Bayern set to reclaim title as Frankfurt, Hoffenheim battle for champions league spot: Frauen-Bundesliga Week 21 Preview

· Frankfurt travel to Potsdam on Sunday afternoon as Hoffenheim host Werder Bremen on Friday evening

· FC Köln travel to Freiburg on Sunday afternoon as relegation battle goes to the wire

Former champions Bayern Munich can be crowned champions if they beat an indifferent Bayer Leverkusen at home on Saturday afternoon.

The Bavarians stretched their lead to four points at the top of the Bundesliga table with a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim last weekend as reigning champions Wolfsburg succumbed to their heaviest defeat of the term with a 4-0 result away to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Forward Lea Schüller scored their solitary goal over Hoffenheim last weekend and will be looking to fire her side to a much desired Bundesliga title come Sunday. Schüller is joint-second top scorer in the current Bundesliga campaign alongside Frankfurt’s Lara Prašnikar with 12 goals, three away from current top scorer, Wolfsburg’s Alexandra Popp.

Leverkusen, on the other hand, have had an indifferent season and have little to stop Alexander Straus’ side from sealing the title on Sunday having recorded just two wins in their last five outings. They are, however, buoyed by their 5-1 win demolition of Turbine Potsdam last weekend and will be looking to keep sixth place Freiburg away.

Bayern have amassed 55 points from 18 wins and a draw in 20 outings whilst Leverkusen have recorded 26 points from eight wins and two draws in the same number of encounters and are in fifth place on the standings.

Meanwhile, Frankfurt can seal third place if they beat relegated Turbine Potsdam away on Sunday, as the battle for the last UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) place goes to the wire.

The visitors have won four of their last five matches, the latest victory being a 4-0 demolition of Wolfsburg at home last weekend.

Forward Laura Freigang netted a brace in the epic win last weekend with forward Nicole Anyomi also going on the scoresheet and the duo will be expected to replicate their hot form as the Frankfurt side seek to seal their place in European football next term.

Potsdam, on the other hand, were relegated following their 5-1 thumping at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen last weekend and have nothing to play for.

Frankfurt are in third place on the standings on 48 points from 15 wins and three draws in 20 contests whilst Potsdam are at the bottom on eight points from two wins and two draws in the same number of ties.

Hoffenheim will be looking to make a final UWCL charge when they host Werder Bremen on Friday evening.

Hoffenheim may qualify for the champions league if they win their last two matches and Frankfurt lose theirs.

The hosts have managed three wins in their last five encounters with the latest result being a 1-0 defeat to championship hopefuls Bayern last weekend. Werder Bremen, on the other hand, have managed two wins in their last five matches and will be looking to build on their 3-2 win over SGS Essen last weekend.

Hoffenheim will deploy forward Melissa Kössler who is club top scorer with nine goals. They will also bank on the services of Kosovan attacker Erëleta Memeti who is club second top scorer with eight goals.

Hoffenheim are in fourth place on 42 points from 13 wins and three draws in 20 encounters whilst Werder Bremen are in eighth place on 21 points from five wins and six draws in the same number of outings.

Reigning champions Wolfsburg will be looking to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat to Frankfurt last weekend when they travel to Meppen on Sunday.

Wolfsburg can buy time in their title defence if Bayer Leverkusen beat Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Tommy Stroot’s side will be buoyed by their 4-1 triumph over Freiburg in the DFB Pokal final on Thursday evening.

Alexandra Popp, Rebecka Blomqvist and Dominique Janssen were all on the scoresheet for Die Wölfinnen in their 4-1 DFB Pokal final win over Freiburg and will be expected to replicate their form come Sunday.

Meppen, on the other hand, who have managed just a single win in their last five ties, will be looking to build on their 2-1 win over FC Köln last weekend.

Wolfsburg are in second place on 51 points from 17 wins in 20 ties whilst Meppen are in ninth place on 17 points from five wins and two draws in the same number of contests.

Freiburg will be looking to bounce back from their 4-1 DFB Pokal defeat to Wolfsburg on Thursday evening when they host relegation-threatened FC Köln on Sunday.

The hostesses will unleash their top scoring forward Janina Minge on their opponents in hopes to keep seventh place Essen at bay. Minge also scored Freiburg’s solitary goal in their 4-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in the DFB Pokal final on Thursday evening.

Freiburg are in sixth place on 24 points from seven wins and three draws in 20 outings whilst FC Köln are in 11th place on 15 points from four wins and three draws in the same number of encounters.

Essen will be looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats when they host relegation-threatened Duisburg on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors may need to win both their remaining fixtures to be safe from relegation.

Essen are in seventh place on 21 points from six wins and three draws in 20 contests whilst Duisburg are in 10th place on 17 points from five wins and two draws in the same number of ties.

FIXTURES: Friday 19 May, 2023 (19:15) Hoffenheim vs. Werder Bremen

FIXTURES: Saturday 20 May, 2023 (13:00) Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich

FIXTURES: Sunday 21 May, 2023 (13:00) Turbine Potsdam vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

FIXTURES: Sunday 21 May, 2023 (13:00) Freiburg vs. FC Köln

FIXTURES: Sunday 21 May, 2023 (16:00) SGS Eseen vs. Duisburg

FIXTURES: Sunday 21 May, 2023 (16:00) Meppen vs. VfL Wolfsburg

All Times are Central European Time (CET)