MY ACCOUNT
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will be targeting top spot when they take on Hertha Berlin in the capital.
Rivals Borussia Dortmund are aiming to continue their upturn in form against second-bottom side Bochum.
Elsewhere, leaders Union Berlin will look to retain their No1 ranking at struggling Bayer Leverkusen, while it is seventh versus sixth as Hoffenheim face RB Leipzig.
Third-placed Freiburg then host FC Cologne on Sunday in the hope of capitalising on any slip-ups from the top two.
Game of the week: Hertha Berlin vs Bayern Munich (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Recent history favours Bayern Munich in this fixture — they have won each of their last five meetings with Hertha Berlin.
Die Roten will hope to take a commanding lead before the break, having scored a Bundesliga-record 24 first-half goals in their 12 games this season.
Hertha, meanwhile, have netted just four strikes before half-time — the lowest tally in the league this season.
The hosts sit in 14th place and have struggled in attack this term. They are the only team yet to score more than twice in a single game, while just the bottom two clubs — Schalke and Bochum — have scored fewer goals (both 11) than their 14.
Additionally, Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is unbeaten in his 13 matches as a manager against the Old Lady (nine wins, four draws) — more than against any other side.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bochum (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund will expect to extend their Bundesliga winning run to three games as they host a Bochum side who have mustered just seven points from their opening 12 matches.
But the visitors have only picked up more top-flight away points against Borussia Monchengladbach (26) than they have against BVB (25 — converted to three points for a win where applicable) in their history.
Nevertheless, Dortmund should be confident of scoring in this fixture and extending an ongoing club record.
They have found the net in each of their last 40 Bundesliga games at home, while Bochum have not kept a clean sheet on the road in the competition during any of their last 18 outings.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Berlin (Sunday, 2.30pm)
Leverkusen are third-bottom and Union sit top of the pile — but the history of this fixture tells a different story.
The visitors have just one competitive professional win against Leverkusen in nine attempts. However, their sole victory came after losing each of their first five and they are unbeaten since, drawing three times.
Die Werkself are enduring their second-worst start to a Bundesliga campaign, with just nine points from their 12 games so far, while Union have accrued 26.
The league leaders also boast the best defensive record in the division, conceding just nine times, while Leverkusen have shipped 25 goals — the third-worst tally in Germany’s top tier.
Hoffenheim vs RB Leipzig (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig are seventh and sixth respectively — and will see this fixture as a perfect opportunity to get ahead of their rivals as they bid to finish in a European spot.
But the hosts have won just one of the pair’s last nine meetings (two draws, six defeats) and only have a worse points-per-game record against Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
Leipzig are unbeaten in their last 10 outings in all competitions (eight wins, two draws) and will be boosted by Wednesday’s 4-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk which secured their Champions League last-16 spot.
Freiburg vs FC Cologne (Sunday, 4.30pm)
Only two points separate Freiburg from the Bundesliga summit.
The Breisgau Brazilians’ 24 points is their best-ever return after 12 games, having never previously managed more than 22 at this stage of a campaign.
Since September 2000, Freiburg have lost just one of their 16 home encounters with FC Cologne across all competitions, winning 10 and drawing five.
Christian Streich’s outfit have kept a league-high seven clean sheets this term, while Cologne have managed just one — the joint-worst record in the division.
The weekend’s other games
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Stuttgart (Friday, 7.30pm)
Mainz vs Wolfsburg (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Augsburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Werder Bremen vs Schalke (Saturday, 5.30pm)
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