20th match day of the Bundesliga
Berlin (AP) – Almost empty stadiums, frustrated fans and some crisis clubs hoping for a turnaround: Before the 20th match day of the Bundesliga, many clubs have to deal with home-made problems.
After the cup end, Mönchengladbach, Dortmund and Hertha BSC now want to prove morale in the league. Ironically, the self-confident Bavarians are coming to the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Sunday. And in the Baden-Württemberg duel with VfB Stuttgart, SC Freiburg should have the better cards this time.
Corona:The annoyance of the clubs about the empty stadiums is growing. The DFL, together with the top leagues from handball, basketball and ice hockey, has already written a letter to the Chancellery and the Prime Ministers and called for the end of a blanket ban. At the weekend, however, empty ranks will continue to characterize the picture in the stadiums. And whether there will actually be any relaxation at the meeting of the federal and state governments on Monday in view of the more than 100,000 new corona infections every day seems rather questionable.
Gladbach crisis:It’s always worse – at least at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Whenever you have the feeling that Borussia is on the way up again, things go downhill again. After the 2-1 start of the second half of the season at Bayern Munich, there was hope again in the Lower Rhine. Then came the drama about Matthias Ginter, who was not taken into account against Bayer Leverkusen (1: 2), and the cup disaster at second division side Hannover 96. Coach Adi Hütter’s team presented themselves as relegated at 0: 3. Things are likely to get tight for the Austrian if there is another bankruptcy against Union Berlin on Saturday.
Dortmund mentality debate:The topic is not new. For years, BVB has been asked about the alleged lack of mentality in the event of decisive defeats. “It’s just a shame and a bit stupid that we’re using these clichés,” scolded BVB coach Marco Rose after the unnecessary but well-deserved elimination of the cup at second division FC St. Pauli. Rose already failed in the preliminary round of the Champions League with the Dortmund luxury squad. “It cannot be explained and, above all, it cannot be excused.” Another setback threatens in the league at 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday. The Kraichgauer are now a competitor for the Champions League places.
Stuttgart looking for a goal threat:The roles in the state duel between SC Freiburg and VfB Stuttgart have once again been reversed – as has often been the case in recent years. While VfB used to be the top dog in Baden-Württemberg, it is currently fighting relegation again. Most recently, he failed to win or score four times. Freiburg, on the other hand, came back strongly after a dry spell with a 4-1 win in the DFB Cup in Hoffenheim and is hoping for a place in the European Cup in sixth place. VfB shouldn’t like the fact that the defense is secure again with the return of Mark Flekken in goal and Nico Schlotterbeck in the center of defence. In addition, for Stuttgart’s top striker Silas after a corona infection, a short assignment is enough at most.
Hertha trembling before Bayern:And now Bayern too! Hertha doesn’t have it easy, some fans may say. It could and should have been days of further departure under the new coach Tayfun Korkut. But the zero number against the even more troubled VfL Wolfsburg and above all the cup defeat against the Berlin city rivals 1. FC Union on Wednesday are really not suitable as encouragement for the game this Sunday at home against the German record champions and current leaders. “I can understand the frustration of the fans. The fact is that we’re out of the cup and are where we are in the table,” said Hertha sporting director Arne Friedrich. Four points is only the lead to a relegation zone. “We have to concentrate on continuing at the weekend and being better on the pitch,” announced Korkut after the end of the cup.
.
ttn-10