Bundesliga: Bayern take on Mainz as Dortmund again look to chase the 10 time champions with away fixture against VFL Bochum

(Football new) Bayern will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table against Mainz. Bayern have returned to their ruthless best over the past week, whilst Mainz just returned to winning ways last weekend as they look to continue their strong start to the first half of the campaign. The standards set by Julian Nagelsmann's side for the majority of the season so far have been of high quality as they have an astonishing amount of goals scored across an incredible 19 wins, one draw and just the three defeats in all competitions since Nagelsmann took over. Lewandowski goes in search of yet another Bundesliga record against Mainz on Saturday, where he currently sits on 40 league goals in the calendar year; just two short of Gerd Muller's record set in 1972.For Bayern Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka,Mickael Cuisance, Eric Choupo-Moting, Josip Stanisic, Serge Gnabry and Marcel Sabitzer all will be out for this fixture.

Dortmund will look to bounce back after their defeat in Der Klassiker last weekend when they travel to an in-form VfL Bochum. Dortmund cruised to a 5-0 win over Besiktas in the Champions League at Signal Iduna Park as this victory should give them the confidence to win. Erling Haland has only played around 130 minutes since returning from an injury layoff, but after netting four goals during that time, he has taken his overall tally for the season to 17 in just 13 appearances. Marco Rose's side head into matchday 15 four points off Bayern at the top but with Haaland back to fitness ahead of the upcoming winter break, Dortmund will be confident of closing the gap before it comes around. For Dortmund Julian Brandt, Thomas Meunier, Manuel Akanji, Roman Burki, Marwin Hitz, Mateu Morey, Marcel Schmelzer, Giovanni Reyna and Youssoufa Moukoko all will be out for this match.

RB Leipzig will be hoping for a change in fortune after appointing Domenico Tedesco as their head coach, when they welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to the Red Bull Arena on Saturday. Leipzig head into the match on the back of three successive defeats in the league, while Monchengladbach have lost their last two matches in a row, conceding 10 goals in the process. The former Spartak Moscow boss comes into a side that has picked up 15 of its 18 Bundesliga points at the Red Bull Arena so far, so will be confident of beginning his tenure with a vital win to lift Leipzig back towards the European places. Adi Hutter's position as head coach for Monchengladbach is under serious pressure ahead of their trip to Leipzig as they have lost two matches in a row.

For Leipzig Amadou Haidara, Dani Olmo, Yussuf Poulsen, Marcel Halstenberg and Marcelo Saracchi will be out with injuries while Willi Orban and Hugo Novoa are suffering from Covid 19. For Gladbach Jordan Beyer looks to be the only injury concern for Hutter to deal with ahead of the trip to Leipzig.

Also read: The former Schalke boss Domenico Tedesco has been appointed as the new RB Leipzig manager till 2023

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