-0 drubbing. I wonder what the odds were on that happening?

Schalke’s president, Clemens Tonnies, spoke to Bild about the disastrous result and the overall campaign so far:

“I am absolutely shocked by this result. For all the euphoria from the Champions League to be shattered by a newly-promoted team, that is a hammer blow. The coach and manager Felix Magath now has to explain how we get out of this. ?We are talking about the performance of the team. I have no worries about Schalke getting relegated. But I had and have a much higher expectation in Felix Magath than just survival.”

And who didn’t have much higher expectations for Schalke this season? It’s all come as a big shock to Bundesliga fans, many of whom expected Schalke to be challenging and maybe winning the title that they only just missed out on last season. Still, with the track record Felix Magath has, there’s no one better for the club right now than the man in charge. If anyone can dig them out of this hole, it’s him. Unfortunately, there are very few signs of that happening anytime soon.

In an attempt to turn the team’s fortunes around, Magath has cut Schalke’s winter break to just four days instead of the regular two weeks. His disciplinary style may not be what the team needs after so many disappointing defeats. A little time away from football might allow some of Schalke’s more mentally depleted players to take a breather and then return to the side with a clearer head and a lot more focus. That could all backfire for Felix Magath, but really, what hasn’t this season?

Many will criticize Magath for his side’s performances, but is it his fault if Christoph Metzelder concedes a penalty or fails to track a runner, or if Jermaine Jones and Jose Jurado fail to impress in midfield, or if Edu and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar fail to score? Some will say it absolutely is. He’s the one who buys the players, and so far many of them have failed to impress. Schalke paid 11 million Euros for Jurado and I expected a lot more from him than what he’s shown early on in his Bundesliga career. Huntelaar is a prolific goal-scorer, but only if he gets decent service from the midfield and he’s been rarely getting it at all this season.

Magath has also conceded that with the team doing so poorly, he may be fighting a losing battle in terms of keeping hold of some of Schalke’s top players, namely Manuel Neuer and Ivan Rakitic. That’s all bad news for Schalke supporters, and what’s worse? Borussia Dortmund are top of the league!

Are any of you readers big Schalke fans? What’s your take on Magath and the state of affairs at the club? Comments!

His Best Days Have Passed Him By.

Daniel van Buyten and Martin Demichelis were never the most sturdy center-half pairing in the Bundesliga. More of than not, there have comical mix-ups that lead to a goals for the opposition, and things have only gotten worse with age. This weekend, van Buyten allowed Frankfurt’s Theofanis Gekas – who is at least four inches shorter than the Belgian – to not only beat him in the air and force a header goalwards, but to then beat him to the rebound and score the goal. After his mistake, van Buyten was subbed off and probably given the hairdryer treatment. With Martin Demichelis forced out of the side by Holger Badstuber, maybe it’s time Daniel van Buyten takes a place on the bench as well.

But who will replace the big Belgian? It’s not like Bayern Munich are especially deep in defense, I mean they haven’t even got a proper left-back! They do have one player though who could do the job in the center of defense with real authority. It’s not Anatoliy Tymoschuk, although he could be an option for Louis van Gaal given his impressive performances in the back-line this season, but he’s not the one I’m thinking of. The player Bayern Munich can begin to rely on is Breno.

The big Brazilian wunderkind spent last season out on loan at Nurnberg and built up a great partnership with Arsenal youngster Havard Nordtveit. Unfortunately, Breno sustained a long-term injury early this season and was forced out of action. Just this weekend, though, Breno finally got his first-team chance and made an instant impression.

His physical presence will remind some of Werder Bremen’s Naldo, and that comparison isn’t too far off. His composure and his anticipation make him a very sturdy choice in defense, and he could become a great asset to the reigning German champions.

If Louis van Gaal could experiment with a Badstuber – Breno partnership in the center of defense, Bayern Munich could really have something going for them there. Badstuber is a ball-playing defender, who has an eye for a long-range, defense-splitting pass and who can carry the ball into midfield. Breno, on the other hand, reminds me of Rio Ferdinand. He can command the back-line, he can win everything in the air, and he can drop back and track an opposition forward who is making a run. If Badstuber can step into midfield and close down a potential threat, then Breno can hold his position in defense and sweep up everything that makes it’s way past the midfield.

It could blossom into a top partnership if it’s given the chance, and it’s definitely something Louis van Gaal will be thinking about as well, especially with Martin Demichelis nearing the end of his Bayern Munich career and Daniel van Buyten becoming a bit embarrassing at all the wrong moments.

He Looks Just Like Frank Rijkaard: Breno For The Future.

Ouch! Podolski Should Have Seen Red.

How Lukas Podolski only got a yellow card for this tackle on Dzeko is a mystery to me. I hope I’m wrong, but I think that means that because he was booked no retrospective action can be taken. He should have gone for me, it’s an awful challenge.

Mark van Bommel Is As Hard As A Coffin Nail, But That Might Not Be Enough.

After Mark van Bommel suffered a long-term injury during an international friendly match for Holland in early October, doubts about Bayern Munich’s chances of retaining their Bundesliga crown began to seriously grow. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery already ruled out of action, there was a huge concern over Bayern Munich’s strength in midfield. Last year, that midfield nearly single-handedly lifted Die Roten to the Champions League final, to the Bundesliga title and to the DFB Pokal title. Now, it looked seriously depleted. Louis van Gaal was quick to alienate Andreas Ottl and Anatoliy Tymoschuk at the start of the season in favor of the more reliable Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mark van Bommel, but when van Bommel was ruled out for two months, the Dutch tactician had no choice but to turn to his fringe players.

Andreas Ottl’s form has been very impressive in his recent performances, and the midfielder has really proven a point to his manager. After a loan spell last season, he’s come back into the side and has made his claim for regular first-team football. He’s done so well, that Bastian Schweinsteiger is being used in a more advanced position to make way for Ottl! That’s something to be proud of, even though Schweinsteiger’s new role could be more due to injuries in attacking areas. Still, Schweinsteiger has flourished in behind the striker and Ottl has been a creative force from a deeper area of midfield.

And then there is Tymoschuk. When Bayern Munich looked incredibly light in defense, Tymoschuk was used as an emergency center-half to combat their frailty at the back. He made an immediate impression, and the Ukrainian midfielder who made a big money move from Zenit at the start of last season was finally getting some regular action. Then, after impressing in defense, Tymoschuk was given a midfield role next to either Bastian Schweinsteiger or Andreas Ottl and his form steadily rose.

Just this Saturday, Tymoschuk played his best game in a Bayern Munich shirt yet. He showed his class and netted twice despite playing a holding midfield role. He bossed the midfield and he claimed the match ball and it was nothing less than he deserved. What he’s also done, though, is he’s given Louis van Gaal a big problem. Tymoschuk has been playing in Mark van Bommel’s position in midfield, and he’s excelled there. So, does the captain get his place back?

Some will argue that it is impossible not to restore him because he’s the captain, but I don’t believe that’s a fair argument. Michael Ballack was spurned by Joachim Loew despite being named captain, and the German national team has not suffered in his absence. Has Bayern Munich suffered in van Bommel’s absence, or have Die Roten’s woes been more due to attack insufficiency rather than a midfield problem?

Definitely some things Louis van Gaal will have to think about. Considering his reputation, Mark van Bommel will definitely have to earn his way back into the side. You can’t argue with form, and you can’t argue with Louis. It’s just good to see a healthy bit of competition in the Bayern Munich midfield finally.

Louis van Gaal also has the option of playing Toni Kroos in behind Mario Gomez, which allows Bastian Schweinsteiger to drop back into his preferred midfield role. That means, partnering Schweinsteiger, would be one of Andreas Ottl, Anatoliy Tymoschuk or Mark van Bommel. None of them have had a below average game all season in midfield, so I would assume Louis van Gaal would pick the most in form player for his starting eleven. At the moment, that player is Anatoliy Tymoschuk.

It’s the kind of problem Bayern Munich want to have. Being able to boast such a stacked midfield is a real plus, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the dressing room. Next weekend Bayern Munich will travel to Schalke, and it’ll be interesting to see who Louis van Gaal hands a start to.

Sidney Sam's Reputation Continues To Grow!

This weekend was filled with goals and I’ve had another tough time picking three candidates. Here are the three I came up with, sorted in no particular order. Comment below for your favourite!

1. FC Koln v VfL Wolfsburg: Cicero Equalizes In Superb Fashion

2. Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt: Tymoschuk Opens The Scoring

3. TSG Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen: Sidney Sam Does An Arjen Robben

Hugo Hits Three As Werder Bremen Win.

Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg were both under pressure to pick up three points in their respective fixtures after their rivals all did the business on Saturday. Unfortunately, only Werder Bremen were able to grab the desired result, which leaves Wolfsburg struggling. Here are the results.

Werder Bremen 3 – 0 St. Pauli

That’s more like it from Werder Bremen. They so easily could have done a Schalke and lost here, but instead they regrouped and got the result they would have been hoping for and it’s about time too. Hugo Almeida stole the headlines with a wonderful hat-trick, and Schaaf will certainly want to keep hold of the Portuguese hitman. Still, after such an awesome performance, Almeida received his marching orders after an elbow on Carlos Zambrano. I think that’s a three match suspension, so it’s not all good news for Werder Bremen after this result. The win lifts the hosts to 11th in the Bundesliga table, but it’s at least one step closer to where they hope to finish at the end of the season. If they can use this result as a springboard, then the sky is the limit. St. Pauli will be disappointed with the loss, and even more disappointed with Markus Thorandt, who was also sent off with minutes left after a bad challenge on Frings. They’ll need to get it together or they’ll dig themselves into the drop zone.

FC Koln 1 – 1 VfL Wolfsburg

Koln really should have won this game. Mato Jajalo spurned a few guilt-edged chances that could have put the result beyond a doubt for Koln, and that’s something he’ll really need to work on in training. Novakovic opened the scoring in the second half after Petit’s rocket free-kick was parried by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio into the path of the big Slovakian, who simply nodded past the Swiss number one. Wolfsburg’s equalizer came in fantastic fashion from substitute Cicero, who scored an excellent bicycle kick just a minute or so after entering the fray. It was a disappointing match, though, and it’s a fixture that Wolfsburg fans would have pencilled a big three next to at the start of the season. Things still aren’t going their way, and there’s definitely still lots of room for improvement. Wolfsburg lose ground of their Bundesliga rivals after this result, and are a whopping ten points short of a Champions League spot.

Thomas Schaaf Will Have The Heaviest Heart In Bremen If His Side Lose Again.

Saturday’s games saw the Bundesliga’s main title challengers all pick up positive results, which puts the pressure on Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg – who should be challenging for at least European football – to get positive results themselves. Let’s get to the games.

Werder Bremen v St. Pauli

If there’s any team that Werder Bremen fans will expect their side to beat at home, it’s newly promoted St. Pauli. Still, it’s so hard to see Bremen beating anybody on this kind of form. They’ve been appalling for so long now that I’m sure even Werder Bremen’s most die-hard supporters will be worried about their side’s recent defensive catastrophies. I really hope, for Thomas Schaaf’s sake, that Werder Bremen get the three points here. They badly need the win and if they do get it, it might just lift the squad a little bit and put them on a decent run. They’ve got a plethora of injuries throughout the squad, so we may see the same kind of makeshift side we saw against Tottenham in mid-week. I just hope it doesn’t get embarrassing. They really are in dire condition!

FC Koln v VfL Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg look so impressive on paper, but they’ve failed to deliver this season under Steve McClaren. Away to Koln is never easy, but the home side have been in poor form and Wolfsburg’s quality should guide them to a win. The pressure is mounting on the English manager, and he’ll know that he needs to start racking up some major points if he wants to challenge for a European spot this season. Dzeko and Grafite are always reliable, but the rest of the squad hasn’t been as consistent as McClaren would have hoped. They need to get back to winning ways, and this is a great place to start.

Anatoliy Tymoschuk Looks A Different Player This Season.

Like I predicted in Saturday’s Bundesliga preview, round fourteen has so far been full of surprises and close encounters. What was most interesting, I think, is the beginning of a real split between sides who look set to establish themselves in the upper echelons of the Bundesliga, and sides who may just fade away and have to settle for a mid-table place. There’s no better example of that right now then the extremely differing fortunes of Dortmund and Schalke. Let’s get to the results.

Bayern Munich 4 – 1 Eintracht Frankfurt

Well, it’s another four goals conceded and another big loss for Frankfurt. They looked really up for it early on, and had a few guilt-edged chances to really put the pressure on the reigning champions. One that really stuck out was Gekas’ pull-back to Kittel, who only had to place his shot into the back of the net but struck it well wide in the end. The 17-year old still had a decent game, but that early miss will have dented his confidence. Anatoliy Tymoschuk opened the scoring with an absolute stunner of a goal (definitely a candidate for goal of the week), but Frankfurt made a quick reply through Theofanis Gekas, who tucked in his own rebound after his first effort clattered the post. The second-half was a lot more impressive from Bayern Munich, and their class eventually shone through. Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez scored on both sides of the hour mark and immediately killed the game off. Tymoschuk scored his second with minutes left, and he really is starting to look like the player Bayern Munich spent all that money on. Does his form force Mark van Bommel out of the side? These are the kinds of problems Louis van Gaal will welcome with open arms.

Hamburg SV 4 – 2 VfB Stuttgart

Saw this one coming a mile away. Stuttgart are shocking and they didn’t do themselves any good away to Hamburg either. To further compound their misery, Ciprian Marica was sent off after just 16 minutes for mouthing off. That’s got to drive his manager absolutely insane. Trochowski opened the scoring after just 3 minutes before Marica equalized for the away side on 9 minutes. After the sending off, Pitroipa and Petric made it 3-1 before half-time and the game was virtually over. A minute after the break, Gentner put Stuttgart back into it but Hamburg never looked like giving up their lead. Ruud van Nistelrooy finished it off on the hour mark and compounded Stuttgart’s misery. Veh’s side dominated possession and thoroughly deserved the win. The result lifts them to 7th place, still five points short of Champions League qualification.

Hannover 96 3 – 0 SC Freiburg

I didn’t expect this to be so convincing! Jan Schaludraff opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour, and the game stayed at 1-0 until the very end when Didier Konan and Mike Hanke killed the game off. I didn’t think Freiburg would be unable to get on the scoresheet against Hannover; Papiss Cisse has been a revelation for them and I really expected him to steal the headlines here. Really impressive three points for Hannover, because I thought Freiburg would put up a lot more of a fight. Hannover are incredibly in 4th place in the Bundesliga table, just a single point behind Leverkusen and the Champions League. If they can keep it up, it’ll be one of the great stories of the season.

Kaiserslautern 5 – 0 Schalke

I still don’t believe it. It’s unreal. How could Magath’s side go from beating Lyon 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek, from topping their group, from their impressive domestic performances recently, to this. Schalke fans would have watched in disgust. Absolutely shambolic. It’s like all their good work had just gone straight down the drain in a completely catastrophic performance that’s mirrored in this unbelievable score line. A Srdjan Lakic brace and goals from Martin Amedick, a penalty from Ivo Ilicevic (which Lakic won) and a goal from Jan Moravek at the death sealed an incredible win for the home side who have been on fire since their comeback against Stuttgart. Fantastic stuff. The hosts are now 11th in the Bundesliga table, and they won’t mind that one bit. Schalke, on the other hand, may be set for the round of sixteen in the Champions League, but they’re still in danger of relegation as they hang on to 15th, just 2 points away from the drop zone.

TSG Hoffenheim 2 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen

Now this is more like it, the kinds of results I was expecting. A close-fought, nervy fixture against two sides vying for the same spots in the Bundesliga table. A fantastic goal from Sidney Sam and then a penalty from Arturo Vidal put Leverkusen in the driving seat after just 10 minutes, but Hoffenheim regrouped well and proved a massive point. Ibisevic scored after a set-piece from Sejad Salihovic just before half-time, and that goal definitely gave Hoffenheim a license to kill. Despite their early way back into the game, Hoffenheim only equalized with seconds left on the clock from the penalty spot through Gylfi Sigurdsson. Still, it’s a result they’ll be pleased with after going behind so early on. The result leaves them 4 points behind the visitors and the Champions League, but if they can continue to get positive results they can continue to challenge. It’s Leverkusen who have dropped two points here as far as I’m concerned.

Borussia Dortmund 4 – 1 Borussia Monchengladbach

Well, who didn’t see this coming. It didn’t look like it was going to go Dortmund’s way early on, but in the end they got the result they were hoping for. It’s fascinating to see so many younger players playing with so much focus and determination; that when they go behind they rarely fold or lose heart. Jurgen Klopp is the mastermind behind their unbelievable run, but he’ll want his players to receive all the praise. Marco Reus (he’d be great at Dortmund) opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, but Neven Subotic equalized just before the break. It’s always a pivotal moment when a side scores before half-time, because it completely changes the landscape of a match heading into the second half. Kagawa, Grosskreutz and Barrios got on the scoresheet in the second half and condemned their Prussian rivals to defeat. Another win, and that’s 12 wins out of 14 league games for Klopp this season. Incredible stuff. If they don’t win the league, I’ll be shocked.

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayern Munich’s capitulation in Rome in midweek may weigh heavily on some minds, but Louis van Gaal will urge his side to get back to winning ways at home against a hardy Frankfurt side. The visitors have just dropped off a little bit recently after an early season run of form that has them holding seventh in the Bundesliga table, just five points away from Leverkusen and the Champions League. They’ll want the win as bad as their Bavarian hosts, to show what they’re made of and to lift the squad’s spirit heading into December. Coincidentally, Bayern Munich are level on points with their opponents, which means a win for them also takes them just that much closer to European football. It’s a battle of ambition here at the Allianz Arena, and I reckon the hosts will get back on track here and continue their climb up the Bundesliga table.

Hamburg SV v VfB Stuttgart

I can’t see anything but a Stuttgart loss here. After sacking Christian Gross earlier in the season, they improved slightly for a short amount of time – which is sometimes known as the new manager bump – but have returned to their old ways now and sit third bottom in the Bundesliga table. Obviously they’re going to need a hell of a repair job, and I don’t see it starting here away to Hamburg. The hosts are one of many sides vying for a European place this season, and a win here will allow them to keep the pressure on the likes of Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, Hannover and Leverkusen. I think they’ll get the result, and I don’t think there’s much more to it than that.

Hannover 96 v SC Freiburg

This is a tight one. Freiburg are just a single point behind their hosts, so it’s all to play for here. If Hannover lose, they could drop off slightly and be on the losing end of a five-horse race for European football. If Freiburg lose, the consequences are the same. It’s incredibly hard to call because they’re quite even, these two sides. If I had to stick my neck out, I’d call it in Hannover’s favor just because of their home advantage. It definitely won’t be a game either side want to lose though, so it could fizzle out into a draw.

Kaiserslautern v Schalke 04

Yikes! If there was any team Kaiserslautern don’t want to play right now, it’s Schalke. The Konigsblauen are finally hitting the kind of form we’ve all expected from them all season, and Kaiserslautern are coming off an impressive 3-1 away win at Nurnberg. Schalke had a big midweek game against Lyon, so heavy legs might be a deciding factor here for the visitors. If that’s the case, it could be Kaiserslautern’s to lose. Still, Schalke have enough quality on the pitch to kill a game off in an instant, and as long as Felix Magath rotates his squad effectively, this is another three points for Schalke. The win would take Magath’s men into mid-table, which is at least the right direction. Kaiserslautern, meanwhile, will be looking to consolidate their position in the Bundesliga this season and they’ll know the importance of gaining points at home. Another tight one, but if I had to put money on it I’d say Schalke to edge it.

TSG Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen

None of these games will be for the faint-hearted. Hoffenheim and Leverkusen, another game between sides who are just next to eachother in the Bundesliga table. I’ll tell you what, if anyone loses this week, it’s really bad news. So many sides are playing their rivals that if anyone slips up it could be a huge dent in their aspirations for the season. Hoffenheim clobbered Frankfurt last weekend by four goals, so their confidence will be high going into this game. Leverkusen are just behind Mainz in the table, and they’ve got to win to keep the pressure on the league’s top two. Hoffenheim are four points off of Leverkusen and Champions League football and they could cut that down to one if they record a win here. Very nervy stuff. The table could look completely different after this weekend.

Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Monchengladbach

No one can beat Borussia Dortmund. No one. That most definitely includes Gladbach! Another win, sorry Gladbach fans. I’ll be in absolute shock if Dortmund don’t get three points here.

A Star On The Rise: Andre Schuerrle

Thomas Tuchel’s side look back to their best after a bit of a down period that saw them drop out of top spot in the Bundesliga table. Tonight, they put on a top performance against a Nurnberg side who hold a respectable mid-table position after some strong results earlier in the season. Andre Schuerrle was definitely the man of the match, and the young German’s highlight reel continues to grow after this fantastic performance.

While the 3-0 scoreline suggests a convincing, dominating display, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Nurnberg had their chances but really failed to take them, and maybe deserved a little bit more than the heavy loss they ended up suffering. Still, it’s exactly what Mainz were looking for and they’ll need to keep it up if they want to keep Bayer Leverkusen off of their heels.

Andre Schuerrle opened the scoring after a set-piece, and then played a fantastic back-heel into the path of Nikolce Noveski who hammered home a second ten minutes after half-time. Super-sub Sami Allagui sealed the win with minutes left on the clock.

Andre Schuerrle has been excellent, but where does he fit into Joachim Loew’s plans? Is he the heir to Miroslav Klose’s throne, or does Mario Gomez hold the key to that spot? What’s certain, is that the amount of competition for places in the German national team is unbelievable. Germany have so much quality that they could nearly field two sides that would be able to compete equally at the highest level. The future definitely looks bright.

Farfan Has Been In Exceptional Form For Schalke.

With Bayern Munich’s place in the round of sixteen booked despite their loss in Rome, the pressure was on the Bundesliga’s other two Champions League representatives to step up to the plate and deliver. Unfortunately, only one of those two sides managed to get the right result.

Schalke 3 – 0 Olympique Lyon

This is exactly what Felix Magath would have wanted from his side, especially after their 4-0 win over Werder Bremen on the weekend. Finally, Schalke are beginning to play the way they have been expected to play all season. Beni Howedes and Christoph Metzelder finally look solid at the back, there’s depth in midfield with Joel Matip, Ciprian Deac and Christoph Moritz all doing their part, and up top they’re as cool as you like with Raul and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. They have a very impressive squad on paper, and now, finally, they’re beginning to deliver on the pitch. Another pile of goals and another clean sheet, and exactly the kind of togetherness and spirit Magath will want from his side. If they can maintain it, there’s no reason why they won’t be able to qualify for the Champions League again next season. Farfan opened the scoring, and a Huntelaar brace killed the tie off. I’m very impressed! Schalke currently top their group thanks to a 3-0 shock result in Israel between Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Benfica, which means the German side have sealed qualification into the round of sixteen.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 0 Werder Bremen

Too easy for Tottenham, like I had predicted. With Werder Bremen suffering from a lack of confidence and a lack of first-team players due to a lengthy injury list, there was never any chance that they were going to leave London with three points in the bag. Every time Tottenham attacked, Werder Bremen looked like they would concede. Really, if you’re a Bundesliga neutral, you probably felt embarrassed for the display they put on at White Hart Lane. The Bundesliga, on average, is so much better than Werder Bremen. Can you imagine if Borussia Dortmund were at White Hart Lane last night? And another thing, Philipp Bargfrede? Absolutely clueless. Younes Kaboul and Luka Modric made it 2-0 before half-time and it was virtually all over by then. Felix Kroos, who got a rare start thanks to a monstrous injury list, stepped on Modric’s ankle in the penalty area to concede a spot-kick, but Gareth Bale’s attempt was well saved by Tim Wiese. Peter Crouch made it 3-0 with ten minutes left. Werder Bremen are bottom of their group with just two points, three away from FC Twente and the Europa League. It looks like Schaaf’s side will make an early exit from European football altogether this season.

Borriello Bashes Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich went into Rome knowing that their spot in the round of sixteen had already been booked. Still, they would have wanted to avoid what ended up happening at all costs. The visiting Germans held a two-goal lead at half-time thanks to Mario Gomez, who has been in stunning form this season. Louis van Gaal will have warned his side against complacency, and the Dutch tactician will be furious at his side’s abrupt capitulation.

After the break, Roma came out bursting with energy. The Stadio Olimpico roared it’s warriors forward, and just four minutes after half-time, Roma were back in it. Marco Borriello finished sweetly after a dashing run from Jeremy Menez and put Bayern Munich on the back foot. Nine minutes from time, it was Daniele De Rossi who found himself on the end of a John Arne Riise cross and tapped the ball into the back of the net. With Roma pulling level, it was almost inevitable that they would find a late winner. Just three minutes later, it was Francesco Totti who stole the show. After Borriello was brought down in the box, the legendary captain stepped up to the spot and duly slotted home.

The Roman crowd erupted, and the German champions were defeated. Still, they didn’t need the win and Roma did, so it’s a good result for the neutral. Now, Roma just need a single point from their last match to secure qualification. Bayern Munich, on the other hand, are still safe and qualified. Louis van Gaal will not be worried about the result, but he will be worried about the manner of the result. Just as Bayern Munich seemed to be hitting full speed domestically, this Roman riot happened. The Dutch tactician will be wary of the effect of this result on the side heading into this weekend, where it is imperative that Bayern Munich continue to pick up maximum points.