by Jack Dowell

I magine that this weekend the Bundesliga isn’t one of the most highly rated leagues in the world but actually a coliseum a few millennia ago, and as you enter the amphitheatre, full of excitement, you notice two fights are being advertised this weekend.

In the first battle a fierce warrior; unconquered in his last seven bouts and likely to continue to destroy all in his path. He stands tall as his lifeless, deflated opponent limps towards him with a white handkerchief hanging out of his pocket, his fingers edging closer and closer. The crowd begin to scream “stop, stop, he’s already dead” at the thought of witnessing such a mismatched contest.

Meanwhile, the coliseum also plays host to a bout featuring two unbeaten and increasingly battle-hardy upstarts. One is trying to bring honour and prestige back to a name resplendent with former glory. The other is the apple of a wealthy eye, spurred on by glitz, glamour and golden rewards.

Whilst Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Bayern Munich will no doubt attract most attention, its importance is threadbare. In a game that could see Dortmund slip into a relegation spot with almost a third of the season played, their “win at all costs” approach is likely to be punished by a Bayern counter at a break-neck speed that the Black and Yellows’ defence – best described this season as comedic – will be unable to cope with.

Bayern v Dortmund: A Mismatch?

Since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in Bavaria it has been a common assumption that due to Bayern’s superiority the Bundesliga lacks competition. One horse galavants towards the title then waits patiently to be joined in the stable by Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen before they trot into Europe. However, this season that top four hegemony has been shattered by the increasing quality of the 14 clubs below them.

Fingers have pointed towards Dortmund’s injury list and lack of confidence but it’s new levels of resilience and attacking opportunism elsewhere that have led to Jürgen Klopp’s men losing six of their opening nine games. This was apparent in Köln, Hamburg and Hannover’s victories, especially the latter two who deservedly earned clean sheets at Signa Iduna Park. The game, simply, is a mismatch.

Bundesliga’s biggest game

No, the biggest game in the Bundesliga this weekend isn’t Bayern v Dortmund but at Stadion im Borussia-Park, where two of the league’s remaining unbeaten teams clash: Borussia Mönchengladbach v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. For it’s Gladbach and Hoffenheim who have replaced Schalke, Dortmund and their other fierce neighbours in the top four.

Symbolic of this was how the two teams symbolically dispatched traditional big hitters Schalke. Whilst rumours that Schalke boss Jens Keller lost the dressing room at the Veltins-Arena before his departure were true, the Royal Blues were given a dressing down by both Gladbach and Hoffenheim.

First, an Andre Hahn brace helped Borussia Mönchengladbach storm to a 4-1 victory before first half goals from Tarik Elyounoussi and Adám Szalai gave TSG 1899 Hoffenheim a 2-1 win at the Rhine-Neckar Arena. And it’s the meeting of these two clubs on Sunday that should provide an advert for the Bundesliga’s depth of quality as 2nd host 4th.

Key players

Both undefeated with 4 wins and 5 draws so far this campaign, it’s Gladbach who have the stronger side on paper, boasting one of the league’s most exciting midfield partnerships in Granit Xhaka and Christofer Kramer.

Kramer, whose rise was helped by a brief and unmemorable appearance in the World Cup final (Kramer suffered concussion after a clash of heads and can’t remember playing) has shown why Joachim Löw showed faith in him after Sami Khedira’s injury in the warm-up.

Kramer’s passing ability is matched with an engine that allows him to operate in both boxes where his fondness of a tackle and reading of the game enables him to anticipate interceptions to nullify attacks. The Weltmeister‘s tenacity is balanced by Xhaka who dictates the speed of the Foals play with a passing range perfect for utilising the speed of Raffael and Andre Hahn in counter-attacks.

SEE ALSO: Good Player Guide #16 – Granit Xhaka

The Swiss international’s competitiveness provides plenty of cover for a stubborn defence that is marshalled by Austrian veteran Martin Stranzl. His partnership with Spain international Alvaro Dominguez is producing eye catching displays from the former Atletico Madrid defender, who could well be in the frame to build on his two caps.

At the other end of the pitch, Hoffenheim’s Niklas Süle will be hoping to continue his excellent start to the the season. The teenage centre back has been ever-present for TSG this season and his strength and speed in disposing of opposition attackers has seen him linked with a move to AC Milan and Arsenal this year.

After an eye-catching display against Jan-Klaas Huntelaar, Süle will be wanting to prove his worth against the in-form Max Kruse, whose 5 goals in 6 Bundesliga starts this term has won him a recall to the national team. Kruse provides an illusive pivot to the Foals attack and thrives in a pacy and fluid forward line where he is fed by Raffael.

The 29-year-old Brazilian has plied his trade in Germany for some years now and after struggling to settle at Schalke and a brief spell in the second tier with Hertha Berlin, is now producing some of his best football for Gladbach. A mercurial talent in the hole, Raffael’s best quality is utilising small pockets of space before unlocking a defence with a deft touch to a teammate.

Roberto Firmino – jewel in Hoffenheim’s crown

Unfortunately for the Foals, they are equally matched by their upcoming opponents in the Brazilian number 10 department, as TSG boast Roberto Firmino, one of the league’s highest rated young players. After recently turning 23, the Brazilian has been handed the pressure of taking on added responsibility at Hoffenheim and has duly obliged.

Firmino makes this side tick. He uses his awareness of teammates to dictate TSG’s play and is responsible for the majority of chances his side creates. The biggest downside of Firmino’s form this season is his lack of goals. His solitary strike this season came all the way back in August but the Brazilian can be thankful for the form of Tarek Elyounoussi, whose ratio of a goal in every other game is an impressive haul from the left of midfield.

SEE ALSO: #The10Series – Roberto Firmino and 10 of the best young players in the Bundesliga in 2014/15

Another player who TSG fans will be wishing hit the net more often this campaign is highly-rated German forward Kevin Volland. The German youth international was rewarded with his first start for the senior team after a season which saw him net nine times whilst providing eight assists. Volland will be hoping more goals follow after opening his Bundesliga account for the season with the winner against Paderborn last weekend.

W ith the contest evenly balanced, both managers – Lucien Favre and Markus Gisdol – will be looking to their creative players to engineer a chance out of nothing in a hope to create a difference between the sides.

A win for either side will keep the Bavarian juggernaut firmly in their reach. Gladbach’s stout defensive performance against Guardiola’s team last weekend proved that Favre’s side aren’t just a flash in the pan this season and they deserve to be second going into November.

The competitiveness of German football shouldn’t be gaged on how far Borussia Dortmund have fallen behind Bayern Munich. The Stadion im Borussia-Park, an unlikely venue for the biggest game of the season so far, will display a level of quality that shows the true difficulties of the standard you need to reach to play in the Bundesliga’s upper echelons.

(photo credit: 1600iso via Flickr Creative Commons)