Bundesliga round 13

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

The Bundesliga resumes under something of a cloud following the tragic death of Robert Enke. The national team's friendly against Chile last weekend was postponed, so we resume with a full league programme.

A year ago, Hertha against Stuttgart was a top-of-the-table clash. This week, both sides go into the game in the bottom four. The only surprise for Hertha is that they're only six points adrift of safety. Mind, that's six points they've not looked like getting all season so far and it's Stuttgart who have that gap over the troubled Berliners. Hertha have already changed their manager - Stuttgart have yet to do so, but Markus Babbel is on borrowed time. Both clubs need a win, but it's difficult to make a case for either of them winning. If ever two sides in a football game could both contrive to lose a match, this is it.

Pressure is high in Munich as well where the latest make-or-break match - they seem to have one every week - sees the leaders Leverkusen visit the Allianz. Compare and contrast to last season. Jurgen Klinsmann was, rightly, lambasted for his utter ineptitude as a manager, but Bayern were doing better at this stage than they are under Van Gaal. The Dutchman hasn't had the services of his three best players, in all fairness, thanks to injury to Mark van Bommel and Franck Ribéry and Ze Roberto having been sold in the summer. Still, the cash has been splashed and results are poor. Stefan Kiessling is in great form, as is his main supplier Tranquilo Barnetta. Leverkusen play with a verve that Bayern are a millions miles away from emulating.

Hamburg have a straightforward looking game against Bochum to get their title challenge back on track, as do Bremen who are at Freiburg. Schalke have just fallen off a little and they face Hannover, still trying to come to terms with the loss of Enke. The fact they're playing is more important than the outcome. Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim can both play stunning football when they're so inclined and both are favourites in their respective games, Dortmund v Mainz looks a cracker unlike Eitracht against Gladbach which... err... doesn't.