The Bundesliga is extremely exciting at both ends of the table. So it’s a good thing that there are direct duels in the championship race as well as in the relegation battle.
FC Bayern leads the table, Borussia Dortmund follows in second place. That reads like the eternally same lyre. The constellation actually existed last season after the 21st matchday. BVB had then as now 43 points in the account. However, Bayern were ahead by nine points, even though they had already lost three games at the time.
The 2: 3 at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (02/18/2023) was only the second defeat of the current season. Dortmund have already lost six games, but are still level on points with Munich because they only have one draw.
Bayern, on the other hand, have already drawn seven times, which is one of their problems in this exciting season, in which six teams still have realistic chances of becoming champions.
On the remaining 13 match days, the direct duels are even more important. Collecting points yourself and thus preventing your opponent from getting any explains the term “six-point games”.
RB Leipzig versus Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern receive Union
On matchday 22 there will be two direct duels in the championship race. On Saturday (February 25th, 2023), RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt will meet the two teams that currently have less than 40 points. If there is a loser, he will be at least seven points behind the leaders if there is a winner on Sunday in the game between leaders FC Bayern and 1. FC Union Berlin, who are also tied on points.
The first leg at the Alte Försterei ended 1:1. It was the only draw of the Köpenickers in the special table, which only evaluates games between the six teams from the title race. Here, too, Bayern’s problem is evident: four draws from six games, no defeat.
| Association | games | S | U | N | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
FC Bayern |
6 |
2 |
4 |
– |
10 |
|
2. |
Borussia Dortmund |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
|
3. |
1. FC Union Berlin |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
|
4. |
Eintracht Frankfurt |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
5. |
RB Leipzig |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
|
6. |
SC Freiburg |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
The internal table of the championship race has the charm that each team is currently in six games. It’s pretty tight here too, with SC Freiburg falling behind with just one win (4-1 against Union Berlin) and four defeats with just four points.
VfB Stuttgart still undefeated against competitors
In the relegation battle, the internal table is slanted. Although VfB Stuttgart have only played five direct duels, they lead them thanks to the better goal difference compared to TSG Hoffenheim, who have already met seven opponents who, after almost two-thirds of the season, turn out to be the most vulnerable candidates for relegation or relegation .
In contrast to the title race, in which the current seventh-placed team with only 30 points will hardly be able to intervene, the group of clubs at risk of relegation is larger than the six clubs included in the internal table. SV Werder Bremen in particular should have painful memories of the 2020/21 season, when after the 24th matchday it was eleven points ahead of the relegation rank and seemed saved. But then he lost game after game and ended up being relegated.
| Association | games | S | U | N | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
VfB Stuttgart |
5 |
3 |
2 |
– |
11 |
|
2. |
TSG Hoffenheim |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
|
3. |
VfL Bochum |
6 |
3 |
– |
3 |
9 |
|
4. |
Hertha BSC |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
|
5. |
FC Augsburg |
6 |
2 |
– |
4 |
6 |
|
6. |
FC Schalke 04 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
Bremen could see the upcoming game against VfL Bochum as a direct duel against a competitor. Saturday will also be a very hot one in the relegation battle, because Hertha BSC will also meet FC Augsburg at 3.30 p.m.
Schalke 04 before crucial games
In the evening there will be a game in Gelsenkirchen between FC Schalke, who is also last in the special table, and VfB Stuttgart. Another 0-0 would have a completely different meaning for the “Royal Blues” than the fourth goalless draw in a row at 1. FC Union.
Schalke now have two games against direct competitors. On the 24th match day there will be a small district derby at VfL Bochum. The big district neighbor Borussia Dortmund then plays against RB Leipzig.
