Bundesliga round 3

Hoffenheim v Schalke
Dortmund v Stuttgart
Cologne v Eintracht
Nurnberg v Hannover
Freiburg v Leverkusen
Mainz v Bayern
Bochum v Hertha
Bremen v Monchengladbach
Wolfsburg v Hamburg

Hannover are going down. There's a bold claim to begin this week's German previews, bit Dieter Hecking clearly agrees - he's gone. Their season began badly with defeat in the DFB-Pokal (Germany's FA Cup) to third tier Eintrach Trier and just one point from their first two games, defeat to Hertha and a draw with Mainz. They were uncompetitive in both games and Hecking has gone. Who wants it then? It's hardly an attractive proposition for a manager, but away at promoted Nurnberg wouldn't be a bad starting place. If they can't win this one, then they're in big trouble. Conversely, Nurnberg will see this as a chance of launching themselves into the Bundesliga following their 5-0 aggregate win over Cottbus that sees them in the division.

Two mouth-watering games stand out for this correspondent. Wolfsburg v Hamburg sees the best team in the land take on the most frustratingly inconsistent. Hamburg delight and dismay in roughly equal measure. Last week's nap hand was emphatically the former, so what's in store this week? Wolfsburg look stronger this year than last and it's already difficult to make a case for anyone other than them to take this title. The other game I'm looking forward to is Hoffenheim v Schalke. Again, two inconsistent sides, but that makes for entertainment in my book. Timo Hildebrand looks the keeper that persuaded Valencia to sign him while Sejad Salihovic and Vedad Ibisevic always guarantee good football. Schalke can match them, but are probably due a shocker. Basket case club who are as amusing to watch whether it's going well or badly.

Dortmund v Stuttgart is the battle of the pretenders. Stuttgart look the better all-round side, but Dortmund can be kingmakers this season, if not in the running for honours themselves. They look too flimsy at the back and the forwards need too many chances to score. Bayern ought to beat Mainz, but a reasonable start for the promoted club, coupled with the Bavarians utterly indifferent form, will at least see the villagers from the outskirts of Frankfurt not do the usual thing of being beaten before they start.

Cologne v Eintracht is a duel of the under-achievers which will end in a draw - 0-0 probably - Leverkusen will see off Freiburg without too much ado and Bochum are easy pickings for Hertha. Bremen v Gladbach could prove entertaining, if only because of the former's defensive woes which they've sorted out by.. err.. signing Claudio Pizarro on a permanent deal having let Boubacar Sanogo go to St Etienne.