It's been a long wait, but the Bundesliga is back with a bang this weekend as we enter the Rückrunde. The title is seemingly on its way back to the Allianz Arena, but there are still plenty of questions to be answered from now until the end of the campaign.

Matchday 18: Fixtures

Mönchengladbach - Bayern Munich

Dortmund - Augsburg

Nürnberg - Hoffenheim

Freiburg - Leverkusen

Stuttgart - Mainz

Wolfsburg - Hannover

Frankfurt - Hertha Berlin

Werder Bremen - Braunschweig

Hamburg - Schalke

Monchengladbach - Bayern Munich (Friday)

This was the match that started off the season, and does so again on Friday evening in a fascinating encounter between 3rd and 1st. Gladbach, with their fantastic costless-flowing, counter-attacking football are on course for a top-four finish, thanks in part to their excellent home form (only their opponents have a better record in the Bundesliga this season). With a seven-point lead and a game in hand, Bayern are cruising to their 23rd Bundesliga title, and having acquired Robert Lewandowski during the Winter break, who's to say that that won't continue for the years' to come? Yet a 3-0 friendly defeat to Salzburg on Pep Guardiola's 43rd birthday will be a wake-up call.

Prediction: With their game in hand at Stuttgart to come next week, Bayern will probably be satisfied if they got out of Borussia-Park with a point. And I think that's what they'll get. Monchengladbach 1-1 Bayern Munich.

Dortmund - Augsburg (Saturday)

Dortmund's Hindrunde will be one they'll want to forget. Having led the standings from Matchdays 2-7, injuries and form after Champions League games has saw BVB slip 12 points behind leaders Bayern down in 4th place. With the much-expected news of Robert Lewandowski's departure to Bayern also confirmed, Jurgen Klopp's men are now focussed on finishing runners-up again. Saturday's opponents Augsburg have been the surprise package so far, and could hand a second debut to Ji Dong-Won this weekend against his future employers. If Markus Weinzierl can get his team to continue with their consistent form, then a Europa League spot isn't out of their reach.

Prediction: Having lost their last three home games before the Winter break, this isn't a foregone conclusion for Dortmund. I expect them to stop the rot here, but it won't be easy. Dortmund 2-0 Augsburg.

Nuremberg - Hoffenheim (Saturday)

Nuremberg created records in the first half of the season, although they were records they didn't want to create. They're the only team in Europe's top-five leagues still without a victory this campaign, leaving them fighting for their Bundesliga lives. The welcome neutral's favourites Hoffenheim to Bavaria on Matchday 18, with their costless-scoring attack and shocking defence creating plenty of entertainment. They themselves can't count themselves as safe, considering they are only four points above the drop-zone. Markus Gisdol will be hoping for more points rather than be pleasing on the eye, as they look to improve on their current position of 12th

Prediction: Both sides are known for letting in quite a few goals, so we could be in for some drama this weekend. The draw is the most likely outcome at the Grundig-Stadion. Nuremberg 1-1 Hoffenheim.

Freiburg - Leverkusen (Saturday)

They may occupy the relegation play-off spot, but Freiburg's first home victory of the season against Hannover last-time out will certainly give them the boost they need to start the Ruckrunde. With no Pokal or Europa League distractions, Christian Streich's men can solely focus on maintaining the club's Bundesliga status. Saturday's opponents Leverkusen are having a fantastic campaign as they continue to be Bayern's closest challengers. Automatic Champions League qualification remains their number one aim, but if they can claim the runners-up spot this season, it will be a magnificent achievement. But with two defeats in a row to end their Hindrunde, Sami Hyypia will be hoping his players can get back on track in the south-west.

Prediction: The visitors beat the hosts 3-1 on the opening day of the season, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a similar result come the full-time whistle. Freiburg 1-3 Leverkusen.

Stuttgart - Mainz (Saturday)

Thomas Schneider's Stuttgart are just below halfway, yet are eight points off the top-six and a European position. They of course have a game in hand on their nearest rivals, but with that game coming against Bayern, victory against Mainz on Matchday 18 is essential if they are to have any hopes of getting back into the Europa League. Mainz are directly above their opponents, and with the goal-scoring exploits of Shinji Okazaki and Nicolai Muller, Europa League football is also the aim. With the addition of Wolfsburg's Ja-Cheol Koo over the Winter break, Thomas Tuchel's men look as if they have a strong basis to push on and continue their charge.

Prediction: The pressure is on the home side to deliver the performance to take the three points. However, Mainz are a good enough side to take something away from the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Stuttgart 2-2 Mainz.

Wolfsburg - Hannover (Saturday)

Sitting just two points outside the top-four, Wolfsburg are in a very pretty position heading into the second-half of the campaign. They're unbeaten in nine, having defeated Dortmund and ended Gladbach's 100% home record, and with the acquisition of Kevin de Bruyne from Chelsea, Dieter Hecking's men may well be on their way back into the Champions League. Hannover's hopes for Europe already appear to be over, and with a relegation scrap just behind their shoulders, they really must get something from this Lower Saxony derby. Yet their away form has been their problem, having not taken a single point on their travels, and this will have to be quickly resolved.

Prediction: Wolfsburg's last league defeat came in a Lower Saxony derby, but they are a much different proposition now. A comfortable home victory. Wolfsburg 3-0 Hannover.

Frankfurt - Hertha Berlin (Saturday)

Armin Veh's Frankfurt sit perilously above the bottom-three by a single point, and with a Pokal quarter-final with Dortmund and a Europa League last-32 encounter with Porto to come over the coming weeks, one of last season's surprise packages have got their work cut out. It doesn't help then that they welcome a Hertha Berlin side who humiliated them on the opening weekend, defeated Dortmund on their travels in their last Bundesliga clash and have one of the most potent strikers in European football right now in the form of Adrian Ramos. They currently occupy the final Europa League position, looking to follow in Frankfurt's footsteps from the 2012/13 campaign.

Prediction: I can see this teatime match being hard-fought and close. Frankfurt are without a home win so far, and I think that'll be extended this weekend. Frankfurt 1-1 Hertha Berlin.

Werder Bremen - Braunschweig (Sunday)

They may have the second worst defence in the Bundesliga, but Bremen are currently sat in a comfortable 11th place, and having defeated Leverkusen on Matchday 17, hopes are high that Robin Dutt can help fire his squad into a purple patch which will take them close to the European places. They welcome Braunschweig to the Weserstadion on Sunday afternoon, who knew that life in the top-flight was always going to be difficult. Torsten Lieberknecht's men have been bottom of the standings for the majority of the campaign, yet are only four points from safety, meaning it shouldn't be all doom and gloom at the moment, even if the table suggests otherwise.

Prediction: All of Braunschweig's 11 points this season have come in Lower Saxony, and I can't see that statistic changing this weekend. Werder Bremen 2-0 Braunschweig.

Hamburg - Schalke (Sunday)

The last game of Matchday 18 comes in Northern Germany, with Hamburg just two points above the relegation play-off spot and in desperate need for three points. Bert van Marwijk's team simply haven't been consistent enough, especially at home, so they'll be wanting to turn their disappointments of the Hindrunde into smiles in the Ruckrunde. Schalke themselves haven't had the best of campaigns, despite the fact they are still in the hunt for a top-four finish. Injuries have been a huge factor, with star-man Julian Draxler set to be out until mid-February. With three wins, three draws and three defeats on the road so far, it's difficult to suggest which Schalke will show up this weekend.

Prediction: These two drew 3-3 in an entertaining conclusion to the opening weekend, but with the pressure high and both needing the points, I can't see that being the case on Sunday. Hamburg 0-1 Schalke.

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