Futbolgrad Network

In this video, Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the ongoing transfer saga of Jobe Bellingham, his potential move to Borussia Dortmund, and the strategic decisions made by Eintracht Frankfurt regarding player acquisitions. They explore the implications of Bellingham's transfer fee, the divided opinions among Sunderland fans about his abilities, and the broader context of player development in the Bundesliga. Takeaways Frankfurt was never close to signing Jobe Bellingham. Bellingham's transfer fee was a significant concern for clubs. Frankfurt is focusing on younger, less expensive talent. Dortmund is currently the only serious contender for Bellingham. Bellingham's market value is debated among fans and analysts. The physical nature of the Championship suits certain players. Bellingham's age means he still has room to grow. Dortmund's financial situation complicates their transfer strategy. The risk of signing Bellingham is notable for Dortmund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to the full show on Substack or on our YoutTube channel. On the first bonus show of the week, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the biggest transfer stories in the Bundesliga. They kick things off by breaking down the big news of the week: Erik Ten Hag is the new Bayer Leverkusen head coach. Will the former Ajax and Man Utd boss be the ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso at the BayArena? The duo then turn to two other managerial changes, as Werder Bremen parted ways with Ole Werner and Augsburg sacked Jess Thorup in favour of local lad Sandro Wagner. Will both clubs finally climb out of mid-table with smart managerial appointments or could these risky moves push them back towards relegation? They then wrap up the show by discuss new reports linking Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo to Bayern Munich and break down whether the Dutch talent would be a smart signing by the Bundesliga champions or little more than a runners-up medal in the chase for Florian Wirtz. Enjoy!

In our final main episode of the season, we dive into a dramatic weekend in German football as Stuttgart claim the DFB Pokal and Heidenheim secure their Bundesliga status in the relegation play-offs. Manu reflects on a whirlwind road trip across Germany, taking in matches and soaking up the culture, culminating in a remarkable final at Berlin's Olympiastadion. We break down how Stuttgart tactically dismantled Arminia Bielefeld in a 4-2 win, praise Sepp Hoeneß for salvaging the club's season, and reflect on the broader implications of Stuttgart's title win for their long-term trajectory. Then it's off to the Saarland, where Elversberg's fairytale push for promotion ended in heartbreak at the hands of a pragmatic and clinical Heidenheim side. We dissect Frank Schmidt's honest post-match reaction, credit Leo Scienza and Paul Wanner for their decisive moments, and consider what might lie ahead for both clubs. Alongside all of that, we take time to acknowledge the incredible fan culture surrounding both fixtures, Bielefeld's inspiring run to the final, and what these moments might mean for each club's future.

In the final preview podcast of the season, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the coming German Cup final between Arminia Bielefeld and Stuttgart. While the lower-league minows may go into the clash in Berlin as notable underdogs, the pair breakdown Bielefeld's remarkable run through the competition and explain why “Die Arminen” will be more than a match for their Bundesliga counterparts on the day. They then move on to Stuttgart, breaking down what's gone wrong from Sebastian Hoeneß's side in the German top-flight this season and whether they can muster enough talent from their battered and bruised squad to finish the season with the ultimate piece of silverwware. Enjoy!

Listen to the full episode of this show by either joining our Substack as a subscriber or becoming a member of our Youtube channel. On the second bonus show of the week, Manu and Stefan hosted a live show with their Substack subscrubers and Youtube members to answer as many questions as they could within the hour. That included: The ups and downs of Florian Kohfeldt's coaching career Dortmund's interest in Ryan Cherki and whether they're still in a position to sign him Florian Wirtz looking more likely to join Liverpool and and what that means for Bayern's outspoken hierarchy Bayern need a second striker and Nick Woltemade may be the perfect candidate Whether Mainz will need to make some big changes up front in the summer Why Tim Kleindienst is probably staying at Gladbach and that's not exactly a bad thing Stuttgart has a young and talented squad but needs to streamline things next season Plus much, much more! Enjoy

Following a mad final matchday in both the Bundesliga, and 2. Bundesliga, Manu is joined by Matt Ford to break it all down from the RheinEnergieStadion in Köln. The two kick off the show recapping 1. FC Köln's return to the Bundesliga. They then move on to chat about Borussia Dortmund's remarkable comeback under Niko Kovac. Is the Croatian the coach of the season? Then they chat about Bayern Munich and their final game against Hoffenheim. Was the press unfair criticizing the team's trip to Ibiza? Enjoy!

On the final Bundesliga preview show of the season, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the biggest talking points from German football this weekend. They kick things off by breaking down the two matches that will decide the final top four in the Bundesliga, as Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt lock horns, while Borussia Dortmund look to avoid any hiccups against a tricky Holstein Kiel. They then turn their attention towards the 2.Bundesliga, where FC Köln will face off with Kaiserslautern to see which of the two clubs will finally realise their dreams of promotion to the top flight next season. Enjoy!   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and look ahead to the weekend 06:55 Dortmund vs. Kiel: Pressure and Expectations 12:40 Freiburg vs. Frankfurt: Champions League Implications 18:41 FC Köln vs. Kaiserslautern: Promotion Battle 35:16 The Dynamics of Bundesliga Promotion and Relegation 38:18 Final Thoughts

This week's podcast delves into the emotional farewells of Xabi Alonso and Thomas Müller, highlighting their significant impacts on their respective clubs and the Bundesliga. The discussion covers Dortmund's Champions League aspirations, the legacy of Müller, and the changes in coaching dynamics within the league. The need for Leverkusen to return to its roots in player development post-Alonso is emphasized, alongside the importance of leadership and team culture in football. The future of both clubs is explored, with a focus on the next generation of players and the potential for reshaping team dynamics in the Bundesliga. Takeaways Xabi Alonso's farewell was emotional for Leverkusen fans. Dortmund's Champions League hopes are still alive after a strong performance. Thomas Müller's legacy is defined by his leadership and intelligence on the pitch. Alonso's coaching style has changed the landscape of Bundesliga football. Leverkusen needs to return to its roots in player development after Alonso's departure. The future of Dortmund looks promising under Kovac's management. Müller's impact on Bayern Munich and German football is irreplaceable. Coaching changes in the Bundesliga could reshape team dynamics next season. The importance of team culture and leadership in football cannot be overstated. The next generation of players must step up to fill the void left by legends.

On this week's Gegenpressing preview show, Manu and Stefan kick things off by taking a look at HSV's clash with Ulm in the second division and the prospects of the old giant of German football finally winning promotion back to the Bundesliga after seven years. They then turn their attention towards Freiburg's trip to Holstein Kiel and breakdown why the Storks have put up such a good fiight in recent months. They then wrap up the show by discussing RB Leipzig's showdown with Werder Bremen and why Ole Werner's team are on the cusp of qualifying for Europe. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Bundesliga podcast, hosts Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the conclusion of the Bundesliga title race, focusing on Bayern Munich's triumph and Harry Kane's first trophy in Germany. They analyze the season's context, player performances, and the impact of coach Vincent Kompany. The conversation also touches on the challenges Bayern may face in the future and the significance of Kane's achievement in relation to his career.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Trophy Talk 09:49 Vincent Kompany's Coaching Impact 12:36 Player Performances and Key Contributions 15:33 Challenges Ahead for Bayern Munich 31:04 The Challenge of Next Season 40:47 Harry Kane's First Title and Its Significance

Manu and Stefan were back for the Bundesliga preview show (a day late due to travel), and there's plenty to unpack. Here's your weekly conversation-style recap from the pod: Bayern on the Brink (Without Kane) Manu: “This could be it — if Bayern beat Leipzig, they win the title.” Stefan: “And Harry Kane won't be on the pitch, which just writes its own jokes.” Still, Kane and Eric Dier will get their first career trophies if Bayern wrap it up. Stefan joked Dier could do a John Terry and show up in full kit at full-time. Stefan: “Bayern won't delay the title for sentimental reasons. They'll get it done.” Both agree this season's been mixed for Bayern, but Kompany has done the job that matters: reclaiming the Bundesliga title. Leipzig's Squeaky-Bum Time Manu: “This game is massive for Leipzig. If they don't get a result, Champions League football could be gone.” Stefan: “They're up against it. Orban and Gulácsi are out. Without them, they're hopeless.” Leipzig are under pressure from Dortmund and Freiburg. Without Champions League qualification, they may need to sell key players like Xavi Simons. Stefan: “They've been sleepwalking for years. Leverkusen's rise is forcing them to wake up.” Manu: “The issue isn't ambition. It's their failure to find the right formula.” The coaching situation is also in focus. Manu and Stefan suggest Leipzig need to make a bold hire — maybe Sandro Wagner or Cesc Fàbregas. Freiburg's Big Chance Manu: “If Freiburg beat Leverkusen and Leipzig lose, the door to the Champions League really opens.” Stefan: “Julian Schuster has actually improved on Streich's work.” Freiburg are two points ahead of Leipzig. Despite struggling against top-four teams this season, they have a chance to change that now. Stefan: “They need to break the curse. If you want to be top four, you have to beat top-four clubs.” They've signed a replacement for Ritsu Doan and could have Noah Atubolu back in goal — a major boost. Manu also explained why Freiburg shouldn't be considered a small club anymore. Manu: “Freiburg's greater metro area is bigger than Dortmund. They're a sleeping giant with real infrastructure now.”

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest talking points from matchday 31 in the Bundesliga. They kick things off with Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Mainz and focus on the remarkable performance of Leroy Sane. Has the German international played his way back into the good books at the Allianz Arena and could now stay at the club next season? They then take a look at Borussia Dortmund's chaotic 3-2 win over Hoffenheim and marvel at Niko Kovac and his team's ability to climb back into the top four against all odds. Then, to round up the show, the duo then turn their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt's emphatic 4-0 win over RB Leipzig and applaud the Eagles for what has been a wonderful season as they all but confirmed Champions League football for next season. Enjoy!

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss two games in particular. On Saturday evening RB Leipzig travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the hopes of inflicting some serious damage to their fellow top-four contenders. But in the meantime the dynamic duo discuss the names linked with the open managerial post in Leipzig and debate whether the club will be about to convince the right man to replace Marco Rose. They then turn their attention to the Nordderby between Werder Bremen and St Pauli and discuss why Oliver Burke's decision to leave the club for Union Berlin is not only bad news for Ole Werner's side but is perhaps also an indication of why all may not be well at the Weserstadion despite their climb up the league table.

On this week's main show Stefan and Manu sit down to discuss all the major talking points from another fantastic weekend of German football. They kick things off by taking in Borussia Dortmund's impressive 3-2 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach and discuss why Niko Kovac's team are finally beginning to look like a team capable of finishing in the top four. They then take a look at Union Berlin's 4-4 draw with Stuttgart, focusing on how Steffen Baumgart has managed to steer the capital club away from relegation. They then finish up on St Pauli's 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday night, taking time to heap praise on Alexander Blessin and his rowdy squad from the Reeperbahn. Enjoy! Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:50 Dortmund 3-2 Gladbach 23:31 Union Berlin 4-4 Stuttgart 34:25 St Pauli 1-1 Leverkusen

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan spend much of the show discussing Eintracht Frankfurt's defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League and their quest to finish in the top four in the league to qualify for the Champions League. This then leads to a general discussion about the poor performances of all German clubs in Europe this season and the reasons behind that. They then spend the second half of the show discussing Wolfsburg's recent woes in the league and why Ralph Hasenhüttl may be in serious trouble if his team can't make the most of their last five games of the season. Enjoy!

On this week's episode of the Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest talking points from the weekend in German football. They kick things off with a breakdown of Bayern Munich's 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in “Der Klassiker”. Should Vincent Kompany's side be happy with a point or are there bigger issues at play in Munich that the German giants will need to fix before their clash with Inter? The duo then took in Bayer Leverkusen's dull 0-0 draw with Union Berlin and debated how much credit or criticism is fair for Xabi Alonso's team this season. Then, to wrap up the show, Manu shone a light on Eintracht Frankfurt's season and discussed what they've done so well in the Bundesliga, ahead of his interview with the club's CEO.

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss two of the biggest games in the German top-flight this weekend. They kick things off with St Pauli's trip to Holstein Kiel, where Alexander Blessin's side will be hoping to put a recent run of bad form on the road behind them to pick up an all-important three points against another team at the bottom of the table. They then spend the second half of the show discussing “Der Klassiker”. Whether it be the incorrect use of the term, Bayern Munich's struggles in defence or Niko Kovac's inconsistent tactics, the duo break down every aspect of the biggest game in Germany this weekend. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Bundesliga podcast, hosts Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the latest developments in the Bundesliga, including Bayern Munich's injury struggles and their upcoming Champions League match against Inter Milan. They also analyze Borussia Dortmund's recent resurgence and their chances in the Champions League against Barcelona, as well as Bayer Leverkusen's title race and their performance against Heidenheim. Takeaways Stefan shares his experience of becoming a father. Bayern Munich faces significant injury challenges ahead of crucial matches. Dortmund's recent performance shows promise for a top-four finish. Leverkusen's resilience keeps them in the title race despite poor performances. The importance of squad depth is highlighted in Bayern's current situation. Dortmund's attacking players are starting to click at the right time. Bayern's reliance on key players like Musiala raises concerns for their Champions League hopes. Leverkusen's struggles may impact their title aspirations as the season progresses.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to podcast 4:26 Augsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich 20:27 Freiburg 1-4 Dortmund 39:06 Leverkusen's Resilience in the Title Race

On this week's Gegenpressing Bundesliga preview show, Manu Veth is once again joined by AFP correspondent Dan Wighton. The two kick things off with the latest from Union Berlin. Do they have enough to stay in the league as they host Wolfsburg? They then switch their focus to Heidenheim, who look to emulate Bielefeld as they host Leverkusen on Saturday. Now free of European football, can Heidenheim stay in the league after all? Finally, they chat about Bayern Munich's visit to Augsburg. With all the injuries in mind, could Bayern be in trouble to see out the season?

With Stefan Bienkowski on assignment, Manu Veth is joined by Matt Ford on this week's Gegenpressing main show. The two kick things off by discussing Borussia Dortmund's win over Mainz. They then progress to talk about what this means about the Champions League race, especially as Frankfurt got the job done against VfB Stuttgart in impressive fashion. They then move on to chat about RB Leipzig firing Marco Rose. What is next for the Red Bull empire? Then they chat all about the latest drama coming out of Munich with Thomas Müller now set to leave Bayern, plus the club's latest injury concerns. Enjoy!

On this week's Gegenpressing Bundesliga preview how Manu and Stefan kick things off by discussing Bochum's trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night and breakdown how Dieter Hecking has done such a good job since taking over the relegation-threatened club. They then turn their attention towards Bayern Munich's clash with St Pauli and discuss whether huge injuries to Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano could derail their entire season. They then wrap up the show by previewing Eintracht Frankfurt vs Stuttgart, taking note of the terrible run of form from both teams and why either of them could desperately use a win on Saturday evening. Enjoy!

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan offer up instant reaction to Germany's dramatic 3-3 draw with Italy, which allowed Julian Nagelsmann's side to progress to the semi-finals of the Nations League thanks to a 2-1 win in the first leg. They discuss an impressive first half from the hosts, before disecting their complete implosion in the second half. The duo then go on to discuss the wider structure of the Nations League and their problems with the nature of international football in the modern game. Enjoy!

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast Manu and Stefan scratch their heads and try to make sense of another crazy week of Bundesliga football. They begin by taking a closer look at Borussia Dortmund's somewhat expected defeat to RB Leipzig on Saturday night, pondering whether Niko Kovac is actually making any progress with the Black & Yellows. They then consider why Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich side seem intent on throwing away the Bundesliga title, following a drab 1-1 draw with Union Berlin. Then they wrap up the show by breaking down Bayer Leverkusen's dramatic 4-3 win over Stuttgart and consider the possibility that there may be one final twist in the tale of this Bundesliga season.

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan sit down to preview the biggest talking points ahead of matchday 26 in the Bundesliga. They begin by taking a look at Freiburg's trip to Mainz and take a closer look at how Bo Henriksen's side somehow managed to be the surprise package of the season in Germany. They then turn their attention to RB Leipzig's coming test against Borussia Dortmund and question whether Xavi Simons is really the problem with Marco Rose's team or just a convenient scapegoat. They then conclude the episode by talking about Stuttgart's clash with Bayer Leverkusen and ponder whether Sebastian Hoeneß could be the man to replace Xabi Alonso.

For the first time since April 30, 1988 Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund all lost in the same Bundesliga matchday (thanks for the stat GGFN). So on this week's main show, Manu and Stefan break down Dortmund's demoralising defeat to Augburg, Leverkusen's struggles against Werder Bremen after losing Florian Wirtz to injury and then take a look at Bayern's bizarre 3-2 humbling to Bochum. They then round up the show by previewing the Champions League showdown between Xabi Alonso and Vincent Kompany's teams. Enjoy!

On this week's (slightly late) Bundesliga preview show, Stefan and Manu sit down to discuss a number of the biggest stories in German football ahead of the weekend's football. They begin with the biggest story of the week, which happens to be Joshua Kimmich's reported new deal with Bayern Munich. While Stefan struggles to hold back his surprise, Manu explains the twists and turns of the latest saga at the Allianz Arena. They then move on to RB Leipzig's difficult trip to Freiburg and discuss whether Marco Rose will see out the remainder of the season in charge of the Red Bull club. Then, to wrap things up, they turn to Eintracht Frankfurt's Sunday afternoon clash with Union Berlin and take stock of the Eagles and their push for Champions League football next season. Enjoy!

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss Bundesliga matchday 24 and the biggest talking points from the weekend's football. They begin by discussing Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 win over St Pauli, which was their first consecutive win in the German top-flight this season. Is Niko Kovac finally turning things around? After that, they gone to discuss Bayern Munich's impressive 2-1 win over Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen's 4-1 thumping of Eintracht Frankfurt then preview the Champions League showdown between both teams this week. Enjoy!

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan planned on sitting down to discuss Bayern Munich's trip to Stuttgart but were instead forced to talk about the breaking news that the German giants have withdrawn their contract offer for Joshua Kimmich. Could the German international really leave Bayern this summer? We discuss all that and more on today's show, before previewing Bayer Leverkusen's trip to Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin's must-win clash with Holstein Kiel.

On this week's main Gegenpressing podcast Manu and Stefan discuss the three biggest games of the weekend. They start by taking a look at Borussia Dortmund's emphatic 6-0 win over Union Berlin and ask whether the result was due to the home side performing well or the visitors playing dreadfully. They then take in RB Leipzig's clumsy 2-2 draw with Heidenheim and ponder what the future holds for the Red Bull club and head coach Marco Rose. Then they finish up by analysing Bayern Munich's impressive 4-0 win ove Eintracht Frankfurt and get to the bottom of why Vincent Kompany's B team seems to be better than his A team.

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan take a look at three games in particular that have caught their eye this weekend. They kick things off with Mainz vs St Pauli and break down why Bo Henriksen's side have been perhaps the biggest surprise package of the season and whether they could truly push for Europe come the end of the season. They then turn their attention to another aspiring continental club in Borussia Mönchengladbach, who are hoping to continue their impressive start to 2025 with a win over Augsburg. Are the Foals just a one-man team or is there more to it than that? The dynamic duo then wrap up the show by previewing Eintracht Frankfurt's trip to Bayern Munich, where the Eagles will surely be looking to take advantage of an injury to Harry Kane to take all three points from Vincent Kompany's side. Enjoy!

On this week's main Gegenpressing show Manu and Stefan kick things off by discussing Borussia Dortmund's dreadful performance away to Bochum. To the surprise of very few, Niko Kovac's side struggled in their latest away game and left many wondering whether this team are more likely to get relegated than get back into Europe next season. The duo then moved on to Bayer Leverkusen's 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich and broke down whether Xabi Alonso got his tactics spot on or choked at the worst possible moment to more or less lose the Bundesliga title race. They then wrap up the show by taking note of Eintracht Frankfurt's surge into third place and why the Eagles are on track for a record points tally in the German top-flight this season.

On this week's Bundesliga preview show Manu and Stefan sit down to talk about all the major topics ahead of matchday 22 in the German top-flight. They kick things off with the minor Revierderby as Borussia Dortmund make the trip to Bochum in the desperate attempt to contine the good vibes following their win over Sporting. They then discuss the all-important clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich and breakdown whether Xabi Alonso's side really have enough about them to kick the title race back into gear. They then wrap up the show by previewing Sunday's clash between Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim and why the game may already be a must-win for relatively new Hoffenheim head coach Christian Ilzer… Enjoy!

On this week's main show Manu and Stefan are joined by Matt to discuss Niko Kovac's opening game as Borussia Dortmund's new head coach going up in smoke in a 2-1 defeat to Stuttgart. They then move on to talk about Bayer Leverkusen's drab 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg and whether or not Xabi Alonso's side can make up an eight-point gap in the Bundesliga title race. They then finish up the show by touching on Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Werder Bremen and the challenges to come in the coming weeks for Vincent Kompany's team. Enjoy!

On this week's Gegenpressing Bundesliga preview podcast, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the major talking points ahead of matchday 21. They begin by discussing Borussia Dortmund's home clash with Stuttgart and whether new head coach Niko Kovac will be able to take advantage of a Swabian side that have had to contend with a difficult fixture list in recent weeks and don't look at their best on the road. They then preview Eintracht Frankfurt's trip to Borussia Park, where the Foals will be hoping to put a serious dent in their opponents Champions League aspiration, while continuing their own impressive march up the table. The duo then wrap up the show by taking a look at St Pauli's trip to RB Leipzig on Sunday and why the Hamburg minnows may be capable of an almighty upset in Saxony, despite losing their main striker to injury. Enjoy!

On this week's main Gegenpressing podcast Manu and Stefan round-up the biggest stories from matchday 20 of the Bundesliga. They begin with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich's continued title challenge, as both German giants picked up all three points but did so in rather unconvincing performances. Could defensive problems in both teams decide who wins the Bundesliga this season? The pair then take a look at Gladbach's 2-1 win over Stuttgart and RB Leipzig's 0-0 draw with Union Berlin and consider why the Bundesliga table is still so wide open from second place all the way down to twelfth. They then wrap up the show by analysing Dortmund's 2-1 win over Heidenheim and what the current state of their squad means for new manager Niko Kovac.

On this week's preview show Manu and Stefan threw tradition to the wind and instead revelled in the transfer window chaos that is engulfing the Bundesliga. They begun the show by discussing Bayern Munich's decision to sell Mathys Tel, with the club accepting a €60m offer from Tottenham for the young striker. They then moved on to discuss whether Niko Kovac is the right man to pull Borussia Dortmund out of their mess. Then, to wrap things up, they then broke down Xavi Simons' permanent transfer to RB Leipzig and why the Saxony club were more than happy to spend €55m plus potentially much more on the young playmaker. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Gegenpressing Podcast, hosts Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the latest developments in the Bundesliga, focusing on the struggles of Borussia Dortmund against Werder Bremen in their 2-2 draw and why the German giants are still struggling despite sacking Nuri Sahin. They then discuss Bayer Leverkusen's 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig and breakdown why Xabi Alonso's side have lost ground in the title race and don't look like the same, unbeaten side that won the title last season. They then wrap up the show by highlighting Bayern Munich's impressive 2-1 win over Freiburg and why Vincent Kompany perhaps deserves more credit than he's received in his debut season at the Munich club.

On this week's Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan take a look at three of the most intriguing games in the German top-flight this weekend. They begin with St Pauli v Union Berlin, where the home side will be hoping to take advantage of Steffen Baumgart's misfiring team from the capital and finally register only their second victory in front of their own fans in the league this season. They then turn their attentions to Mainz v Stuttgart, where Sebastian Hoeneß's team are unquestionably in the ascendency and look like a club with the Midas touch. The pair discuss how the club's latest sensation, Nick Woltemade, is the perfect example of that. They then conclude the show by discussing the Topspiel, RB Leipzig v Bayer Leverkusen, where two teams that had mixed results in Europe in midweek will undoubtedly have to be at their very best to claw all three points from their opponents on Saturday evening.

On this week's main show, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest talking points from matchday 18 of the Bundesliga. That undoubtedly revolves around Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night and the continued drama around Nuri Sahin's future at the club. They then go on to discuss Bayern Munich's exciting 3-2 win over Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen's 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach and why both teams look so impressive as we approach the business end of the season. Enjoy!

In this crowded episode of the Gegenpressing Podcast, hosts Manuel Veth and Stefan Bienkowski discuss the latest happenings in the Bundesliga, including the surprising upset of Dortmund by Holstein Kiel, the struggles of Dortmund's leadership, and their daunting task of going to Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night. They also touch on Hoffenheim's drastic leadership changes and how that has led to a pubic spat following their heavy defeat to Bayern Munich. But will Vincent Kompany's side find it just as easy against an improved Wolfsburg on Saturday? The duo then wrap up the show talking about Stuttgart's resilience after a tricky start to the season, following an impressive win over RB Leipzig and a tough derby against Freiburg this weekend.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Promotion 01:48 YouTube Membership and Bonus Content 06:33 Kiel's Historic Win Over Dortmund 09:36 Dortmund's Struggles and Player Performance 12:47 Leadership Issues in Dortmund 15:39 Dortmund's Transfer Strategy and Squad Construction 18:45 Frankfurt's Rise and Upcoming Match Against Dortmund 29:30 Frankfurt's Home Advantage and Mainz's Away Prowess 33:31 Hoffenheim's Leadership Changes and Team Dynamics 38:56 Bayern Munich's Response and Upcoming Challenges 41:52 Stuttgart's Resilience and Potential Champions League Aspirations 50:29 Freiburg's Consistency and Upcoming Derby Match

On this week's main show, Manu and Stefan try and squeeze a podcast episode in between matchday 16 and matchday 17 of the Bundesliga season. With plans to focusing on the intriguing battles in the middle of the table later in the week, the pair look over the two big clashes at the weekend. They start with Borussia Dortmund's bruising 3-2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night and what the result says about the state of both squads at this stage of the season. And then they go on to talk about Bayern Munich's 1-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach and why a relatively narrow victory in the real Der Klassiker may have actually been a pretty decent performance from Vincent Kompany's side.

On the first Bundesliga preview show of 2025, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the three most intriguing games of Matchday 16. They kick things off with Bayer Leverkusen's trip to Borussia Dortmund on Friday night and discuss whether this clash is more of a must-win game for Xabi Alonso or Nuri Sahin. The duo then move on to Eintracht Frankfurt's away game at St Pauli, where a typically stubborn host will be looking to spoil the party for the Eagles, while keeping one of European football's most in-form forward quiet. They then wrap up the show by discussing the real “Der Klassiker” as Bayern Munich travel to Borussia Park to take on an impressive Borussia Mönchengladbach team without star player Jamal Musiala. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW On the first transfer round-up show of the 2025, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest transfer stories in the Bundesliga this week. That involves the impeding departure of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund to Aston Villa, the rather bizarre prospect of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford making the move to the Bundesliga side on loan and then we wrap things up by discussing whether or not Manchester City are seriously interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush. Enjoy!

In the final Gegenpressing podcast of 2024, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss matchday 15 of the Bundesliga. They begin by discussing Bayern Munich's impressive 5-1 win over RB Leipzig and how Vincent Kompany's side completely dominated their opponents in their final test of the year. The pair then move on to Bayer Leverkusen, whose 5-1 victory over Freiburg was just the latest proof that Xabi Alonso's team are still well and truly in this season's title race. Then, finally, Dortmund's 3-1 win over Wolfsburg is broken down and analysed, as Nuri Sahin's side picked up their first away win in the Bundesliga since April and perhaps showed some hopeful signs ahead of the new year.

In the final Bundesliga matchday preview of 2024, Manu and Stefan sit down to discuss the biggest talking points ahead of matchday 15. After doing a 45-minute deep-dive into Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig on the bonus show, the pair take a look at Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz and discuss why Bo Henriksen has perhaps been the best head coach in the Bundesliga this season. They then move on to Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg, where Xabi Alonso's side will be hoping to pick up their first major scalp at home this season and Julian Schuster will be looking to cause an almighty upset. The podcast then ends on Wolfsburg v Dortmund, which should be a dramatic end to the year. If Nuri Sahin's side fail to win, they risk ending 2024 as low as tenth place, while Ralph Hasenhüttl's side could be eyeing up European qualification with all three points.

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast Manu and Stefan are back to break down all the major talking points from matchday 14 of the Bundesliga season. They begin the show by discussing RB Leipzig's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday and how Marco Rose's team seem to have not only saved his bacon before Christmas but also remain in contention for a potential title challenge in 2025. They then discuss another poor performance from Borussia Dortmund, as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim. That's a third, successive draw in the Bundesliga for Nuri Sahin's side and there's very little to suggest that things will improve before the winter break. Elsewhere, Werder Bremen beat St Pauli 2-0 and continue to impress. So much so that the pair discuss whether Ole Werner is the Bundesliga's most under-rated head coach and is deserving of more praise. And, to round up the show, they then break down Mainz's impressive win over Bayern Munich and how it underlined the major flaws in Vincent Kompany's team.

On this week's Gegenpressing Bundesliga preview show, Manu and Stefan are NOT joined by one another as they attempt to preview this weekend's German football action despite not being able to schedule a call to record the show. As a result, Stefan breaks down Werder Bremen's away game at St Pauli and the interesting context of the match on and off the pitch from the relative comfort of an airport lounge, while Manu previews RB Leipzig v Eintracht Frankfurt and Heidenheim v Stuttgart in between feeding his newbown baby in the middle of the night. Never a dull moment!

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Matt are back to discuss the biggest talking points from the weekend's Bundesliga action. They start the podcast by discussing Wolfsburg's remarkable form on the pitch and why the Volkswagen Stadion has remained mostly empty this season despite some really nice football on display. They then move on to yet another disappointing Dortmund performance before breaking down Holstein Kiel's anti-Leipzig fan protest. Finally, the two dive into the record numbers presented by Bayern Munich at the AGM this Sunday and why fans must be patient until Jamal Musiala signs his new contract.

After getting the hilarity of the Club World Cup draw out the way, Manu and Stefan dive into this weekend's action by previewing RB Leipzig's must-win game against Holstein Kiel. The pair then consider Borussia Dortmund's trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach and whether Nuri Sahin's side can build on their draw with Bayern Munich to claim their first away win of the season. They then wrap up the show by discussing Wolfsburg's impressive run of form lately and why Ralph Hasenhüttl seems to have finally figured out how to get his new team moving in the right direction. Enjoy!

On this week's Gegenpressing podcast, Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest talking points from the weekend's Bundesliga action. They begin by breaking down RB Leipzig's heavy defeat to Wolfsburg and whether the club will sack Marco Rose in the coming weeks, before moving on to Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich sharing the points in a 1-1 draw in “Der Klassiker” and trying to decipher whether the result favoured either club. They then finish up by talking about Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt's wins and whether either club really has what it takes to mount a serious title challenge this season. Enjoy!

In this week's preview show Manu and Stefan are back to discuss the biggest fixture in German football this weekend. On Saturday Borussia Dortmund welcome Bayern Munich to the Westfalenstadion for the first “Der Klassiker” of the season and as such the dynamic duo break down the strengths and weaknesses of both teams so far this season and try to predict whether Nuri Sahin or Vincent Kompany will be smiling by the end of the weekend. Enjoy!