Hoffenheim seek to keep momentum as Bayern give chase
Hamburg - Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim will be seeking a fifth straight win when lowly Karlsruhe are the visitors on Saturday, while champions Bayern Munich are beginning to put the pressure on.
Juergen Klinsmann's side face visiting Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday following three successive wins which keep them within four points of surprise side Hoffenheim.
Bayer Leverkusen could meanwhile could go top - at least overnight - if they beat visiting Wolfsburg on Friday evening, while third-placed SV Hamburg will also be looking to regain the lead in the table when they travel to northern rivals Hanover on Saturday.
Hoffenheim came from behind to win 3-1 at Bochum on Wednesday evening to move onto 22 points from 10 games, one ahead of Leverkusen, who won 2-0 at Werder Bremen on Tuesday, and two ahead of Hamburg, who earned a 2-0 victory over visiting Stuttgart Wednesday.
It was a pleasing victory for Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick who was impressed with the was his side responded when behind.
"Of course, we are well satisfied with the result and I was personally pleased with the way the boys played in the second half," he said.
"It's nice to see that we can turn a game like this around. When you see how young our team is then you can value the victory even more."
There are also plenty of smiling faces at Bayern now after the champions appear to be clicking into gear after a stumbling start to the season.
Wednesday's comeback 2-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt with goals from Miroslav Klose and Franck Ribery was the third in a row in the league for coach Klinsmann, whose side is now fourth on 18 points.
"We had a sticky moment after the unlucky own goal (from Martin Demichelis), but I was basically unconcerned," he said.
"The team is so fit and solid at the present time, you could see that from our body language. They clapped their hands and said: OK, it's time we stepped up a gear.
"I think things are developing nicely for us at the moment, and not just in terms of results. We're coming together more and more as a team, we're helping each other close down the space, and we're controlling matches.
"I think it was a very controlled performance today, even if it was tense after we conceded the goal. We all want to go top of the league, and every win takes us closer."
Bayern should be confident of claiming the three points against a Bielefeld side with just one victory this season and only one win and two draws against the Bavarians in 16 encounters.
Elswhere, on-form Hertha Berlin - now fifth after a 3-0 drubbing of Hanover on Wednesday - travel to off-colour Werder Bremen whose
2-0 home defeat to Leverkusen on Tuesday leaves them languishing in mid-table.
Sixth-placed Schalke 04 will be looking to make up some ground when they visit bottom club Energie Cottbus, while VfB Stuttgart take on visiting Cologne in Saturday's remaining game.
On Sunday, Borussia Dortmund - level on points with Schalke - entertain lowly Bochum, while second-last Borussia Moenchengladbach have fellow strugglers Frankfurt as the visitors. (dpa)