The probable lineups:
Arminia Bielefeld – RB Leipzig (Friday, 8:30 p.m.)
DSC: Ortega – Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Lucoqui – Maier, Prietl – Gebauer, Okugawa – Doan – Klos
For coach Frank Kramer, there are hardly any reasons for changes after the 2-1 win against Leverkusen. If left-back Jacob Laursen (shoulder injury) is fit in time, he will probably move into the team for Anderson Lucoqui. In midfield, Marcel Hartel, as well as Fabian Kunze and Michel Vlap are possible options. Nathan de Medina is still missing. Sergio Cordova would be the alternative to Fabian Klos.
RBL: Gulacsi – Mukiele, Klostermann, Orban, Halstenberg – Kampl – Sabitzer, A. Haidara – Dani Olmo, Nkunku – Poulsen
Central defender Ibrahima Konaté could get a starting line-up after recovering from injury. On the offensive, Emil Forsberg and Alexander Sörloth are possible options. Angelino and Dayot Upamecano (both torn muscle fibers in the thigh) are missing.
Bayern Munich – VfB Stuttgart (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
FCB: Neuer – Pavard, J. Boateng, Alaba, Davies – Kimmich, Goretzka – L. Sané, T. Müller, Gnabry – Lewandowski
Manuel Neuer should return to goal instead of Alexander Nübel. Alphonso Davies replaces Lucas Hernandez in the back left compared to the Champions League round of 16 against Lazio. Instead of Jerome Boateng, Niklas Süle could also start in the defense. The ailing Kingsley Coman will probably take a seat on the bench first.
VfB: Kobel – Mavropanos, Anton, Kempf – W. Endo, Karazor, Sosa – Wamangituka – Castro, P. Förster – Kalajdzic
Depending on the type of tactical orientation, there are several candidates who could replace Orel Mangala (torn muscle fiber); Atakan Karazor would be a more defensive variant, Tanguy Coulibaly a much more offensive one. Nicolas Gonzales could be back in the squad after recovering from a muscle fiber tear.
Eintracht Frankfurt – 1. FC Union Berlin (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
SGE: Trapp – Ilsanker, Hasebe, Ndicka – Chandler, Sow, Rode, Kostic – Kamada – Silva, Jovic
Defender Tuta and offensive player Amin Younes are missing a yellow card. Thus, Stefan Ilsanker should act as the right part of the three-man defense chain, on the flank Timothy Chandler and Aymen Barkok are starting eleven candidates. Should the ailing Martin Hinteregger get fit in time, Makoto Hasebe should move into midfield. Up front Luka Jovic and André Silva could form a dual leadership.
FCU: Luthe – Friedrich, Knoche, N. Schlotterbeck – Trimmel, Andrich, Ryerson – Prömel, K. Endo – Musa, Kruse
Instead of Keita Endo, Marcus Ingvartsen could also start, for Julian Ryerson Marius Bülter would be a conceivable alternative. Max Kruse is on the offensive, Joel Pohjanpalo or Cedric Teuchert could start at his side instead of Petar Musa.
1. FC Köln – Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
KOE: T. Horn – Cestic, Jorge Meré, Czichos – Ehizibue, M. Meyer, Skhiri, Jakobs – M. Wolf, Rexhbecaj – Duda
The yellow-banned Jannes Horn is missing, Java Arangel Cestic should move into the team for him. Coach Markus Gisdol may now also play with a four-man defensive chain. Jonas Hector and Emmanuel Dennis are starting XI candidates.
BVB: Hitz – Meunier, Can, Hummels, N. Schulz – Dahoud – Delaney, Bellingham – Reus, T. Hazard – Haaland
There is still a question mark behind the ailing captain Marco Reus. If Raphael Guerrero (muscle injury) is available again, he should replace Nico Schulz. Julian Brandt and Giovanni Reyna are possible options on the offensive, while Manuel Akanji and Dan-Axel Zagadou are conceivable alternatives in the back.
Werder Bremen – VfL Wolfsburg (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
SVW: Pavlenka – C. Groß, Toprak, Friedl – Gebre Selassie, Augustinsson – Möhwald, M. Eggestein – Sargent, Rashica – filling jug
Marco Friedl returns after a yellow card suspension. In defense, Milos Veljkovic could be preferred to Christian Groß. Leonardo Bittencourt is threatened with back problems. Niclas Füllkrug could start, and Romano Schmid is again a starting XI candidate.
WOB: Casteels – Mbabu, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussillon – X. Schlager, Arnold – R. Baku, Gerhardt, Brekalo – Weghorst
Central defender Maxence Lacroix, like midfielder Xaver Schlager, is returning after recovering from a yellow card suspension. Therefore Josuha Guilavogui threatens to slip out of the starting XI. Should Jerome Roussillon (calf problems) get fit in time, he should replace Paulo Otavio, who has been banned from red, on the left.
FC Schalke 04 – Bor.M’Gladbach (Saturday, 6.30 p.m.)
S04: Rönnow – Becker, Mustafi, Thiaw – Schöpf, Kolasinac, S. Serdar, Calhanoglu – Harit – Hoppe, Raman
Omar Mascarell as well as Benjamin Stambouli and Alessandro Schöpf are starting eleven candidates. For Goncalo Pacienca and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the game will probably come too early after their injuries.
BMG: Sommer – Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Kramer, Neuhaus – Hofmann, Stindl, Thuram – Plea
A large rotation is not to be expected after the Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City, but coach Marco Rose should make individual changes. The ailing Ramy Bensebaini threatens to fail, Oscar Wendt is available as an alternative. Denis Zakaria and Breel Embolo could begin.
TSG Hoffenheim – 1. FSV Mainz 05 (Sunday, 1.30 p.m.)
TSG: Baumann – Posch, Vogt, Richards – Kaderabek, John – Samassekou – Rudy, Grillitsch – Bebou, Kramaric
Should Kevin Vogt return after adductor problems, Florian Grillitsch should move into midfield. In defense, Kasim Adams is an option, behind Christoph Baumgartner (thigh contusion) there is a question mark. Ryan Sessegnon or Robert Skov could also start on the left wing.
M05: Zentner – St. Juste, Bell, Niakhaté – da Costa, Mwene – Barreiro, Kohr – Boetius – Ad. Szalai, Quaison
Attacker Robin Quaison pushes into the starting line-up after surviving an injury and a Joker goal against Freiburg. The ailing Danny Latza and Karim Onisiwo (both muscular problems in the thigh) are threatened with sideline.
Hertha BSC – Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)
BSC: Jarstein – Klünter, Stark, M. Dardai – Tousart, Ascacibar – Zeefuik, Guendouzi, Mittelstädt – Matheus Cunha, Cordoba
After recovering from a thigh injury, Matheus Cunha is a candidate for the starting line-up. It is quite possible that coach Pal Dardai will rely on a double top from Jhon Cordoba and Krzysztof Piatek. On the offensive, Jairo Dilrosun and Dodi Lukebakio are possible options.
B04: Grill – Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Wendell – Aranguiz – Wirtz, Amiri – Bailey, Alario, Diaby
For Sven Bender, the game comes too early after ankle problems. Defender Aleksandar Dragovic and midfielder Kerim Demirbay are starting candidates. Leon Bailey should start instead of Demarai, and Lucas Alario could replace the recently disappointing Patrik Schick.
SC Freiburg – FC Augsburg (Sunday, 6:00 p.m.)
SCF: F. Müller – Lienhart, K. Schlotterbeck, Heintz – Schmid, Santamaria, Höfler, Günter – Sallai, Grifo – Demirovic
In defense, Dominic Heintz and Keven Schlotterbeck should again be given preference over Manuel Gulde and Lukas Kübler. On the offensive, numerous variants are conceivable with Lucas Höler, Woo-yeong Jeong as well as Changhoon Kwon and Nils Petersen.
FCA: Gikiewicz – Framberger, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Gumny – Strobl, R. Khedira – Caligiuri, M. Richter, Vargas – Hahn
Left-back Mads Pedersen could push his representative Robert Gumny to the bench after overcoming adductor problems. Ruben Vargas last impressed after his substitution in the 3-1 win against Gladbach and could therefore start. Florian Niederlechner is an option in the attack.
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