Bundesliga matchday 32 preview: Bayern close in on title, RB Leipzig wobble, Freiburg dream of the top-four finish
Manu and Stefan were back for the Bundesliga preview show (a day late due to travel), and there’s plenty to unpack. Here’s your weekly conversation-style recap from the pod: Bayern on the Brink (Without Kane) Manu: “This could be it — if Bayern beat Leipzig, they win the title.” Stefan: “And Harry Kane won’t be on the pitch, which just writes its own jokes.” Still, Kane and Eric Dier will get their first career trophies if Bayern wrap it up. Stefan joked Dier could do a John Terry and show up in full kit at full-time. Stefan: “Bayern won’t delay the title for sentimental reasons. They’ll get it done.” Both agree this season’s been mixed for Bayern, but Kompany has done the job that matters: reclaiming the Bundesliga title. Leipzig’s Squeaky-Bum Time Manu: “This game is massive for Leipzig. If they don’t get a result, Champions League football could be gone.” Stefan: “They’re up against it. Orban and Gulácsi are out. Without them, they’re hopeless.” Leipzig are under pressure from Dortmund and Freiburg. Without Champions League qualification, they may need to sell key players like Xavi Simons. Stefan: “They’ve been sleepwalking for years. Leverkusen’s rise is forcing them to wake up.” Manu: “The issue isn’t ambition. It’s their failure to find the right formula.” The coaching situation is also in focus. Manu and Stefan suggest Leipzig need to make a bold hire — maybe Sandro Wagner or Cesc Fàbregas. Freiburg’s Big Chance Manu: “If Freiburg beat Leverkusen and Leipzig lose, the door to the Champions League really opens.” Stefan: “Julian Schuster has actually improved on Streich’s work.” Freiburg are two points ahead of Leipzig. Despite struggling against top-four teams this season, they have a chance to change that now. Stefan: “They need to break the curse. If you want to be top four, you have to beat top-four clubs.” They’ve signed a replacement for Ritsu Doan and could have Noah Atubolu back in goal — a major boost. Manu also explained why Freiburg shouldn’t be considered a small club anymore. Manu: “Freiburg’s greater metro area is bigger than Dortmund. They’re a sleeping giant with real infrastructure now.”
2 Maj 45min
Bayern walk to title, Dortmund keep winning and Frankfurt thump RB Leipzig
On this week’s Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest talking points from matchday 31 in the Bundesliga. They kick things off with Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Mainz and focus on the remarkable performance of Leroy Sane. Has the German international played his way back into the good books at the Allianz Arena and could now stay at the club next season? They then take a look at Borussia Dortmund’s chaotic 3-2 win over Hoffenheim and marvel at Niko Kovac and his team’s ability to climb back into the top four against all odds. Then, to round up the show, the duo then turn their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt’s emphatic 4-0 win over RB Leipzig and applaud the Eagles for what has been a wonderful season as they all but confirmed Champions League football for next season. Enjoy!
27 Apr 45min
Bundesliga matchday 31 preview: Who will be the next RB Leipzig head coach? Werder Bremen aim for European finish
On this week’s Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss two games in particular. On Saturday evening RB Leipzig travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the hopes of inflicting some serious damage to their fellow top-four contenders. But in the meantime the dynamic duo discuss the names linked with the open managerial post in Leipzig and debate whether the club will be about to convince the right man to replace Marco Rose. They then turn their attention to the Nordderby between Werder Bremen and St Pauli and discuss why Oliver Burke’s decision to leave the club for Union Berlin is not only bad news for Ole Werner’s side but is perhaps also an indication of why all may not be well at the Weserstadion despite their climb up the league table.
24 Apr 45min
Dortmund's late push for Europe, St Pauli and Union avoid the drop with big performances
On this week’s main show Stefan and Manu sit down to discuss all the major talking points from another fantastic weekend of German football. They kick things off by taking in Borussia Dortmund’s impressive 3-2 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach and discuss why Niko Kovac’s team are finally beginning to look like a team capable of finishing in the top four. They then take a look at Union Berlin’s 4-4 draw with Stuttgart, focusing on how Steffen Baumgart has managed to steer the capital club away from relegation. They then finish up on St Pauli’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday night, taking time to heap praise on Alexander Blessin and his rowdy squad from the Reeperbahn. Enjoy! Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Dortmund 3-2 Gladbach 23:31 Union Berlin 4-4 Stuttgart 34:25 St Pauli 1-1 Leverkusen
20 Apr 48min
Bundesliga matchday 30 preview: European woes for German clubs, Hasenhüttl in serious trouble at Wolfsburg
On this week’s Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan spend much of the show discussing Eintracht Frankfurt’s defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League and their quest to finish in the top four in the league to qualify for the Champions League. This then leads to a general discussion about the poor performances of all German clubs in Europe this season and the reasons behind that. They then spend the second half of the show discussing Wolfsburg’s recent woes in the league and why Ralph Hasenhüttl may be in serious trouble if his team can’t make the most of their last five games of the season. Enjoy!
18 Apr 48min
Frankfurt thrive, Leverkusen flop and Der Klassiker... confuses?
On this week’s episode of the Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest talking points from the weekend in German football. They kick things off with a breakdown of Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in “Der Klassiker”. Should Vincent Kompany’s side be happy with a point or are there bigger issues at play in Munich that the German giants will need to fix before their clash with Inter? The duo then took in Bayer Leverkusen’s dull 0-0 draw with Union Berlin and debated how much credit or criticism is fair for Xabi Alonso’s team this season. Then, to wrap up the show, Manu shone a light on Eintracht Frankfurt’s season and discussed what they’ve done so well in the Bundesliga, ahead of his interview with the club’s CEO.
13 Apr 52min
Bundesliga matchday 29: St Pauli head to Kiel for must-win game, Dortmund face Bayern in (not) "Der Klassiker"
On this week’s Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss two of the biggest games in the German top-flight this weekend. They kick things off with St Pauli’s trip to Holstein Kiel, where Alexander Blessin’s side will be hoping to put a recent run of bad form on the road behind them to pick up an all-important three points against another team at the bottom of the table. They then spend the second half of the show discussing “Der Klassiker”. Whether it be the incorrect use of the term, Bayern Munich’s struggles in defence or Niko Kovac’s inconsistent tactics, the duo break down every aspect of the biggest game in Germany this weekend. Enjoy!
11 Apr 39min
Bayern beat Augsburg, Dortmund thrash Freiburg and Leverkusen limp on
In this episode of the Bundesliga podcast, hosts Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the latest developments in the Bundesliga, including Bayern Munich's injury struggles and their upcoming Champions League match against Inter Milan. They also analyze Borussia Dortmund's recent resurgence and their chances in the Champions League against Barcelona, as well as Bayer Leverkusen's title race and their performance against Heidenheim. Takeaways Stefan shares his experience of becoming a father. Bayern Munich faces significant injury challenges ahead of crucial matches. Dortmund's recent performance shows promise for a top-four finish. Leverkusen's resilience keeps them in the title race despite poor performances. The importance of squad depth is highlighted in Bayern's current situation. Dortmund's attacking players are starting to click at the right time. Bayern's reliance on key players like Musiala raises concerns for their Champions League hopes. Leverkusen's struggles may impact their title aspirations as the season progresses. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to podcast 4:26 Augsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich 20:27 Freiburg 1-4 Dortmund 39:06 Leverkusen's Resilience in the Title Race
7 Apr 48min
