ZCZC
BSP-16
FBL-GER-BUNDESLIGA,PREVIEW
No snoozing for leaders Leipzig in title race
BERLIN, Jan 24, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann is
trying to ensure the Bundesliga leaders stay alert at Eintracht Frankfurt
this weekend amid an intensifying title race by organising a sleep seminar.
Bayern Munich’s seven-year domination in Germany is under threat with
Leipzig, Gladbach, Dortmund and Schalke all in the hunt for this season’s
title.
Leipzig travel to mid-table Frankfurt looking to maintain their four-point
lead over second-placed Bayern and extend a 13-game unbeaten run in all
competitions.
Striker Timo Werner is level with Bayern star Robert Lewandowski as the
league’s joint top scorer with 20 goals after netting twice in last weekend’s
3-1 home win over Union Berlin.
In an effort to squeeze every advantage Nagelsmann brought in sleep
experts to brief his squad about getting better rest between games.
“It was about improving sleep quality — sleeping in the right rhythms and
spending less time checking the mobile or watching television in the evening
to keep blue light to a minimum,” explained Nagelsmann.
Leipzig were caught napping when Union took a shock first-half lead last
Saturday before Werner scored either side of a goal by captain Marcel
Sabitzer.
“We need to be completely greedy in wanting to defend our goal and give
nothing away,” Nagelsmann warned.
Leipzig snapped up promising goalkeeper Josep Martinez from Las Palmas in
midweek and are reportedly close to signing Dinamo Zagreb’s Spanish
midfielder Dani Olmo as well.
Bayern host high-flying Schalke, who clawed back into the title picture
with a 2-0 home win over Gladbach following the winter break.
The defending champions have strengthened their injury-hit defence by
signing right-back Alvaro Odriozola on loan from Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old could made his debut at the Allianz Arena and gives head
coach Hansi Flick options in a back four depleted by injuries to centre-backs
Niklas Suele and Lucas Hernandez.
“I’m already thinking about the game against Schalke and hope to play,”
said Odriozola upon his arrival.
Schalke could also hand a debut to French centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo,
who is on loan from Barcelona.
Schalke last beat Bayern in 2011, but David Wagner’s side has improved
since the 3-0 home loss to the Bavarians in August when Lewandowski bagged a
hat-trick.
“We have really developed since and our goal is to play good football in
Munich. If we do that, we have a good chance of taking something away,” said
Schalke sports director Jochen Schneider.
One to watch: Timo Werner
The Germany striker is keeping pace with Lewandowski as the pair chase
down Gerd Mueller’s record of 40 goals from the 1971/72 season.
Werner has scored in eight of his last 10 league games and dug Leipzig out
of trouble last Saturday against Union with some lethal finishing — which
surprised even him.
“I have never scored a goal like that,” Werner said of his second-half
equaliser, a thunderous first-time strike from the edge of the area.
“What can I say? I hit it perfectly, but there was a time when I’d have
fired that out of the stadium.”
Key stats
183 – the number of seconds Erling Braut Haaland needed on his Dortmund
debut before scoring the first of three goals off the bench against Augsburg.
35 – the millions of euros ($39 million) Real Madrid paid Real Sociedad
for Odriozola in 2018. The Spain international found himself surplus to
requirements in Madrid this season.
19 – the number of games since Schalke last beat Bayern home or away.
Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Borussia Dortmund v Cologne (1930)
Saturday
Bor. Moenchengladbach v Mainz, VfL Wolfsburg V Hertha Berlin, Eintracht
Frankfurt v RB Leipzig, Freiburg v Paderborn, Union Berlin v Augsburg, Bayern
Munich v Schalke 04 (1730)
Sunday
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen v Fortuna Duesseldorf (1700)
BSS/AFP/BZC/1500HRS