\n
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) \u2014 The Bundesliga is back. The pressure is similar for Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt. <\/p>\n
Hosts Frankfurt will need to sort out a weak defense that is ruining their Bundesliga and Champions League hopes as they kick off the league’s restart after a two-and-a-half week break on Friday.<\/p>\n
Dortmund must show calmness Anxiety within the team<\/span> It spoiled an inconsistent end to 2025.<\/p>\nmeanwhile, Runaway League Leader<\/span> Bayern Munich have problems with 17-year-old star Lennart Karl I hope<\/span> This is about his move to Real Madrid and the unresolved contract negotiations with defender Dayot Upamecano.<\/p>\nmajor matches<\/h2>\n
Frankfurt is outside Europe in the Bundesliga and outside the top 24 in the Champions League. A big reason for this is their defense, which has conceded 30 goals in 15 Bundesliga games, the second-worst record in the league. It will be a tough test when they host second-placed Dortmund on Friday.<\/p>\n
Bayern finished 2025 at the top of the table by nine points, suffering just one defeat to German opponents all year. Sunday’s game against Wolfsburg is a chance to get 2026 off to a good start.<\/p>\n
A comeback for bottom-placed Mainz may be impossible. When Urs Fischer took over as manager last month, the team appeared to be heading for relegation. Ahead of Saturday’s visit to Union Berlin, they are on a four-game unbeaten run, including an impressive draw with Bayern.<\/p>\n
Featured players<\/h2>\n
Who else but Harry Kane? The England captain, who scored 30 goals in 25 games in all competitions during the 2025-26 season, will be crucial for Bayern, especially with away substitute Nicholas Jackson in the African Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n
Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi finished 2025 with the following results: Are you okay<\/span> All eyes will be on his emotional reaction to being appointed as his substitute, and how he will turn things around in 2026.<\/p>\nAmerican attacking midfielder Cole Campbell has started on loan at Hoffenheim from Dortmund and has a chance to make an impression. His first match could be against Werder Bremen on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Activity suspended<\/h2>\n
Jamal Musiala has not played for Bayern since sustaining a serious injury at the Club World Cup, but could return in January.<\/p>\n
The Africa Cup affects some teams more than others. Bayern’s Jackson, Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza and Leipzig winger Yann Diomande are all out, but Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba could return after the loss to Burkina Faso.<\/p>\n
off the field<\/h2>\n
It’s been a quiet transfer window so far in the Bundesliga, with Pascal Gross’ return to Brighton from Dortmund perhaps the biggest move. Forward Younes Ebounotalib arrives in Frankfurt having scored 12 goals this season for second-division side Elversberg.<\/p>\n
Heavy snow is expected to fall in northern and eastern Germany on Friday night, potentially affecting next day’s matches, including Leipzig’s match against Hamburg-based St. Pauli.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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