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Hannover v Bayern Munich: Champions prepared for battle
5 March 2015
Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Rode claims the Bundesliga champions are taking nothing for granted ahead of Saturday's visit to Hannover.
Hannover have dropped to 11th in the table and are without a competitive win in 2015.
So for a Bayern side who have won their last four Bundesliga matches, scoring 20 goals in the process, it looks an easy task on paper.
Rode does not believe that will be the case, though, and said meticulous Bayern boss Pep Guardiola will have them fully prepared for the threat of the hosts.
"It's going to be tough," Rode told Hannover's official website.
"They are in a bad run of form at the moment but have lots of quality in their ranks. We need to concentrate throughout the game and give it our all.
"Pep makes sure we're prepared properly for every game. He analyses everything and then we work on it in training.
"His intensity and dedication has rubbed off on me [this season]."
Bayern lead the league by eight points but have not been able to shrug off the challenge of free-scoring Wolfsburg.
And while a third successive Bundesliga title looks a formality, their ongoing involvement in cup competitions means they have a busy schedule.
The Bavarian giants may look to rest players on Saturday with a crucial last-16 UEFA Champions League home tie to come against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. The first leg was a goalless draw last month.
Bayern moved into the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, beating second-tier Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0.
David Alaba and Mario Gotze scored for Bayern but they were not as dominant as expected against an organised Braunschweig outfit.
Hannover will enter the game fresher after not playing in midweek.
They drew 1-1 at home to struggling Stuttgart last time out - the third time in February that a match of theirs ended with that scoreline.
Bayern, set to be without Philipp Lahm (ankle), Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Mehdi Benatia (thigh), won the reverse fixture 4-0 in October.
Hamburg v Borussia Dortmund: Resurgent visitors face bogey team
5 March 2015
Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer wants his side to attack the resurgent Borussia Dortmund when they meet on Saturday.
Dortmund have hauled themselves away from the wrong end of the Bundesliga with a run of four successive league wins, but Jurgen Klopp's team have found life difficult against Hamburg in recent seasons.
Indeed, Hamburg have won four of the last five clashes between the clubs - including a 1-0 victory at Signal Iduna Park in October - and Zinnbauer wants the hosts to take the game to Dortmund this weekend.
"We require our old tightness [in defence] and must accept and win our tackles," Zinnbauer told Hamburg's official website.
"[We need to continue] being brave going forward. That is the way to face Dortmund. Even if we expect a strong Borussia Dortmund side, there is always something we can do.
"We must give our all in order to take something from the game.
"On Saturday against Dortmund we want to show our passion on the pitch…while not forgetting to play as well."
Pierre-Michel Lasogga, who scored the winner at Dortmund earlier this season, is back in contention for Hamburg after overcoming injury. Ivica Olic and Valon Behrami are also back in the selection frame for Zinnbauer.
Hamburg are without defenders Slobodan Rajkovic (injured) and Matthias Ostrzolek (suspended) for this clash, though.
In stark contrast, Dortmund are on a winning run and will be buoyed by a 3-0 derby victory over Schalke last Saturday.
Success in the DFB-Pokal followed on Tuesday, with a 2-0 win at Dynamo Dresden booking their spot in the quarter-finals.
With the likes of Marco Reus, Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in form, Dortmund finally look like the side fans expected them to be this season.
Reus was forced off in the second half of Dortmund's win at Dresden with a leg injury - sparking fears among the club's supporters.
The Germany international was plagued by ankle problems in 2014 but Klopp said afterwards he had just suffered a dead leg and he could play a part at Hamburg.
Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus remains a doubt for Saturday's clash with Hamburg due to bruising.
The Germany international - plagued by ankle problems in 2014 - was forced off midway through the first half of Tuesday's DFB-Pokal victory at Dynamo Dresden after colliding with Dennis Erdmann.
While it sparked fears over Reus potentially facing another lengthy lay-off, coach Jurgen Klopp initially explained the injury was "only a dead leg".
A subsequent statement confirmed Reus had only sustained bruising "above the knee" but, with the problem now affecting a wider area, his involvement in this weekend's Bundesliga fixture is uncertain.
"Reus' bruise is currently spread over the entire thigh," Klopp told a news conference on Thursday.
The Dortmund coach also offered an update on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nuri Sahin, who both sat out the cup clash due to minor injuries.
"Aubameyang will train tomorrow," he added. "With Sahin it seems unlikely, but you never know."
Rafael van der Vaart could be the next big name to move to the MLS after Sporting Kansas City confirmed they want to sign the Hamburg captain.
Van der Vaart is out of contract at the end of the 2014-15 Bundesliga season in May and Sporting KC have emerged as a possible destination for the 32-year-old, who has called Hamburg home since leaving Tottenham in 2012.
David Villa, Frank Lampard (both New York City) and Kaka (Orlando City) have made the switch to the United States and Van der Vaart could follow, with Sporting KC CEO Robb Heineman hopeful of prising the 109-cap Netherlands veteran to Kansas City in July or even earlier depending on Hamburg.
"If we can get that done, we'd like to get it done," Heineman said. "He'd be a July move - maybe earlier.
"I don't know if Hamburg would let him out early. There's a lot of things to work out with him."
Van der Vaart has won trophies in nearly every country he has played in, having helped Ajax to two Eredivisie titles (2001-02, 2003-04), Real Madrid to the Supercopa de Espana (2008) and Hamburg to the UEFA Intertoto Cup (2005, 2007).
And Heineman said Sporting KC have the finances to complete a deal for Van der Vaart.
"It isn't a money issue. It's more around some family things," Heineman added.
"He's got a son in Hamburg, obviously, and he's got a father who travels to a lot of his games, and so we've got to accommodate some of those things.
"So if we can work those things out, we'll have him."
Sporting KC open their 2015 MLS campaign against New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
Bayern have scored 18 goals in their last three Bundesliga games, but the Spanish coach is demanding even more from his attackers against Hannover
Pep Guardiola says he is not satisfied with Bayern Munich's recent gluttony of goals and is demanding even more from the Bundesliga champions.
Bayern have scored 18 goals in their last three league matches – winning 4-1, 6-0 and 8-0 – but goalscoring did not come as freely in their midweek DFB-Pokal clash against Eintracht Braunschweig, in which they triumphed 2-0.
Guardiola is unrepentant in his demands of the Bavarians ahead of Saturday's clash with Hannover, which comes four days before they host Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League last 16 second leg.
"We must do better in attack," he told reporters on Friday. "In defence we are imperious – opponents have very few chances against us.
"Yes, recently we have scored a lot of goals, but that's because our players are so good. Our overall attacking game must get better."
Guardiola refuted the suggestion that he and his Bayern players have one eye on next week's European tussle with Shakhtar, with the tie poised at 0-0 after the opening leg in Ukraine.
"The defensive behaviour of Hannover and Donetsk are completely different," the Spanish trainer added. "Thus, our attacking tactics will be different.
"We have to think first of this Bundesliga game - there are still 33 potential points to be won starting with Hannover. Wolfsburg are on our tail, just eight points behind us, we know that.
"We've had less time to prepare than Hannover, so we must engage full concentration. I will choose my strongest possible XI regardless of our game with Shakhtar coming up.”
The ex- Barcelona boss is also adamant that his warning for Frank Ribery to avoid revenge for the clattering he took in Ukraine was not intended to be criticism as he wants the Frenchman to be emotionally charged.
"I have not criticised Franck," Guardiola continued. "He's a very emotional footballer and without his emotion he cannot play as excellent football.
"It's just that in the big games it is not easy when you are constantly fouled as I remember well... But one must control one's emotions."
The midfielder is refusing to dream of a miraculous top-four finish for the Signal Iduna Park club, who were facing shock Bundesliga elimination until recently
Despite sitting 10th in the Bundesliga, Sebastian Kehl insists that Borussia Dortmund's only aim remains avoiding a shock relegation.
Jurgen Klopp's men were rock-bottom of the German top flight a month ago, but an excellent streak of four consecutive wins has seen them rise up the rankings and they are currently nine points off 18th place.
Dortmund are now closer to a Champions League position than bottom, with Bayer Leverkusen sitting just eight points above them in fourth, but BVB skipper Kehl denied that their all-hands-on-deck mentality has ceased in favour of European dreaming ahead of Saturday's visit to Hamburg.
"We lost at home to Hamburg earlier this season and that helped give them a bit of a boost," the veteran midfielder, 35, told Ruhr Nachrichten.
"This time we hope we can be the ones getting three points. We urgently need to reach our goal.
"Nothing's changed on that front. CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and the coaches issued a 40-point target and to avoid relegation. That's all that matters right now."
Although there might be public proclamations of focusing on the relegation fight, in reality Dortmund will have one eye on some form of continental qualification with 11 league games to go.
After this weekend's clash with Hamburg, Dortmund have a clash with Koln a week later before a decisive second-leg in the Champions League last 16 at home to Juventus where they must overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Stuttgart 0 Hertha Berlin 0: Strugglers share the spoils
6 March 2015
Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin did their hopes of Bundesliga survival no favours as they played out a dire 0-0 draw at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Friday.
Huub Stevens' Stuttgart went into the game knowing a win would see them go within a point of moving out of the two automatic relegation places.
But the Bundesliga's bottom club never looked like taking all three points in a game that will be remembered for its ill-tempered nature rather than any significant chances.
Tensions boiled over in the second half as Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft was booked after claiming to have been elbowed by Georg Niedermeier and then confronting Christian Gentner.
Neither team could find a breakthrough despite seven additional minutes, with Hertha substitute Nico Schulz seeing red for a second booking in the final minute of play.
Stuttgart stay bottom, three points adrift of the relegation play-off place occupied by Paderborn, who Hertha are two points clear of.
Hamburg 0 Borussia Dortmund 0: Disappointing Dortmund held
7 March 2015
Borussia Dortmund saw their four-match winning streak in the Bundesliga come to an end as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Hamburg on Saturday.
A tightly contested game saw the visitors dominate possession, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus predictably at the heart of Dortmund's attacking efforts.
However, despite an early injury to Johan Djourou, a well-drilled Hamburg defence held firm, while Mohamed Gouaida and Zoltan Stieber were both denied by visiting goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.
The result deals a blow to mid-table Dortmund's hopes of securing European football for next season.
Relegation-threatened Hamburg, meanwhile, remain without a win in their last four games having drawn a 13th blank of the season.
Dortmund had won on only one of their previous nine visits to the Imtech Arena, and they once again found Hamburg in spirited mood.
Reus, passed fit after an injury scare in midweek, nearly contributed to an opener after three minutes, whipping in a wicked free-kick for Aubameyang, only for Djourou to make a crucial intervention.
Nicolai Muller fired wide for the hosts three minutes later, but chances were otherwise at a premium early on.
Hamburg were dealt a blow on 18 minutes when captain Djourou was forced off with a head injury, but their disappointment could have been swiftly cut short had Gouaida not lashed an effort over.
Gouaida did manage to test Weidenfeller with his next effort, forcing a smart parried save with a stinging drive.
Dortmund responded instantly, with a well-worked counter-attack allowing Henrikh Mkhitaryan to get behind the defence and pull back for Shinji Kagawa in the six-yard box, but he failed to produce a decisive touch.
Aubameyang warmed the palms of Jaroslav Drobny prior to the interval with a drilled effort, but Hamburg's Czech goalkeeper remained largely untested.
Dortmund introduced Kevin Kampl at the start of the second half and the Slovenian nearly made an impact on 55 minutes, firing just wide from the edge of the area, before Reus spurned another opening two minutes later.
Aubameyang planted a header just wide after 63 minutes and the visitors' profligacy in front of goal was almost punished when Stieber's curled 30-yard free-kick brought a fine save from Weidenfeller.
Klopp threw on Ciro Immobile and Jakub Blaszczykowski in a bid to find a winner, but Hamburg's defence could not be breached despite mounting Dortmund pressure.
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes Hamburg midfielder Valon Behrami should have been sent off for appearing to elbow Henrikh Mkhitaryan during Saturday's 0-0 Bundesliga draw.
Despite dominating possession throughout proceedings at the Imtech Arena, Klopp's men were left frustrated by a spirited rearguard display from the hosts.
Switzerland international Behrami put in a particularly physical performance and was booked in the 31st minute before being substituted. However, replays suggested he was lucky not to see red for seemingly striking Mkhitrayan after two minutes.
He was quoted by Sport 1 as telling reporters: "Normally, that would be a red card.
"I don't know if it's because he's not played in a while or whether he lacks the coordination or whatever - it was enough to take the arm up and hit in the face Mkhitaryan.
"Whether it was intentional or not, we do not care at the moment."
The stalemate leaves Dortmund seven points adrift of the Europa League places and nine adrift of UEFA Champions League qualification.
Asked about Dortmund's by the club's official website, Klopp said: "There are many positive aspects. Even if it does not feel like a point gained, that will come later in the evening.
"We have kept Hamburg at a distance and added one more point to our tally.
"We had a relatively large amount of superiority but could not capitalise. We found ourselves in the wrong positions at the wrong moments without putting too much pressure on up top.
"We have taken a point which is a positive and no one is injured which is a mega positive, but anything else is just so-so."
Bayer Leverkusen will host Bayern Munich in the pick of the ties for the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.
Holders Bayern will be eager for a repeat of the 5-0 win over Hamburg that earned them a place in last season's semis, while Leverkusen are looking to go a step further than they did last term.
Borussia Dortmund - runners-up to Bayern in 2014 - are at home to Hoffenheim, and Wolfsburg welcome Freiburg.
In the round's remaining tie, third-tier leaders Arminia Bielefeld host Borussia Monchengladbach.
There is "no question" Stuttgart will avoid relegation from the Bundesliga as long as they keep playing like they did against Hertha Berlin, according to captain Christian Gentner.
While Stuttgart could not find a winning goal in their scoreless stalemate on Friday, Gentner was convinced he saw enough in his team's performance to show they can avoid dropping down to the 2. Bundesliga.
The bottom club in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart have not won in eight league matches but they produced 12 shots to Hertha's six at the Mercedes Benz Arena as they picked up a point for the second week in a row.
"Unfortunately the goal didn't happen for us," Gentner said, according to the Bundesliga's website.
"Of course that's frustrating but we'll stick together. The passion's there.
"We desperately need three points to take us forward. That's the biggest disappointment today. Morale's fine. If we show that in the next 10 games, we'll get it done - no question."
Stuttgart prop up the Bundesliga's table with 20 points after 24 matches, two adrift of second-last Freiburg, who face Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Paderborn are next in the table in 16th with 23 points, while Hamburg (15th, 24), Hertha (14th, 25), Cologne (13th, 25) and Mainz (12, 25) remain within touching distance of the drop zone.
Stuttgart face Freiburg, Mainz and Paderborn before the end of the season, and striker Daniel Ginczek agreed with his captain that a win is not far away for Huub Stevens' side.
"Obviously we're disappointed. We played well up until the 18-yard box. That little bit of luck was missing, which is a shame," Ginczek said.
"We're allowed to be disappointed but we still have 10 more games. If we play like this, then it's only going to be a matter of time before we win again."
DFB slams 'irresponsible and unacceptable' doping accusations
By Peter Staunton
Mar 9, 2015 15:30:14
The governing body's vice president feels the decision to name two clubs in relation to the allegations was wrong at this stage of the investigation
DFB vice president Rainer Koch has described as "irresponsible and unacceptable" the decision to name Stuttgart and Freiburg in connection with an investigation into alleged anabolic doping abuses in the 1970s and 1980s.
A member of the evaluation commission, Professor Andreas Singler, alleged last week that doping had been widespread and systematic at the two Bundesliga clubs as well as in the German national cycling association (BFD) under Dr Armin Klumper - a former head of sports trauma at the university clinic.
Stuttgart, he claimed, were involved with doping practices on a large scale, with Freiburg implicated less frequently.
Singler, however, acted without the approval of his commission colleagues and has since offered his resignation with the full report due later in the year.
"The attacks against football have been a recurring issue every few months for the past few years," Koch, who also acts as chair of the Anti-Doping Commission of the DFB, told Kicker. "The facts are regularly forgotten when this happens. We will investigate and judge when we are confronted with facts and documents. But it's irresponsible and unacceptable when names of certain people are linked with doping in speculative fashion."
The evaluation commission has examined 60 files in connection with Klumper and his alleged practices. It is being chaired by Letizia Paoli, who previously investigated Mafia operations in Italy.
Koch confirmed that the DFB had requested access to the documents and reiterated the federation's commitment to clean sport but also slammed Singler for revealing part of the investigation without the appropriate details to accompany his allegations.
"Ms Paoli shares our opinion and understands our desire to have access to the files," he said. "She proposed that we approach the State to the Archives of Freiburg and request access relevant parts of the files.
"[DFB president] Wolfgang Niersbach and [DFL president] Reinhard Rauball fully agree with me that football, in close cooperation with NADA, should take a stand against doping and must passionately fight against doping in football.
"The DFB and DFL are abundantly clear that football should fight against doping together with NADA in a consistent and transparent manner. It's lamentable that these allegations have come to the fore without any details or backgrounds."
Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah celebrates goal with a goat
Mar 9, 2015 15:19:00
The Koln star took the club's mascot Hennes by the horns after sealing his side's second home win of the Bundesliga season
Anthony Ujah's goal celebration in Koln's victory over Eintracht Frankfurt could go down as one of the most memorable of all time, with the striker opting to share the moment with a goat.
There were just eight minutes remaining at the RheinEnergieStadion when Ujah finished emphatically to put the home side 4-1 up.
The Nigeria international made immediately for the touchline and club mascot Hennes the goat, with the 24-year-old forward taking the rather unusual step of grabbing the animal by the horns in jubilation.
Ujah's celebration took the crowd, and indeed Hennes, by surprise, with Ujah taking to Twitter to apologise for his exuberance after the match.
Ujah wrote: "Sorry to Hennes. I was a bit too hard on him!" before the tweet was later removed.
Ujah's strike sealed just a second home win of the season for Koln.
Although Frankfurt netted a late penalty, Koln ran out 4-2 winners to climb to 11th in the Bundesliga standings.
The central defender suffered the ignominy of being dragged off after half an hour at the weekend but has no plans to walk out on the Bundesliga champions
Dante has dismissed talk of him leaving Bayern Munich and vowed to fight for his place under Pep Guardiola.
The Brazil international was hauled off after 32 minutes of Bayern’s 3-1 win at Hannover on Saturday and speculation has emerged in Italy that Napoli and Inter could be keen to pursue his signature.
Former Bayern star Steffen Effenberg said at the weekend that Dante's days at the Allianz Arena are numbered, claiming he will be sold in the summer.
The 31-year-old insists, however, he has no desire to quit the Bundesliga leaders - even though he admits a role as a substitute would be frustrating.
He told Sport Bild: "I have a contract with Bayern and I want to help Bayern win on the pitch or, if necessary, from the bench.
"However, I will not lie and say that I am satisfied to be on the bench."
A return to former club Borussia Monchengladbach has also been mentioned but general manager Max Eberl has refused to add to the speculation.
"I do not want to get involved in the discussion about whether we want him back or not now," he said.
Dante was defended by Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer at the weekend, with the former Germany international insisting he still has a part to play.
"Dante is a world-class guy and a superb player for us," said Sammer.
"I urge you to judge with him respect. I will stand up against populist criticism, he does not deserve that. The club rate him very highly."
The Dutchman has stressed he does not bear a grudge toward the Chelsea man, while also praising Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola for their influence
Bayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben has hailed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as an "important" influence on his career.
The Netherlands international worked under the Portuguese coach during his time at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007, but was eventually allowed to leave to join Real Madrid.
Robben has since gone on to become one of the best attackers in the world, though, and he has no hard feelings toward his former mentor.
"Mourinho was very fair, very good," the Bayern star told Daily Mail.
"The only problem was the injuries. He could not count on me. It was frustrating for both of us and it became difficult. But in a football point of view, he was very important. He helped me mentally.
"I think I had a positive development at Chelsea. I was very young when I arrived, only 20, and the problem I had was injuries.
"At the time, you hear people say you are made of glass. I was angry because I felt like I was always having to defend myself. I know now something was wrong with my body.
"I'm a very explosive player and need everything to be right. I started working with an osteopath the last year I was in Madrid and have stayed with him. I have control of my body now and know when I can 'go'."
Robben also praised Louis van Gaal, with whom he worked at Bayern and the Netherlands' national team, having played a key role in guiding the Oranje to third place in the 2014 World Cup, and has a lot to thank the 63-year-old for.
"From the first day Van Gaal made me feel important. He gave me an important role and I had a great first year. I am very thankful to him.
"He is a coach who makes individual players better. That is rare nowadays.
"I have a lot of confidence he will be a success at United. He needs time to build his team. When he qualifies for the Champions League - and he has a realistic chance of winning the FA Cup - if that happens, he has had a great season."
The Dutchman then went on to voice his admiration for his current coach at Bayern, Pep Guardiola.
"I've had the privilege to work with a lot of great coaches and Guardiola is certainly one of them. I'm 31 but over the last 18 months I feel I've made steps forward.
"He is just crazy about football. In my first conversation with him he told me it was important I started to enjoy football. He didn't want me to relax but to appreciate what was in front of me. He said: 'Enjoy football, enjoy your life'. Straight away he gave me confidence."
Schalke have completed the signing of Matija Nastasic, after activating the Manchester City loanee's transfer clause.
A tweet from the Bundesliga club read: "Schalke have activated the transfer clause with Nastasic and he will remain at S04."
Nastasic joined the club on loan from City in January, and general manager Horst Heldt confirmed earlier this month that Schalke were looking to make the deal permanent.
The Serbia international has made nine appearances across all competitions since moving to Schalke, and featured in both legs of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid.
Nastasic is in line to make his first appearance as a full-time Schalke player against Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
"I am proud and happy that I remain at Schalke," Nastasic told the club's official website.
"The team did very well and took to me from day one, I was immediately part of the team.
"In the future I would like to help us achieve our goals as a team."
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has no interest in a move to Barcelona, according to the player's agent.
Bektas Demirtas claims the Catalan giants have expressed an interest in his client, but that Calhanoglu is happy to remain at Leverkusen.
Calhanoglu has made 23 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen this season, scoring five goals, and any potential move could not go through until January next year, due to Barca's transfer embargo.
"It's true," Demirtas told Express. "Barcelona has reported and deposited their interest.
"Not to sound arrogant, but for Hakan, interest from Barcelona is uninteresting.
"He has everything he needs at Leverkusen.
"He's playing in the Champions League and competing for the DFB-Pokal, plus things are going well for him in the Bundesliga."
Bundesliga Preview: Howedes targets Schalke momentum after Champions League near-miss
11 March 2015
Having come close to ending Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League defence on Tuesday, Schalke return to domestic action on Saturday when they visit Hertha Berlin.
While Roberto Di Matteo's side beat the holders 4-3 on the night, Real progressed on aggregate, leaving Schalke with only the Bundesliga to focus on this term.
A run of just two wins from their last six league outings has seen Schalke slip out of the top four, although captain Howedes - who was almost the hero late on at the Santiago Bernabeu - insists his side can take momentum from the last-16 exit.
"I had a good chance towards the end, but unfortunately couldn't get enough power on my shot, which is really annoying," he told the club's official website.
"Despite being eliminated, I'm proud of the guys. Everyone gave it their all and showed that we can play good football.
"[Wednesday's] game gives me a lot of hope for the coming weeks. We now need to recover as quickly as possible because it was intense."
Bayer Leverkusen - who have assumed Schalke's top-four berth in - get the weekend's action under way against bottom side Stuttgart on Friday before leaders Bayern Munich travel to improving Werder Bremen.
The champions moved into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with stunning 7-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and can move 14 points clear provided Wolfsburg are beaten by strugglers Freiburg.
Following his infamous celebration with Hennes the goat, Cologne's Anthony Ujah will hope to have further cause for joy Signal Iduna Park.
Peter Stoger's side stand in the way of Borussia Dortmund extending their unbeaten league run to six and potentially moving into the top half.
It would represent another reference point in Dortmund's upturn of fortunes, following a dismal first half to the campaign, although they will require Paderborn to take something from their trip to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Hamburg continue their battle to avoid the drop as they seek a first win over Hoffenheim in four attempts, while Augsburg host Mainz after their victory against high-flying Wolfsburg last time out.
Borussia Monchengladbach and Hannover round off the weekend's action when they meet at Borussia Park in Sunday's late kick-off.
Borussia Dortmund will remain without Nuri Sahin and Kevin Grosskreutz for Saturday's visit of Cologne, although Sven Bender is expected to shake off a knock.
Sahin and Grosskreutz have both been long-term absentees with knee and thigh problems respectively, with coach Jurgen Klopp also having concerns over Bender and full-back Eric Durm.
Bender picked up a knock in training while Durm has played a number of times for the club's second string as he steps up his comeback from a groin injury.
"Sahin will not be available on Saturday but Bender will not be a problem," Klopp told a news conference.
"With Durm we must wait and see if he makes the weekend.
"I assume that Kevin Grosskreutz will be fully back after the international break [at the end of March]."
Dortmund can extend their unbeaten league run to six matches against Cologne, who have won four of their last eight Bundesliga games on the road.
Klopp went on to suggest that Oliver Kirch could play a key role as he bids to maintain his side's upturn in form.
"Oliver Kirch is a valuable player for us. He usually comes into play with our offensive game," Klopp added.
"It makes perfect sense to have more defensive stability.
Cologne served with €200,000 fine and partial stadium closure
12 March 2015
Cologne have been handed a €200,000 fine and a series of partial stadium closures following crowd trouble at matches against Borussia Monchengladbach and Duisburg.
Tens of Cologne fans donning white boiler suits emerged from a section of the ground housing away supporters at Monchengladbach last month after Granit Xhaka had netted a stoppage-time winner.
Flares were also hurled onto the playing surface, before the offenders made their way from the pitch as police closed in.
In addition, a number of supporters forced their way into the stadium for a cup clash with Duisburg in October - an incident also taken into account as the German Football Association (DFB) settled on a punishment.
Of the €200,000, €120,000 will be invested in violence prevention measures, while Cologne - who banned the Boyz fan group following the Monchengladbach incident - will have to close sections of their for matches against Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke in April and May.
Cologne have also been ordered to introduce a raft of new safety measures, including halving their allocation for their next trip to Monchengladbach, issuing personalised tickets, and banning large banners from away matches.
