The Bundesliga clubs are looking forward to thousands of fans, and the supporters of 1. FC Köln are looking forward to seeing their coach again.
On the other hand, the sovereign table leader FC Bayern Munich has to do without a fixed size for weeks: national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is out after his knee surgery, substitute Sven Ulreich has to go. Borussia Dortmund is after the 2: 5 swatter against Leverkusen to make amends.
Trainer Return: Even without Steffen Baumgart, 1. FC Köln continued their upward trend and won 1-0 against Freiburg. The head coach, meanwhile, made a video of emotional TV watching shared by his daughter go viral. On Friday evening (8.30 p.m. / DAZN) at RB Leipzig, Baumgart can let off steam again in the coaching zone after he was able to test himself from the corona isolation on Wednesday. Last but not least, the task of the runners-up will be difficult because FC striker Anthony Modeste is out sick.
Substitute goalkeeper: With the game on Saturday (3.30 p.m. / Sky) at VfL Bochumg, the weeks without national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had surgery on his knee, begin for leaders Bayern Munich. Sven Ulreich is now challenged again. The 33-year-old veteran has to cope with a cold start. Ulreich has only made two competitive appearances in the Munich goal this season. In Bochum he has to get security for Bayern’s round of 16 first leg in the Champions League at Austria’s serial champions RB Salzburg.
Amends: The bitter 2: 5 against Bayer Leverkusen still puts pressure on the mood at Borussia Dortmund days later. “It was the way we presented ourselves. That hurt,” complained license player boss Sebastian Kehl in the “Ruhr Nachrichten” before the difficult test on Sunday (3:30 p.m. / DAZN) at Union Berlin. Concerned that nine points behind leaders Munich and ten points ahead of a non-Champions League place, motivation could dwindle, he found clear words: “We have to remain as ambitious as possible. Our claim must be to come second consolidate.”
Crisis: Although VfB Stuttgart has been waiting for a win for six games and the deficit of the table-17. has grown to four points from a non-relegation zone, there is no doubt about coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. “The current situation shows whether we just want continuity or whether we live it,” said sporting director Sven Mislintat. The many returnees and the end of the five-game goal drought give hope. In the case of feared opponents Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday evening (6:30 p.m. / Sky), there is still little to suggest that the downturn will end and that worries will diminish.
fans: More visitors are allowed into the stadiums. RB Leipzig can welcome 15,000 fans against Cologne. VfL Bochum is allowed to play against Bayern in front of 8,500 spectators in the Ruhr Stadium on Saturday. In Berlin, too, the upper limit for major outdoor events was increased from 3,000 to 10,000 spectators – 1. FC Union benefited in the game against BVB.