The German Bundesliga will return this weekend with all 18 teams in action on match-day 10.
On Saturday afternoon, multiple defending champions Bayern Munich will travel away to Frankfurt at the Commerzbank Arena.
Bayern have been shaky this campaign and are part of the top of the table congestion.
Currently, they sit second on the log, a point behind leaders Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Bavarians have not been as strong as they usually be and the 2-1 victory over Union Berlin last time out was their first in three games having lost one and drawn the other of the two fixtures prior.
As expected, Bayern are the top scorers of the division but it is their defence that has caused them all sorts of issues.
After 9 games, Nico Kovac’s side have let in 11 goals, keeping a clean sheet in only two games.
For the visit to Frankfurt, Bayern will be without Lucas Hernandez and Nicholas Sula, two of their first-choice defenders. The good news is that David Alaba has fully recovered from injury and will be expected to take up the spot on the left while Pavard covers for Sule with Joshua Kimmich slotting in at right-back.
The other absentees for Bayern are Javi Martinez and Fiete Arp.
For Frankfurt, they have had an average start to the season and currently sit 9th on the log.
They have been extremely inconsistent in their results too and despite winning four games already, they are yet to win two in a row.
After going on a four-game unbeaten run, they lost 4-2 away to Gladbach last Sunday.
Mijat Gacinovi, Almamy Toure, Andre Silva and Kevin Trapp will be out for the home side as they seek to avoid a second consecutive draw.
Bayern have enjoyed a decent history especially away to Frankfurt as they have not lost there since November 2011.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen will be welcoming leaders Gladbach at the Bayer Arena.
Gladbach somehow find themselves at the top of the standings after 9 rounds despite losing two games already.
They have not been that impressive a side in the division but have found their way onto the top.
They defeated Frankfurt 4-2 in their last game, bouncing back from a 1-0 loss away to Dortmund the week before.
A win at Leverkusen will ensure Gladbach remains top for at least another 7 days as they keep their dreams of a first title in ages, alive.
However, they will have to do so minus a host of first-team players for the game. Rami Bensebaini, Tobias Sippel, Fabian Johnson, Keanan Bennetts, Torben Musel, Alassane Plea, Rafael and Breel Embolo are all expected to sit the game out.
Leverkusen on the other hand have been in bad form lately as they have not won in their last three league games (D2 L1).
Their last victory was over a month ago when they beat Augsburg 3-0 away from home.
Eighth spot on the log and sitting 4 points behind the leaders is not the worst at the moment but Bayer will be gunning for more against a depleted Gladbach side.
Gladbach defeated Leverkusen home and away last season including a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
On match-day 10, Borussia Dortmund will be hoping to register a second victory in six games when they host unbeaten Wolfsburg at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.
For one-time leaders RB Leipzig, they host Mainz 05, hoping to snap a four-game winless run.
All the Bundesliga match-day 10 fixtures
Friday, 01-11-2019
*Hoffenheim 3-0 Paderborn (Full Time).
Saturday, 02-11-2019
*Dortmund vs Wolfsburg @5:30pm
*Leipzig vs Mainz 05 @5:30pm
*Leverkusen vs Gladbach @5:30pm
*Frankfurt vs Bayern @5:30pm
*Bremen vs Freiburg @5:30pm
*Union Berlin vs Hertha Berlin @8:30pm
Sunday, 03-11-2019
*Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Koln @5:30pm
*Augsburg vs Schalke 04 @8pm
