Eintracht Frankfurt must contend with both illness and a rampant Bayern Munich while Hertha Berlin hopes to halt high-flying Borussia Dortmund.
Here are five things to look out for in the Bundesliga this weekend:
Bayern hosts Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt's squad has been hit by a virus ahead of Saturday's match at leaders Bayer Munich. Bayern has scored 25 goals in six games, notably notching up a 10-2 aggregate win over Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Germany's Jerome Boateng is set to make his first Bayern appearance after shoulder surgery. Bayern drew 2-2 at sixth-placed Eintracht in October, but Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac has low expectations.
"If I can write the names of 18 fit players on the team sheet, I'll be happy," he said.
Defenders Michael Hector and Timothy Chandler, plus goal-scoring captain Alex Meier are amongst those affected by a stomach virus.
Berlin boss' Barca switch
Hertha Berlin hosts Borussia Dortmund on Saturday with Pal Dardai admitting he abandoned pre-match analysis to watch Barcelona's stunning win over PSG.
The Hertha coach saw Dortmund's 4-0 Champions League win over Benfica on Wednesday on television, but switched channels to see the end of Barca's stunning 6-1 comeback win after his three football-mad sons protested.
"In all honesty, I turned over quick when I heard the score — thank god — because everyone who saw the Barca game can learn a thousand things,” said Dardai.
Hertha suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Hamburg last weekend and lost to Dortmund last month in a penalty shootout in the the German Cup round of 16. The teams also drew 1-1 in Dortmund last October.
Hertha faces a busy afternoon trying to contain Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has hit seven goals in three games, including a hat-trick against Benfica.
Korkut’s Leverkusen debut
Tayfun Korkut makes his debut as Bayer Leverkusen coach against Werder Bremen on Friday in a final warm-up before its daunting Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid.
Leverkusen replaced Roger Schmidt with ex-Hanover boss Korkut, 42, following its 6-2 mauling by Dortmund. Leverkusen has lost five of its last seven games and is 10th in Germany's top flight, 11 points away from the Champions League places.
Next Wednesday, Leverkusen will try to overturn its 4-2 home-leg defeat against Atletico.
“There is no reason to fight fires here," said Korkut. “I feel great willingness in the team, they are very eager, willing and highly motivated."
Leverkusen captain Lars Bender is doubtful, while Bremen skipper Clemens Fritz is out for the rest of the season with an injured ankle. Bremen's ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry is doubtful with a knee injury.
Keita's fitness race
Second-placed RB Leipzig hopes to have playmaker Naby Keita fit for Saturday's home match against Wolfsburg. The Guinean midfielder injured his foot in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Augsburg, but an MRI scan has revealed only bruising.
Leipzig's top scorer Timo Werner, who has 14 goals, could pile more misery on Wolfsburg and new coach Andries Jonker, their third this season.
The Dutchman has come in with the 2009 German champion only above the relegation places on goal difference and began his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Mainz.
Hamburg's revival
Relegation-threatened Hamburg want to back up last weekend’s shock win over Hertha Berlin at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.
Despite taking 21 points from its last 13 league games, including wins over Leverkusen and Leipzig, Hamburg remains in the bottom three. It is fighting to keep its status as the Bundesliga’s only ever-present side, having appeared in every top-flight campaign since its inception in 1963-64. “The blame lies with the first 10 games, when we took only two points," explained ex-Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler.
Under Dieter Hecking, who took charge in December, Gladbach has posted impressive recent wins over Ingolstadt and Schalke to climb to ninth. Attacking midfielder Lars Stindl has scored four goals in his last five games.
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