Bundesliga week 24

Friday:
Wolfsburg v Schalke
Saturday:
Eintracht v Hoffenheim
Karlsruhe v Arminia
Cologne v Monchengladbach
Hertha v Leverkusen
Bochum v Bayern
Hannover v Dortmund
Sunday:
Bremen v Stuttgart
Hamburg v Energie

In-form Wolfsburg can go within a point of leaders Hertha on Friday night if they beat out-of-form Schalke. They go in unchanged from the line-up that saw them ease past Cologne last week with Grafite and Edin Dzeko the dangermen. Schalke dispensed with Andreas Möller's services leaving Fred Rutten in complete control of first-team affairs, much like Felix Magath at the Wolves. Möller was widely blamed for assembling what has been described as the most expensively assembled flop in Bundesliga history and he's carried the can. Rutten hasn't got them working together yet and it may take the off-season for the Dutchman to work his magic. Wolfsburg are one of four sides in a share of second on 42 points and, of the others, Hoffenheim have perhaps the easiest task this weekend, away at Frankfurt. Eintracht are just dismal to watch and, while Hoffenheim aren't firing on all cylinders, should still be too strong. Demba Ba hit the frame of the goal three times last weekend and must be due a turn in fortune, but the absence of Sejad Salihovic further dents a weakened forward line. Bayern have gone goal crazy lately, but still struggle for domestic form and Bochum, whose recent form has seen them ease away from danger, won't make it easy for them. Hamburg, meanwhile, have fallen from grace in spectacular style, shipping seven goals in the league in the last two games. Cottbus, though, are not going well and a recent loss to Bochum left them deep in trouble.

Whatever happens elsewhere, Hertha will remain top come Sunday evening. A home game against Leverkusen gives them a good opportunity to maintain the four-point gap, the biggest for some time in this crazy league. Leverkusen can't string results together and, having lost last week, are due a win and have a host of players back, including the influential Bernd Schneider.

Gladbach pulled themselves off the bottom with a stunning 4-1 win over Hamburg and their revival continues with an away day in Cologne. Recent form has pulled them into mid-table mediocrity and it remains to be seen whether they continue to grind out the results or ease off now that they're safe in all but name. Bremen find themselves in that position as well and face Stuttgart who are scoring plenty of goals. Markus Babbel is still unbeaten in charge of Stuttgart and there's nothing to suggest he won't continue that record here. Dortmund too are adrift in no man's land, but should prevail over an indifferent Hannover side still battling with relegation. Karlsruhe are rock bottom and need to start getting results soon. This could prove difficult against an Arminia side who welcome back top scorer Artur Wichniarek, scorer of just the 60% of his side's goals this season.