The Matchday Preview

All season long premium subscribers will receive exclusive previews for the upcoming round of Bundesliga fixtures. Today, game week 22 kicks off!

All season-long premium subscribers will receive exclusive previews for the upcoming round of Bundesliga fixtures. Today, game week 22 kicks off! Two of German football’s most in-form sides go head-to-head, and there are countless other exciting encounters to keep you entertained.

FC Heidenheim v Bayer Leverkusen

FC Heidenheim’s sensational rookie campaign took another positive turn with the club’s 8th consecutive unbeaten match in a row. 

The 2:1 triumph in Bremen saw Heidenheim end matchday 21 in 9th place,  just a mere point off of SC Freiburg in the UEFA Conference league position. 

As so often this campaign, Jan-Niklas Beste was at the heart of Heidenheim’s attacking impulses. The 25-year-old set Heidenheim on course with his 6th goal and 10th assist of the campaign on Saturday. Beste’s creative qualities demand attention, with Leroy Sané the only player to contribute more assists in the current Bundesliga campaign. 

Maintaining Beste’s scoring form and Heidenheim’s unbeaten run will not be easy when the league leaders roll into town this Saturday. 

Bayer Leverkusen took a mammoth step towards the league title with a 3:0 victory over perennial champions FC Bayern last Saturday. Whereas defeat would have seen Bayern leapfrog them in the table, the victory sees Leverkusen establish a healthy 5-point gap with just 13 matches to go. 

Leverkusen’s frightening attack needs no introduction, but flying perhaps under the radar is their stellar defense. Die Werkself have conceded just 14 goals all season and managed to keep Bayern to an unprecedented 1 shot on target on Saturday evening. 

Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen Win

VfL Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund 

VfL Wolfsburg have opted against parting ways with manager Niko Kovač despite another lackluster defeat on the weekend. Wolfsburg have taken just 4 points from their last 6 league matches, failing to win in the Bundesliga since the 6th of December.  With a 9 point gap to the Europa League places Wolfsburg will need a miracle to return to international competition; a miracle, that doesn’t seem likely given their out-of-form attack.