32nd matchday
Berlin (dpa) – The German championship is awarded, the first relegation is certain – and yet the season finale in the Bundesliga still promises excitement. Especially in the final sprint for the European Cup places and against relegation, this Saturday may already be decisive.
In addition to a trainer in the derby and hopefuls in the fight for relegation, the focus is also on a Bayern professional who is in the champions’ starting lineup at his old place of work for the first time this season.
Borussia Dortmund – VfL Bochum
Thomas Reis: It’s probably the game that coach Thomas Reis is looking forward to the most. “I feel pure joy that we have this derby and I’m proud to be able to stand on the line,” said the Bochum coach before the game at big neighbors Borussia Dortmund. Above all, Reis is happy to be back with the team after his red card. “It’s not easy if you can’t and aren’t allowed to help,” explained the 48-year-old, who has never coached in front of so many spectators. “The stadiums aren’t that big in the 2nd division,” he said, hoping he can even reach his team. “It might be a bit more difficult with 80,000 spectators,” said Reis, who was on the coaching course with BVB coach Marco Rose. “He’s a really great person and an excellent professional,” Rose said of his colleague.
VfB Stuttgart – VfL Wolfsburg
Atakan Karazor: The Stuttgart team has high hopes for the return of the midfielder. They had “too much respect for the situation,” said VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo about his team after the disappointing 0-2 draw at Hertha BSC last Sunday. Karazor was missing for the second time in a row. Now the 25-year-old is back. The Swabians need more courage and determination if they still want to turn the tide in the relegation battle and win back their fans. A mental player like Karazor, who loudly drives the team, should definitely help.
FSV Mainz 05 – Bayern Munich
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: At a former place of work, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting can look forward to his starting XI debut this season. “Choupo will start,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann and recalled the many absences of the 33-year-old offensive player: Corona infection, participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, muscle injuries and knee and back problems prevented the Cameroonian from making more appearances this season. He may be allowed to run with Robert Lewandowski. “Lewy will also play when he’s healthy. Choupo is flexible and can play several positions,” said Nagelsmann. Choupo-Moting played for Mainz from 2011 to 2014 before moving to FC Schalke.
FC Augsburg – 1 FC Cologne
Jonas Hector: It looked dramatic. After banging his heads with Bielefeld’s Alessandro Schöpf, Cologne’s captain Jonas Hector was brought into the dressing room bleeding in the previous week. After ten minutes he returned to the field freshly stitched with a turban-like head bandage. Another fifteen minutes later he was substituted because he complained of dizziness, headaches and coordination problems. However, the ex-international has been closely scrutinized. He didn’t suffer a concussion, trained this week and, according to coach Steffen Baumgart, will play in Augsburg.
Arminia Bielefeld – Hertha BSC
Patrick Wimmer: Arminia have scored two goals in the past eight games. Patrick Wimmer is the beacon of hope that this will change soon. The Austrian, who is having a strong season, recently had a weak phase. Last week in Cologne he was moved from the wing to the attack and forced an own goal at 1:3. Hopes are on his shoulders against Hertha. Wimmer’s dilemma: His move to Wolfsburg in the summer is already certain. And if he shoots Arminia to stay up, he makes himself more expensive. According to media reports, the fee should be seven million in the event of relegation and five in the event of relegation.
TSG Hoffenheim – SC Freiburg
Andrej Kramaric: On March 12th, vice world champion Kramaric extended his contract in Hoffenheim until the summer of 2025 – in the hope of great European evenings and the Champions League. The only problem: Since then, TSG has not won any of their six Bundesliga games. The premier class is a long way off, even with Europe it will be difficult. Kramaric played his part in that with just four goals – the last one in mid-February. In the previous season, the 30-year-old had scored 20 Bundesliga goals.