Five things to look out for on Matchday 11
The Bundesliga returns from the international break for Matchday 11 with some mouth-watering fixtures.
bundesliga.com takes a closer look at what to expect this weekend...
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Braced for Der Klassiker
Arguably the biggest fixture in the Bundesliga calendar, Der Klassiker pitches leaders FC Bayern München against Borussia Dortmund at the latter’s SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Bayern are still unbeaten but dropping two points at home to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Matchday 10 while Dortmund were dishing out a 5-2 thrashing to Hamburger SV gives Thomas Tuchel’s side a chance to cut the gap on their perennial rivals to just three points. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was in scintillating form against Hamburg with four goals inside 48 minutes to move clear of Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski, and how these two fare is sure to be one of the many sub-plots in what could be another gripping chapter in this fixture’s exciting story.
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Watch:Top 10 Klassiker moments:
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Rhine derby fever
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Borussia Mönchengladbach host 1. FC Köln hoping that their fine record at home to their near-neighbours can prompt an upturn in their current fortunes. Winless and goalless over their last five Bundesliga outings, the Foals have slipped to 11th in the table after Matchday 10 but they have lost just once in the last 11 Rhine Derbies at BORUSSIA-PARK. Despite 11 goals from striker Anthony Modeste, the Billy Goats have been unable to string good results together but their visit to Gladbach could put them back among the Champions League places in the table.
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Watch: All of Anthony Modeste's 11 goals for the season so far:
Can Leverkusen halt Leipzig's charge?
RB Leipzig’s unbeaten start to the season and their rise to second place ahead of Matchday 11 is one of the biggest stories of the Bundesliga so far. Taking three points at Bayer 04 Leverkusen would be another impressive scalp for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side, but even just one point would put them top and if Bayern were to lose Der Klassiker at Dortmund then the almost unprecedented sight of Leipzig on top of the Bundesliga would come to pass. But Bayer are sure to have something to say about that, and despite some maddening inconsistency this season they will be one of Leipzig’s biggest tests of the campaign to date.
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Watch: Leipzig march on with a fine win over 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Matchday 10:
Revamped Hoffenheim flying under Nagelsmann
Another leading candidate for surprise package of the season, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will look to build on their Matchday 10 draw with Bayern when they host rock-bottom Hamburger SV. Die Kraichgauer are virtually unrecognisable from the side head coach Julian Nagelsmann inherited from Huub Stevens in February and are currently just one of five teams across Europe's major leagues to remain unbeaten in 2016/17. It all makes for a frightening proposition for former Hoffenheim head coach Markus Gisdol, whose Bundesliga record in the HSV hot seat reads one draw and four defeats.
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Watch: Highlights of Hoffenheim's 1-1 draw with Bayern at the Allianz Arena:
All change at flailing Ingolstadt
Ahead of Hamburg on goal difference, 17th-placed FC Ingolstadt 04 are showing all the symptoms of the dreaded 'second season syndrome'. Die Schanzer finished 11th in their debut Bundesliga campaign, but have picked up just one point since drawing with Hamburg on the opening weekend and have failed to win in 15 matches dating back to April 2015. Defeat to FC Augsburg on Matchday 10 brought an end to Markus Kauczinski's winless tenure, with Maik Walpurgis - whose last position was in charge of third-tier VfL Osnabrück - his left-field replacement. With no prior Bundesliga experience, a touch of the Nagelsmann would be most welcome when the 43-year-old takes his top-flight bow on the road at SV Darmstadt 98 on Matchday 11.
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Watch: Highlights of Ingolstadt's Bavarian Derby defeat to FC Augsburg:
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