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What to watch for on Matchday 11 of the Bundesliga

Jonathan Harding
November 17, 2016

From a real rivalry to a plastic battle, matchday 11 has plenty more on offer than just Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich. Here's a look at what to watch out for.

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Maskottchen des 1. FC Kölns, Geißbock Hennes VIII
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K.D. Heirler

Away from Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich, matchday 11 might just be the tastiest one of the season (until the reverse fixtures on matchday 28).

Rheinische Derby

The real rivalry of the weekend takes place in Mönchengladbach where eleventh-placed Gladbach host high-flying Cologne. Andre Schubert will be without the suspended Christoph Kramer, which means prized talent Mahmoud Dahoud might start. The 20-year-old might not be the only one on his way out though. There is a suggestion that defeat in the derby could be the end for Schubert. Gladbach haven't scored in their last five league games, but the last three derbies have ended 1-0 to the home team. Schubert would take that again this weekend, perhaps with a few more goals given Timo Horn is out injured for Cologne. Gladbach will have to keep Anthony Modeste (11 goals in 10 games) from scoring though. Are you watching, Didier Deschamps?

Pills or sugar?

While the Bundesliga's biggest clubs clash and real derbies take place on the Saturday, there's a special game just down the road on Friday night. Leverkusen's pharmaceuticals go up against Leipzig's energy drink and there should be plenty of fizz about this one. Given both Roger Schmidt and Ralph Hasenhüttl's approach, this should be a furiously intense and high-tempo affair. Joel Pohjanpalo returns for Leverkusen, but Leipzig's defense has conceded just seven in 10 games. This could be the undercard thriller of the weekend.

Fußball Bundesliga Timo Werner RB Leipzig Mainz Red Bull Arena GER 1 BL 10
Can Leipzig stay calm on Friday night or not?Image: Imago/Picture Point LE

Reunions

Markus Gisdol takes the Hamburg circus to Sinsheim to face his former club, where he can expect no gifts against Julian Nagelmann's undefeated sleigh. Elsewhere, want-away Julian Draxler looks to show Schalke that leaving Gelsenkirchen for Wolfsburg wasn't too much of a mistake. Alexander Esswein travels back to Augsburg with his new club from the capital, and Darmstadt face Ingolstadt (new head coach Maik Walpurgis has not coached higher than the third division) in a fixture that might not be a Bundesliga game next season.

Matchday 11

Friday

Leverkusen vs. Leipzig (20:30 CET)

Saturday

Gladbach vs. Cologne (15:30 CET)

Mainz vs. Freiburg

Wolfsburg vs. Schalke

Augsburg vs. Hertha

Darmstadt vs. Ingolstadt

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich (18:30 CET)

Sunday

Hoffenheim vs. Hamburg (15:30 CET)

Werder Bremen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (17:30 CET)