Xabi Alonso’s free scoring Bayer Leverkusen outfit turn their guns on Heidenheim as they seek to protect a slim advantage atop the Bundesliga standings on Sunday evening. The Bay Arena club are in imperious form having bludgeoned a cool 17 goals from just four games across all competitions. Thursday’s 4-0 Europa League victory over Sweden’s Hacken served notice that they aren’t ready to turn off the after burners against a Heidenheim side that dazzled in beating Werder Bremen 4-2 last weekend.
Joint leaders Bayern Munich can temporarily take sole possession of the number one slot when they host Bochum on Saturday afternoon. The Bavarians giants were uncompromising in pummelling Manchester United on Wednesday night and start as red hot favourites against a Bochum side that’s twice been on the receiving end of 7-0 hidings at the hands of the Allianz Arena juggernauts.
Serhou Guirassy will be a marked man when Bundesliga action gets underway at the Mercedes Benz Arena on Friday night with Stuttgart hosting Darmstadt. The Guinean striker became only the second player in Bundesliga history to score eight goals in four matches at the start of a season when he plundered a hat trick in his club’s 3-1 victory at Mainz last weekend.
Two of the division’s best supported clubs aim to get back to winning ways after suffering Champions League heartache midweek. Union Berlin are hoping their formidable home record will count for something when they host Hoffenheim on Saturday. Urs Fischer’s side were desperately unlucky to concede an injury time goal in falling 0-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu while Borussia Dortmund will use their home tie with Wolfsburg to wipe Tuesday’s 0-2 loss to Paris Saint Germain out of their system.
Signal Iduna Park boss Edin Terzic has yet to get the best out of marquee summer signing Niclas Fulkrug who has been restricted to a few cameos as the Black and Yellows have struggled to impose their game on opposing sides. Terzic could pair the Germany international with Sebastian Haller from the start. Marco Rose’s RB Leipzig are favourites to triumph at Borussia Moenchengladbach despite a growing injury list that includes Dani Olmo, Lukas Klostermann, Willy Orban and Amadou Haidara.
FRIDAY
Stuttgart v Darmstadt
SATURDAY
Bayern Munich v Bochum,
Borussia Dortmund v Wolfsburg,
Union Berlin v Hoffenheim,
Gladbach v RB Leipzig, Augsburg v Mainz,
Werder Bremen v Koln
SUNDAY
Bayer Leverkusen v Heidenheim,
Frankfurt v Freiburg
