The festive period is over and action is set to resume in the Bundesliga! Matchday 18 is upon us, with the upcoming round in the German top-flight getting underway on Friday with Bayern Munich's clash with Borussia M'gladbach.
However, that's not all to look forward to as the weekend brings about a round of stellar fixtures, with second-placed Dortmund gearing up for a tricky tie. Leverkusen, who finished 2021 with a three-game winless streak, will be the first of two teams to take to the field on Saturday, with Wirtz and Co. keen on ending their barren run.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim, Frankfurt, and Union Berlin, who are hot on the heels of the fourth and final UEFA Champions League slot, will be after Leverkusen's spot in the table. Here's everything you need to know about Matchday 18 of the Bundesliga.
League standings ahead of Matchday 18 in the Bundesliga
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayer Leverkusen | 29 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 74 | 19 | +55 | 79 | WWWWW | |
| 2 | Bayern München | 29 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 82 | 36 | +46 | 63 | WLLWW | |
| 3 | Stuttgart | 29 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 67 | 34 | +33 | 63 | WWDWW | |
| 4 | RB Leipzig | 29 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 67 | 33 | +34 | 56 | WWDWW | |
| 5 | Borussia Dortmund | 29 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 56 | WLWWW | |
| 6 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 29 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 42 | LDDLW | |
| 7 | Augsburg | 29 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 39 | WLDWW | |
| 8 | Freiburg | 29 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 41 | 52 | -11 | 39 | WLWLW | |
| 9 | Hoffenheim | 29 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 49 | 57 | -8 | 36 | LWLLL | |
| 10 | Heidenheim | 29 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 42 | 50 | -8 | 34 | DWDDL | |
| 11 | Borussia M'gladbach | 29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 50 | 56 | -6 | 31 | LWLDD | |
| 12 | Werder Bremen | 29 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 36 | 49 | -13 | 31 | LDLLL | |
| 13 | Union Berlin | 29 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 45 | -20 | 29 | LLDWL | |
| 14 | Wolfsburg | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 34 | 50 | -16 | 28 | LLWLL | |
| 15 | Bochum | 29 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 59 | -25 | 27 | DLDLL | |
| 16 | Mainz 05 | 29 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 30 | 47 | -17 | 26 | WWDWL | |
| 17 | Köln | 29 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 23 | 51 | -28 | 22 | LWDLD | |
| 18 | Darmstadt 98 | 29 | 2 | 8 | 19 | 28 | 72 | -44 | 14 | LLDLL |
Top games to watch on Matchday 18 in the Bundesliga
Bayern München vs Borussia M'gladbach: In seasons gone by, this fixture would have been a tricky one for Bayern Munich. However, due to Gladbach's poor form this term, many expect the league leaders to cruise to a straight-forward victory. Nagelsmann's side sit top of the table, boasting a nine-point advantage over their closest rivals Dortmund, who they beat 3-2 last month, thanks to their five-game winning streak in the German top-flight.
Borussia M'gladbach, on the other hand, are winless in their last five and find themselves in an unexpected relegation battle. The visitors are only three points adrift of the relegation spot while boasting a mere two-point advantage over 16th-placed Stuttgart who, as things stand, will enter the relegation play-off. Can Die Fohlen turn things around starting with their Friday trip to the Allianz Arena? Tune in to find out.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Berlin: Leverkusen are one of the most exciting teams in the league, but with inconsistency and a leaky defense plaguing them, the Bundesliga's fourth-placed side are in danger of dropping out of the top four. Die Werkself did not end the year on a great note, losing two and drawing the other in their final three fixtures of 2021, meaning it is of utmost importance that they kick off 2022 with a bang.
Unfortunately, teams are creeping in on Wirtz and Co, including Union Berlin. Leverkusen are level on points with fifth-placed Hoffenheim, but ahead on goal difference, while boasting a mere one-point advantage over their weekend opposition, who currently reside in seventh. Victory for the Berlin side would see them leapfrog Gerardo Seoane's men, hence the importance of this tie.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund: December was not a great month for BVB, with the Bundesliga's second-placed side dropping points in three separate matches last month. The 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich, albeit controversial, was the first misstep but a draw with Bochum and a 3-2 loss away to Hertha Berlin soon followed. As a result, Marco Rose's side find themselves trailing the league leaders by nine points, meaning the title race is all but over in Germany.
Haaland and Co. kick off 2022 with a tough fixture, unfortunately, as they are set to visit Frankfurt. Die Adler caught form in the final run of games in 2021, winning their last three, including a memorable 5-2 victory at home to Leverkusen. Oliver Glasner's side now find themselves in a European spot, albeit the Europa Conference League position, as they are currently in sixth. Do not miss their clash with Dortmund.
Who's in and who's out for Matchday 18 in the Bundesliga?
Bayern Munich
Out: Choupo-Moting (Africa Cup of Nations), Coman (not included), Davies (not included), Hernandez (not included), Neuer (not included), Nianzou (not included), Richards (not included), Sarr (Africa Cup of Nations), Sane (not included), Stanisic (thigh), Tolisso (not included), Upamecano (not included)
Doubtful: none
Borussia M'gladbach
Out: Bennetts (not included), Bensebaini (Africa Cup of Nations), Beyer (match fitness), Doucoure (not included), Hofmann (knee), Scally (not included), Zakaria (not included)
Doubtful: None
RB Leipzig
Out: Bonnah (not included), Forsberg (thigh), Haidara (Africa Cup of Nations), Halstenberg (thigh), Henrichs (not included), Moriba (Africa Cup of Nations), Mukiele (not included), Olmo (not included)
Doubtful: None
Leverkusen
Out: Aranguiz (calf), Baumgartlinger (knee), Kossounou (Africa Cup of Nations), Tapsoba (Africa Cup of Nations)
Doubtful: Fosu-Mensah (match fitness)
Freiburg
Out: Keitel (groin)
Doubtful: Schmid (match fitness)
Hoffenheim
Out: Adams (illness), Adamyan (not included), Bicakcic (not included), Nordtveit (illness), Samassekou (Africa Cup of Nations), Skov (thigh)
Doubtful: None
Dortmund
Out: Akanji (knee), Morey (knee), Schmelzer (knee), Unbehaun (hand), Wolf (not included), Zagadou (not included)
Doubtful: Reyna (match fitness)
Frankfurt
Out: Barkok (Africa Cup of Nations), Hauge (thigh), Lenz (calf), Lindstrom (not included)
