The second half of the 2021-22 Bundesliga season kicked off with a bang, as Bayern München were left baffled at their own home by a surprise visit. Now, the league will pick up where it left with quite a few interesting games set to take place, and with all teams trying to roll with the punches dealt to them by injuries, COVID-19, or even suspensions to some of their top players.
This time, Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg will have the honor of kicking things off this weekend when they clash this Friday, while Bayern wait on the sidelines until Saturday, when they make a trip to face the sixth-placed Köln team. Other interesting games will feature Hoffenheim visiting Union Berlin and RB Leipzig trying to bounce back in the standings when they visit Stuttgart.
Let's have a look at the state of the tournament ahead of this week's games.
Bundesliga standings heading into Matchday 19
Bayern hold a six-point lead over Borussia Dortmund despite their loss last weekend, and they will keep the top spot to themselves even if they remain winless in 2022. The battle for third place will live one of its most heated chapters, as there are only two points between the current third place (Hoffenheim) and the fifth-ranked side (Bayer Leverkusen).
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Bundesliga games you won't want to miss on Matchday 19
Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg: The first match of the year for Borussia Dortmund ended up being quite productive, as they came closer to Bayern with that victory. Now, they will face a surprising Freiburg side that has kept in contention all year long, and who could end the weekend in third place if they can find a way to hold back Haaland and Co. and beat them at their own turf.
Köln vs Bayern München: The Bavarian side was shocked last weekend in the first Bundesliga match of 2022, and their trip to Köln could be even more complicated this weekend due to the massive number f absences and doubtful players within the squad. Nagelsmann's men will be put to a test by the sixth-best team in the Bundesliga, who tend to make the most out of their home games and who have Anthony Modeste as their key player for this clash.
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen: The Colts took Bayern by surprise last week, and their quest back to the top ten will see them facing Bayer Leverkusen, one of the most talented teams in the league and who are fighting for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. It will be a tough clash at Borussia Park for both sides, where the team with the highest accuracy rate will have the better chance to win.
Team news for Matchday 19
*All info as of January 13, 2022
Bayer Leverkusen - Injured: Daley Sinkgraven. Doubtful: Julian Baumgartlinger, Charles Aránguiz, Paulinho, Nadiem Amiri, Niklas Lomb. Ineligible: Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossonou.
Bayern München - Doubtful: Kingsley Coman, Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Corentin Tolisso, Lucas Hernández, Tanguy Nianzou, Leroy Sané, Omar Richards, Leon Goretzka, Niklas Süle, Josip Stanisic. Ineligible: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Bouma Sarr.
Borussia Dortmund - Injured: Mateu Morey. Doubtful: Giovanni Reyna, Marcel Schmelzer, Manuel Akanji, Dan-Axel Zagadou.
Borussia M'Gladbach - Doubtful: Jonas Hofmann, Mamadou Doucoure, Denis Zakaria, Joe Scally, Keanan Bennetts. Ineligible: Ramy Bensebaini.
Freiburg - Doubtful: Kiliann Sildillia, Nico Schlotterbeck, Mark Flekken.
RB Leipzig - Injured: Marcel Halstenberg, Emil Forsberg. Doubtful: Dani Olmo, Konrad Laimer, André Silva, Christopher Nkunku, Nordi Mukiele, Benjamin Henrichs. Ineligible: Ilaix Moriba, Amadou Haidara.
