League leaders FC Bayern travel to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt for Matchday 22. Second-placed Leipzig are hoping to benefit from the duel between their two direct competitors, and will play out a dress rehearsal for their upcoming duel with FCB. Find out about the most important games of the matchday from a Bayern point of view!
1. FC Köln – VfB Stuttgart
Kick-off: Saturday 20 February 2021, 15:30 CET
Significance: FC Köln, Bayern's next home opponents at the Allianz Arena (27 February), are still in relegation trouble in 14th place after the 2-0 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt. "We have something to work on next week. Nevertheless, I'm convinced we'll achieve our goal for the season," said Köln coach Markus Gisdol immediately after the final whistle, with a view to the match against promoted Stuttgart this weekend. VfB are playing a largely carefree season, although the Swabians have recently recorded a small dent in form, winning just one of their last six Bundesliga games.
Key fact: Köln recently ended a series of 14 Bundesliga games without a win at home with a 3-1 victory against Arminia Bielefeld. Now they face a feared opponent in Stuttgart, who haven't lost at Köln for over 20 years (five away wins and five draws in this period).
Frankfurt defeated Köln on Matchday 21 and take on league leaders FC Bayern this weekend.
Hertha BSC – RB Leipzig
Kick-off: Sunday 21 February 2021, 15:30 CET
Significance: Due to the coronavirus relocation of their Champions League last 16 first leg to Budapest, Leipzig have dealt with some travel strains during the week, despite having home advantage, and fell to a bitter 2-0 defeat against Liverpool. The second-placed side now have a few days off before the duel at Hertha, winless in seven league matches, and can watch the direct clash between direct rivals Frankfurt and Bayern from the sofa. After three straight wins in the league, the Saxons want to continue their streak of success against the capital city club to benefit from the outcome of the top game.
Key fact: RB have won all four Bundesliga away games against Die Alte Dame, and have not celebrated so many victories in the German top flight (seven) against any other Bundesliga club.
International: Lazio – Sampdoria
Kick-off: Saturday 20 February 2021, 15:00 CET
Significance: It's Matchday 23 in Italy at the weekend, and Lazio will host Sampdoria on Saturday, three days before the cracker against Bayern. The Laziali have slipped back to seventh place in Serie A after their 3-1 defeat at Inter. However third-placed city rivals Roma are only three points ahead and Simone Inzaghi's team are still within striking distance in the close race for the Champions League places. To stay in touch, Lazio will want to extend their good run against Sampdoria. They have not lost at home against the men from Genoa since the beginning of 2005 (11 wins, three draws).
Key fact: Lazio striker Ciro Immobile is meeting his favorite opponents in Serie A. The attacker has netted ten times in his last seven duels with Sampdoria. He has scored a total of 12 goals against Genoa in the Italian top flight - a personal best.
Ciro Immobile scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win in the last home game against Genoa in early 2020.
Matchday 22 overview
Friday, 19.02.2021 | 20:30 CET
DSC Arminia Bielefeld – VfL Wolfsburg
Saturday, 20.02.2021 | 15:30 CET
Borussia Mönchengladbach – 1. FSV Mainz 05
Sport-Club Freiburg – 1. FC Union Berlin
Eintracht Frankfurt – FC Bayern
1. FC Köln – VfB Stuttgart
Saturday, 20.02.2021 | 18:30 CET
FC Schalke 04 – Borussia Dortmund
Sunday, 21.02.2021 | 13:30 CET
FC Augsburg – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Sunday, 21.02.2021 | 15:30 CET
Hertha BSC – RB Leipzig
Sunday, 21.02.2021 | 18:00 CET
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – SV Werder Bremen
After some injury issues on the previous matchday, the FC Bayern convalescents put in an extra shift during the week:
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