Berlin (AFP)

Leipzig and Leverkusen, second and third in the Bundesliga, face each other on Saturday (6.30 p.m.) in the shock of the 19th day, which begins on Friday with the trip to Stuttgart from Mainz (8.30 p.m.), penultimate boosted by his surprise victory against the RB last week.

Mainz already has a foot in the second division, with five points behind play-off Cologne and seven points on Bielefeld, first non-relegation.

But the 3-2 success on Saturday against the mighty RB Leipzig, semi-finalist of the last Champions League, changed the mindset.

"We have been very good collectively," said Mayençais coach Bo Svensson, "I am very happy with the state of mind. Our position is difficult, but the path is clear."

At the top of the standings, Leipzig and Leverkusen are playing big on Saturday in their race behind Bayern.

The "Rekordmeister", who will again be favorites at home against Hoffenheim, took off with a seven-point lead over Leipzig and ten over Leverkusen.

Julian Nagelsmann, after the defeat in Mainz, seems to have hoisted the white flag in the title race: "Bayern is in an ICE (the German TGV, Editor's note) and we are in a regional train. There are very few trains regions that can catch up with an ICE, ”he admitted.

But the RB keeps its goal: to finish in the top 4 to qualify again for the Champions League.

Since January, Leverkusen too have lost the pace that had allowed them to level off with Bayern until December.

In 2021, Bayer has two wins, three losses and one draw.

Union Berlin-Mönchengladbach (Saturday 3.30 p.m.) will be the other match to watch between two ambitious teams fighting for European places.

Borussia remain on a series of very good results, including two wins in January against Bayern and Dortmund.

Marcus Thuram, Alassane Pléa and his teammates are one point off the podium, and Union Berlin four points.

Program of the 19th day of the German Championship:

Friday January 29

(8:30 p.m.) Stuttgart - Mainz

Saturday January 30

(3.30 p.m.) Dortmund - Augsburg

Bayern Munich - Hoffenheim

Werder Bremen - Schalke 04

Union Berlin - Mönchengladbach

Eintracht Frankfurt - Hertha Berlin

(6.30 p.m.) RB Leipzig - Bayer Leverkusen

Sunday January 31

(3.30 p.m.) Cologne - Bielefeld

(6 p.m.) Wolfsburg - Friborg

© 2021 AFP