KAMPALA: Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin’s stretched playing resources are to be tested to the limit when they defend a precarious one point advantage in a punishing three match programme ahead of the World Cup break. The early season pacesetters travel to Xabi Alonso’s unpredictable Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday afternoon, barely 48 hours after facing Union Saint Gilloise in a Europa Conference League fixture. The team from Germany’s capital will then host Augsburg on Wednesday, before completing their pre Qatar 2022 schedule with a fixture at Top Four rivals Freiburg on Sunday, November 13.
Urs Fischer’s indefatigable go getters are many neutrals romantic favourites because they are punching well above their weight. For instance, their transfer budget last summer was a paltry £16.6m, the fifth lowest in the division, and almost one tenth of Bayern Munich’s £117m. Matter of fact, all three Bundesliga clubs that qualified for the Uefa Champions League knock out rounds – Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig – £72.2m and Borussia Dortmund – £68m, also command the biggest transfer budgets in the Bundesliga.
The Bavarians have a far less daunting schedule, with the ten time defending champions away to struggling Hertha Berlin on Saturday, before hosting newcomers Werder Bremen on Tuesday and finishing their pre World Cup break fixtures at basement club Schalke next weekend. The embarrassment of resources available to Allianz Arena boss Julian Nagelsmann is highlighted by veteran forward Eric Maxim Choupo Moting who has scored in six consecutive games despite being a fringe squad player.
Bundesliga action resumes on Friday night with Borussia Moenchengladbach hosting Stuttgart before last season’s deputy champions Borussia Dortmund welcome Bochum to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon. Thomas Letsch’s visitors are poor travellers who can expect no favours from a Dortmund side showing the way forward by fielding teenagers Jude Bellingham, Youssoufa Moukoko and Giovanni Reyna. The all or nothing collision between newcomers Werder Bremen and Schalke will be an even more fascinating affair.
FRIDAY
Gladbach v Stuttgart
SATURDAY
Augsburg v Frankfurt,
Borussia Dortmund v Bochum,
Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich,
Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig,
Mainz v Wolfsburg,
Werder Bremen v Schalke,
SUNDAY
Bayer Leverkusen v Union Berlin,
Freiburg v Koln
TUESDAY
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund,
Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen,
Bochum v Gladbach,
Stuttgart v Hertha Berlin
WEDNESDAY
Koln v Bayer Leverkusen,
Frankfurt v Hoffenheim,
RB Leipzig v Freiburg,
Schalke v Mainz,
Union Berlin v Augsburg
