Bundesliga 2022-23: Matchday 24 Preview

Plenty is on the line for both sides as FC Schalke 04 host Borussia Dortmund in the 100th Bundesliga Revierderby on Matchday 24, while FC Bayern München host fellow Bavarians FC Augsburg knowing they can’t afford another derby slip in this tight title race.

Dortmund are in terrific form and make the short trip to Gelsenkirchen on a club-record run of eight straight wins to kick off 2023. Their last outing was a 2-1 victory over fellow high-flyers RB Leipzig, further proving their title credentials.

However, they face a tough test on Saturday evening against an in-form Schalke. Just a few weeks ago, Die Königsblauen looked doomed for the drop, but they are now unbeaten in their last six games, keeping five clean sheets along the way. Their 2-0 win away at VfL Bochum 1848 last weekend ended a run of 38 Bundesliga away games without victory, and they would now love nothing more than to derail their fierce rivals' charge at the Veltins-Arena.

The rivalry may be less fierce but no less competitive as Augsburg head down the road to Munich earlier in the day looking to upset the Bavarian applecart once again. They have beaten Bayern twice in the last three league meetings and inflicted the champions’ only Bundesliga shutout of the Julian Nagelsmann era in the reverse fixture. It’s a warning to the leaders that they need to be at their best – perhaps handing fit-again Sadio Mane a first league start since November – if they are to avoid opening the door to Dortmund later in the day.

Meanwhile, 1. FC Union Berlin will be looking to get their quest for a top-four spot back on track away at VfL Wolfsburg. They have failed to win any of their previous three Bundesliga matches, also failing to find the back of the net in any of those fixtures.

However, they remain in third place, and a win at the Volkswagen Arena will keep them moving in the right direction.

Wolfsburg, who sit eighth, are one place above Bayer 04 Leverkusen ahead of Die Werkself's trip to SV Werder Bremen on Sunday. Leverkusen's form has been erratic recently, but their 4-1 dismantling of Hertha Berlin last time out, which included impressive displays from Florian Wirtz and Moussa Diaby, will have encouraged Xabi Alonso. They will need to watch out, though, for a Bremen side led by Niclas Füllkrug, the Bundesliga's top goalscorer this campaign - a win for either side will keep their hopes of European football alive.

Eintracht Frankfurt are also looking to secure a continental spot, and they host VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. Currently sixth, Oliver Glasner's men are without a win in their last three games in all competitions, but an 11th goal of the campaign last weekend from Randal Kolo Muani – to go with a league-leading 10 assists – will keep Eintracht optimistic. It’s a feeling that Stuttgart will also hope to maintain after a respectable performance in defeat against Bayern, but they can’t afford any slips now as one of four teams propping up the table on 19 points.

Among that group are also Bochum and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, who face 1. FC Köln (on Friday) and SC Freiburg (on Sunday) respectively. Just a solitary point ahead are Hertha, who host 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. All three sides suffered defeats last time out. This weekend offers the opportunity for each of them to improve their chances of survival.

Expect plenty of movement at the foot of the table over the weekend.

Also on Saturday, Leipzig will be looking to recover from that Dortmund result against Borussia Mönchengladbach, who conquered Bayern less than a month ago.

In Bundesliga 2, Hamburger SV will attempt to extend their unbeaten start to 2023 and continue their promotion push against mid-table Karlsruher SC on Sunday. They are currently second in the division, just one point behind SV Darmstadt 98, who make the journey to struggling Arminia Bielefeld the day before. Elsewhere, 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 are hot on the heels of the top two ahead of their clash at Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday evening, while fourth-placed SC Paderborn 07 face 1. FC Magdeburg in the afternoon looking to claw their way back into the promotion race.