Crunch Time
Local teams to fight for season and regional supremacy
Munich - Saving a season. The final derby. Earning a promotion. It's come down to the final two matches. It's crunch time.
Here's a quick preview of the biggest matches in Bavaria this weekend and the implications:
FC Bayern München at St. Pauli, Saturday, 15:30 - After losing every chance at hardware this season, FC Bayern Munich are scrambling for the last Champions League spot for the Bundesliga. After last week's win and Hanover's loss, the Reds hold a two point lead and have a +30 goal differential advantage. All Bayern need is a point and a Hanover loss, and they will accomplish the bare minimum for the year. On paper, it should be easy as St. Pauli are in last place and have lost the fight to stay in the top flight.
FC Ingolstadt 04 at TSV 1860 München, Sunday, 13:30 at Allianz Arena - The Lions are in form at home, creating a lion's den over the past matches. 1860 have outscored their opponents 13-2 and have not lost in four matches. They will need this momentum for the final Bavarian Derby match of the season. Ingolstadt will stay in the second division so this will be an all-out battle for regional bragging rights. There should be tickets available, so if you are in the city, take that quick ride to the arena.
(Editor's Note: Mark Lovell previews the derby match and will be tweeting live from the match)
FSV Frankfurt at FC Augsburg, Sunday, 13:30 at impuls arena - This could turn out to be a dangerous match for Augsburg and their fans. A year after losing out in the promotion playoff, the pressure will be on Augsburg to clinch promotion at home this week. They hope to not drop points in the final two matches to either fall back into the playoff or miss promotion all together. FCA control their destiny and all they need is a point and they should not expect help from relegation bound VfL Osnabrück who host the team right behind, VFL Bochum. Frankfurt don't have anything to play for, so either they lay down and let Augsburg celebrate, or decide to make it a match. A celebration awaits.
(Editor's Note: Salman Mitha and Tony Mayger will be tweeting live from the match, follow @sal_TMT_sports)
SpVgg Greuther Fürth at Red-White Oberhausen, Sunday, 13:30 - Fürth do need help from Osnabrück against Bochum and Frankfurt at Augsburg. Wins by the two clubs and Fürth jump right back into the promotion mix. They will move up to third and hope to stay close to the automatic promotion berth. If not, a playoff will do. Oberhausen have nothing but pride to play for, as they are headed out of the second league.
1899 Hoffenheim at 1.FC Nürnberg, Saturday, 15:30 - Back to the Bundesliga now as Nuremberg need some help if they will qualify for the Europa League next season. They currently sit 5 points behind 1.FSV Mainz 05, who are at FC Schalke. If Schalke can recover from their mid-week disaster at Old Trafford and upset or draw with Mainz, then a win by "Der Club" will give them a fighting chance the final weekend. A Mainz win no matter what Nuremburg do will clinch Europe.
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Oktoberfest Bundesliga Review
The game had been a nervy affair in the first half with both sides reluctant to over-commit, yet despite this each side had been guilty of missing chances; Mandzukic with a back post header looked certain to continue his rich vein of form but inexplicably missed from six yards out.
For Schalke it was more about containment, the hosts dealing well with Bayern pressure but looking unadventurous when in...
Dortmund away win in Nuremberg keeps pressure on Bayern
Bavarian Derby Clash in Franconia
Nuremberg host Augsburg while Bayern Munich travel to take on Kaiserslautern
Munich - Over the past season, the Bundesliga top flight has only had two Bavarian Derby matches per season. With the promotion of FC Augsburg, that number will triple this season. And the first one is this weekend, as the Augsburg side will travel to northern Bavaria (known as Franconia) to take on 1.FC Nürnberg.
Both teams started off the season well, Nuremberg with a 1-0 win at Hertha Berlin in week 1 and Augsburg two draws in their first matches in the top flight. Since then, three confidence...
On Moelders Shoulders
Munich - Two games into their debut season in Germany's premier league and FC Augsburg remain unbeaten. The two points earned so far is the reward for the stalemate at home to Sport-Club Freiburg on the opening weekend, and away to Kaiserslautern last weekend. Further encouragement will be garnered by the fact they have scored 3 goals already and are putting up a real fight against more fancied sides.
This weekend sees head coach Jos Luhukay's side take on 1899 Hoffenheim who upset the bookmakers last weekend by beating the defending Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund at home by a...
Movin' on up
Weekend wrap of local football action
Munich - If you listen carefully, that sound from the west is the city of Augsburg partying throughout the night and into the morning after their 2-1 pressure packed victory that earned them promotion into the Bundesliga for next season.
But they are not the only club celebrating a move up. Bayern Munich have their eyes set on improving their finish after clinching a spot in the Champions League. SpVgg Greuther Fürth have one more weekend to play for promotion. Here's your quick weekend wrap.
Bayern blowout St. Pauli, clinch Champions League berth -...
Hard Working Weekend
Munich - It's Labor Day in Europe and the local football teams all put in an honest effort. FC Bayern rolled over FC Schalke 4-1 at the Allianz Arena Saturday afternoon, but they were not the only hardworking Munich or Bavarian football team this weekend. Here's your football wrap.
TSV 1860 München 2, Hertha BSC Berlin 1 - It's been a season of trials and tribulations - on and off the pitch - for the Lions. But this recent stretch and the match on Friday makes one wonder what could have been this season.
Defenders Necat Aygün and Stefan Buck scored in the second half as 1860 came from...
Bundesliga goes goal crazy as Bayern's perfect start continues
Nuremberg beat Augsburg in Derby Snore
Der Club move up table while Bayern gaining momentum in Bundesliga
easyCredit Stadium, Nuremberg - Alexander Esswein came into the match in the 60th minute and minutes later scored the only goal in the first Bavarian Derby of the Bundesliga season, as 1.FC Nürnberg beat FC Augsburg 1-0.
In a match void of any offensive flow, Esswein made a run on the left side, with some fancy dribbling turning around the defender Gibril Sankoh, created some space, and beat Augsburg goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch to the far post in the 76th minute.
"I am elated to have made that goal," said Esswein about his...
Augsburg Hassled by the Hoff
SGL Arena, Augsburg - FC Augsburg 07 went down 2-0 against a very well organised Hoffenheim outfit. Ryan Babel opened the scoring after just 5 minutes with a clinical strike on the edge of the penalty area after a mazy run. He coolly slotted the ball in low across goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch.
Augsburg were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute that Sascha Mölders took far too casually and was saved easily by Tom Starke who correctly guessed the direction to save it. At the other end Hoffenheim were also gifted a second-half penalty which Sejad Salihovic neatly tucked away for the...
Nightmare Start for the Bavarian Teams
Bundesliga 2nd Division Wrap
False start for 1860 There were great expectations for TSV 1860 München but the team fell short in the first match of the season against Eintracht Braunschweig with the result of 3-1.
The game started with a shock for the Munich Lions as Braunschweig scored in the 6th minute thanks to a header from the captain Dennis Kruppke, which allowed the loud home crowd to celebrate immediately. The long-praised defensive strength that 1860 displayed during the entire preseason vanished so quickly at the beginning of their first match.
After the goal Munich started to...
Welcome to the Big Time!
FC Augsburg earn promotion to Bundesliga with last gasp 2-1 win
impuls arena, Augsburg - "Jos we can win on mothers day!" were the words being held aloft on cards all around the sold out stadium. Word play on the name of Augsburg manager Jos Luhukay (pronounced 'yos') who´s team hosted FSV Frankfurt on a sunny afternoon in rural Bavaria.
Today was a historic day for FC Augsburg who for the first time in their history have reached the dizzy heights of the top flight of German league football. A win today was all that was needed to secure their promotion and despite conceding a penalty after...
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Munich - This is the part of the season when teams feel the end is near. Either its been mediocre and both players and fans just want to end it now, take a summer break and hope next year is better. Or teams can feel the pressure of a whole season's worth of work going down in flames in just a few matches.
The Munich and regional football teams are involved in some pivotal matches this weekend, making me wish Labor Day was on a Monday to give us time to watch all the action. Here's your preview.
TSV 1860 München at Hertha BSC Berlin, Friday 18:00 - Hertha will earn...
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