The Bundesliga will return this weekend from its Winter Break. Bayer Leverkusen lead the league over Bayern Munich by four points ahead of round No. 17.
It is a two-horse race for the title.
Wolfsburg won four of their last six games against Mainz 05 ahead of Saturday’s match. Indeed, Wolfsburg won the last three games between these clubs by scores of 5-0, 3-0, and 3-0.
Mainz will begin the weekend in 16th place. The 05ers are three points from safety. Mainz ended the first half of the season winless in six straight games. They picked up four points in those six games, all coming from draws.
Wolfsburg won two of their last six Bundesliga games, losing four times in the same time period. The Wolves lost five of their last six matches on the road.
Darmstadt and Borussia Dortmund will play for the first time on Saturday since the 2016-17 season. The home club is in poor form going into the game, having failed to win any of their last nine Bundesliga matches.
Borussia Dortmund are out of the title picture just one season after coming so close to winning the league. Dortmund will begin the weekend in fifth place and winless in their last four league matches.
Darmstadt are bottom of the league ahead of the restart. Just five points were taken by Darmstadt in their opening eight home matches. They are on a two-game home losing streak.
Freiburg won just one of their last six games versus Union Berlin. The capital club won three of those six matches and drew two with Freiburg. In the last few seasons, these clubs fought for European places. This campaign has seen them fall down the table.
Union Berlin are 15th in the standings. The Irons will hope the Winter Break gives them the focus needed to move away from the relegation zone. Union won two of their last three games before the break.
Freiburg won three of their last four matches in the Bundesliga. The improved run of form moved the team into seventh place. Freiburg went unbeaten in their last five home matches.
Werder Bremen won five and drew one of their last six matches versus Bochum in all competitions. Last season, Bremen won by scores of 2-0 and 3-0 against Bochum.
Sunday’s game will be a relegation six-pointer between these clubs. Bremen are 13th in the standings. They went unbeaten in their last three games to improve chances of staying in the Bundesliga come May.
Bochum, on the other hand, lost two of their last three league games. The team is 14th in the league and will begin the weekend level on points with Werder Bremen.