Bundesliga 2012, Week 5 Preview And Matches: Midweek Matches!

We have midweek Bundesliga games on games on games. Yep. We have a full slate of Bundesliga games! I'm excited. You should be excited, too.

Y'ALL, FOR REAL, THE BUNDESLIGA IS BACK FOR MIDWEEK GAMES!

Tuesday, September 25

Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

Bayern are looking to start the season with five straight victories and will get that opportunity against Felix Magath's struggling Wolfsburg side. Bayern dispatched Schalke on Saturday in Gelsenkirchen without a lot of difficulty. They'll look to do the same against a side that has struggled to score goals this season. With a match away to Bremen this weekend and a Champions League match next week, I think we'll see Jupp Heynckes experiment with the side a bit against Wolfsburg. What can the visitors do for a win against Bayern? Pray.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3 - 0 Wolfsburg

Schalke vs Mainz - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

After losing to Bayern at the Veltins Arena over the weekend, expect to see a more focused Schalke side with Mainz coming to town Tuesday. A shake up to the defense is being reported with Benedikt Höwedes moving into central defense for Joel Matip with Atsuto Uchida starting at right back. The belief is that Jefferson Farfan can involved himself into the attack more with a right back that can get up and down the pitch and overlap with the Peruvian. Mainz haven't been in the best form this season, and it's hard for me to count a 2-0 victory against Augsburg as progress as any kind.
Prediction: Schalke 2 - 0 Mainz

Greuther Fürth vs Fortuna Düsseldorf - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

Fortuna Düsseldorf haven't allowed a goal this season. They have only scored two goals, but they have six points. They're going to figure this one out somehow.
Prediction: Greuther Fürth 0 - 1 Fortuna Düsseldorf

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

Perfect Eintracht Frankfurt host champion Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in an attempt to become the first promoted team to start the season with five straight victories. Frankfurt lost two players in the first half hour due to injury against Nürnberg, but they battled on to a 2-1 victory. Takashi Inui has been brilliant so far this year for Frankfurt since joining from Bochum over the summer. BVB suffered a rather shocking defeat Saturday to Hamburg. Ivan Perisic was great against Hamburg in the losing effort. They really screwed the pooch defensively, and we expect better from BVB at this point. Expect a better performance this week.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - 2 Borussia Dortmund

Wednesday, September 26

Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Hamburg - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

The start to Borussia Mönchengladbach's season hasn't gone exactly to play yet for Lucien Favre. They were expecting more points out of their first four matches, but they'll have to settle for the five earned so far. The club is clearly still adjusting to life without Marco Reus, Roman Neustädter, and Dante. While Granit Xhaka looks like a brilliant signing, Gladbach are still trying to get Luuk de Jong settled. Hamburg shocked everyone over the weekend with a huge victory over Borussia Dortmund. Rafael Van der Vaart and Heung Min Son were excellent and will look to continue that this week.
Prediction: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 - 1 Hamburg

Stuttgart vs Hoffenheim - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

Stuttgart conceded two early goals against Werder Bremen before battling back for a draw. Both of Bremen's goals were scored on counter attacks, but Stuttgart pretty much dominated the contest. Scoring goals has been at a premium in league play up to this point for them, but they'll be hoping that Sunday's goal scoring output is a precursor of things to come. Hoffenheim grabbed their first points of any kind last week in a big upset of Hannover. Markus Babbel has to be thrilled that his side finally showed some signs of life. Unfortunately, it's not a good time to be traveling to the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Prediction: Stuttgart 2 - 1 Hoffenheim

Hannover 96 vs Nürnberg - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

Hannover suffered their first loss of the season in a rather shocking defeat to Hoffenheim. Without Szabolcs Huszti in the lineup due to a suspension, the offense stalled and failed to generate many quality chances. The sluggishness to their play looked like there double duty in the league and Europe was finally catching up with them. Nürnberg looked like they were going to to fight back and earn a draw against perfect Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday, but they fell just short. Hiroshi Kiyotake has been spectacular for Der Club so far this season since making the move over the summer. Kiyotake is a brilliant player and has been fun to watch this season. Hannover will have their hands full.
Prediction: Hannover 96 2 - 2 Nürnberg

Freiburg vs Werder Bremen - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

Freiburg's side is improving and have performed admirably at times this season. Bremen put on a good show against Stuttgart over the weekend. Well, their counter attacking football was entertaining. Kevin De Bruyne was solid again, and his link-up play with Nils Petersen is getting better by the week. Thomas Schaaf has been tinkering with the offense trying to find the right connection. Defensively, they do have some work to do. If they can figure out the defense, Bremen could make for a formidable side this season.
Prediction: Freiburg 1 - 3 Werder Bremen

Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen - 20:00 CET / 2:00 PM EDT

It's been a disastrous start of the season for Augsburg with only one point in four matches. Markus Weinzierl's job will surely be in danger if results don't start turning around soon. Bayer haven't put on the best performances this season, but they showed well against Borussia Mönchengladbach over the weekend. Had Marc Andre ter Stegen not been on the pitch, I imagine that Bayer comes away with a sure victory. The match will be a big one for Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypiä. Three points will be expected, and anything less than that will be a failure.
Prediction: Augsburg 0 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen