Matchday 32: Fixtures

Hannover - Stuttgart

Bayern Munich - Werder Bremen

Hoffenheim - Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin - Braunschweig

Wolfsburg - Freiburg

Mainz - Nuremberg

Leverkusen - Dortmund

Augsburg - Hamburg

Schalke - Monchengladbach

Hannover - Stuttgart (Friday)

Matchday 32 begins in Lower Saxony, where Hannover can officially confirm survival with three points against Stuttgart, who are still not out of trouble. The 3-2 victory at Frankfurt last Thursday was just Hannover's third away success of the campaign, but came at a time when it matters most. Stuttgart were also victors on Matchday 31, yet there's was even more important. Since arriving at the club, Huub Stevens has led a turn in fortunes for the South-Westerners, with the win versus former club Schalke meaning the champions of seven years ago have picked up 11 points from a possible 18. Another positive result on Friday evening, and they too could well be celebrating safety come the end of the weekend.

Prediction: Both sides will be buoyed by last weekend's success and they will that momentum to continue here. Therefore, I see a draw to open up Matchday 32. Hannover 1-1 Stuttgart.

Bayern Munich - Werder Bremen (Saturday)

Champions Bayern head into this encounter with Bremen off the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final, first leg. Despite dominating possession throughout, Pep Guardiola's men didn't really do too much with it, and Real's incisiveness on the counter (including the goal) was difficult to deal with by the Bayern defence. So with Bayern most likely focussing on the return leg at the Allianz Arena, this gives Bremen a real opportunity to claim a surprise result. However, in their last two league matches - Bayern, they have conceded a glut of 13 goals, including that 7-0 humiliation on home soil back on Matchday 15.

Prediction: Bayern will undoubtedly rest their star names with Real to come to Bavaria on Tuesday. And for that reason, Bremen will get something. Bayern Munich 1-1 Werder Bremen.

Hoffenheim - Frankfurt (Saturday)

Defeat at Bremen last week was Hoffenheim's first in six games. Clinging onto the final top-half position, Markus Gisdol will be hoping for an immediate response for the Bundesliga's entertainers, who have now had a staggering 133 goals in their 31 games this season. It was also no points gained for Armin Veh and Frankfurt on Matchday 31, who have now lost three of their last four. Mathematically, they still aren't in a position to call themselves safe, and won't want to be drawn into an attacking battle with their opponents, as there is more riding on this game for them. With all three points here however, not only will they maintain their Bundesliga status, but they will move to within two points of Hoffenheim.

Prediction: The hosts will go all-out as always, whilst the visitors will look to defend well and secure a positive result, which I don't think they'll get. Hoffenheim 3-1 Frankfurt.

Hertha Berlin - Braunschweig (Saturday)

Hertha's campaign has run out of gas in recent weeks, and that continued in a goalless draw against fellow mid-table outfit Augsburg a week ago in a match that both will want to quickly forget. There now seems to be a lack of motivation for the capital club with safety secured and Europe now out of reach. That then could be to the advantage of Braunschweig who still have time to save themselves. They gave a very good account of themselves against champions Bayern, before conceding two goals in the final quarter of an hour, but with both Hamburg and Nuremberg directly above them also tasting Matchday 31 defeat, only two points separate the three sides in the relegation places.

Prediction: Hertha's form at the Olympiastadion has been extremely poor in the Ruckrunde, and with survival still the aim, I fancy Braunschweig to get something here. Hertha Berlin 0-0 Braunschweig.

Wolfsburg - Freiburg (Saturday)

Dieter Hecking's Wolfsburg continue to breathe down the necks of Leverkusen in what seems to now be a head-to-head battle between the two for the 4th and final Champions League position. With a difficult trip to Stuttgart and a home match with European rivals Gladbach to come, three points are essential here to put pressure on Leverkusen who play Dortmund in the Saturday evening encounter. With four home victories on the bounce, Freiburg can almost celebrate with the survival champagne, although their away form isn't so special. Christian Streich's team have won just once on the road in the second half of the campaign, and they too have a tricky ending to the season, with Schalke at home and Hannover away.

Prediction: On home soil, Wolfsburg undoubtedly will start as favourites here, and despite Freiburg putting up a fight, the hosts will have enough for the victory. Wolfsburg 3-1 Freiburg.

Mainz - Nuremberg (Saturday)

They twice came from behind to draw level last week, but despite ultimately losing 4-2 at Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel and his Mainz side are almost guaranteed a Europa League finish, with 7th place good enough for European football as already Champions League qualified Bayern and Dortmund are in the Pokal final. Nuremberg wish they were in such a position, but the reality is that they have got three games to save themselves. The 4-1 defeat to Leverkusen last Sunday proved to be the last straw for Gertjan Verbeek, who lost his job on Wednesday morning. Becoming the 3rd side this season, after Hamburg and Stuttgart, to have a third manager of the campaign, all eyes will be on Roger Prinzen to see if he can deliver.

Prediction: Mainz can wrap up a Europa League position this weekend, so they shouldn't struggle for motivation. Nuremberg are battling to stay up, yet they look as if they may well have given up on survival. Mainz 2-0 Nuremberg.

Leverkusen - Dortmund (Saturday)

Back-to-back victories against Hertha and Nuremberg under the sole leadership of Sascha Lewandowski means Leverkusen are back in control of the final Champions League position. They could well be outside of the top-four (should Wolfsburg beat Freiburg earlier on Saturday), so they could well need to muster up a positive response. Yet it will not be easy against a Borussia Dortmund team who have been somewhere near back to their brilliant best in recent weeks. With the DFB-Pokal final on the horizon, and with qualification for the Champions League now secured, the aim for Jurgen Klopp and his team is to wrap up the runners-up spot and be deemed 'best of the rest.'

Prediction: The game of the weekend in Germany, and despite victories in the past two weeks, I can't see Leverkusen stopping the Black and Yellows. Leverkusen 1-2 Dortmund.

Augsburg - Hamburg (Sunday)

They have certainly been the surprise package of the 2013/14 Bundesliga campaign, yet for Markus Weinzierl and Augsburg, it looks as if they have just fallen short in their hopes of a historic finish in a European position. Many would have believed that the Bavarians would be in the position of Hamburg at the start of the season, yet whilst Augsburg have shined, Hamburg have faltered. The Northerners are now unlikely to secure automatic safety, and are clinging onto the relegation play-off spot from Nuremberg and Braunschweig following a disappointing 18th league defeat of the campaign at home to Wolfsburg a week ago.

Prediction: All the pressure will be on Hamburg in their current situation. They know a win for Stuttgart earlier in the weekend will almost certainly mean relegation play-off at best. Augsburg 1-1 Hamburg.

Schalke - Monchengladbach (Sunday)

Schalke's seven-match unbeaten run surprisingly came to an end at Stuttgart in Matchday 31's final encounter, and with 2nd place looking like it's going to bitter rivals Dortmund, the focus now is to maintain the 3rd and final automatic Champions League spot, which will assure they will be in the group-stages of the competition. For Gladbach, a spell of just two wins in five means they don't look like they'll be joining Sunday's opponents in the 2014/15 Champions League, although a return to Europe could be assured should they claim the three points in Gelsenkirchen. But with just two away wins in their last eight trips, that could be a difficult task.

Prediction: Heading into the Winter break, many saw this as a huge encounter which could decide 4th position. Although that isn't the case, it still should be an entertaining encounter. Schalke 3-2 Monchengladbach.

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