A goals deluge is a distinct possibility against the background of the loss of first choice keepers for the Bundesliga resuming square off between leaders Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig on Friday night. Long serving Allianz Arena custodian and skipper Manuel Neuer is out for the season with a lower leg fracture while his Leipzig opposite Peter Gulasci has been ruled out for six months following a rupture of his cruciate ligament.
Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday, January 19 recruited Swiss number one Yann Sommer from rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach and he flew straight to Leipzig where he is deputise for Sven Ulrich before eventually assuming a role as the main man between the sticks. Norwegian keeper Orjan Nyland is contending with Janis Blaswich to fill Gulasci’s gloves.
Ulrich will be delighted Bundesliga top scorer Christopher Nkunku, who is heavily linked to a summer move to Chelsea, remains sidelined for Marco Rose’s third placed side. The Bavarian giants are meanwhile without last summer’s marquee signing Sadio Mane who is recuperating from an inflamed fibula, as well as French World Cup winning defender Lucas Hernandez and Moroccan Noussair Mazraoui.
Perennial bridesmaids Borussia Dortmund go into a winnable home tie with Augsburg enamored by the knowledge that teenage stars Youssoufa Moukoko and Jude Bellingham won’t be departing during the January transfer window. The Signal Iduna Park based side begin the second half of the season in an unfamiliar sixth position, nine points off title pace but can count on the goals of Sebastian Haller, who has fully recovered from testicular cancer.
Christian Steich’s high flying Freiburg face a daunting trip to Wolfsburg on Saturday before Daniel Farke’s five time Bundesliga champions Borussia Moenchengladbach clash with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the pick of the weekend matches on Sunday evening. The two sides are off Champions League qualification pace but boast formidable attacks featuring Patrick Schick, Mousa Diaby, Jonas Hoffman and Marcus Thuram.
FRIDAY
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich
SATURDAY
Bochum v Hertha Berlin,
Frankfurt v Schalke,
Stuttgart v Mainz,
Union Berlin v Hoffenheim,
Wolfsburg v Freiburg,
Koln v Werder Bremen
SUNDAY
Borussia Dortmund v Augsburg,
Gladbach v Bayer Leverkusen
