It’s likely that Sporting coach Rúben Filipe Marques Amorim will send out his team in a 3-4-3 formation. That’s the standard formation under the 37-year-old, which also led to a 3-0 success over Frankfurt in the reverse fixture.

In contrast to the 1-1 draw against Bayer 04, Streich and co. decided to set up with a back three. Captain Christian Günter returned to the side following his yellow-card suspension, alongside Roland Sallai. Michael Gregoritsch did not make the trip to Borussia-Park – the striker was ill. Also under the weather was Ritsu Doan, who was forced off due to his illness against Leverkusen. He was named on the bench for his fixture.

Christmas, a time of peace and goodwill, is also always a good time to take a deep breath and reflect. Our president is among those taking a look back at the past year and wants you to join him in doing so.

RBL head coach Marco Rose ahead of the Bundesliga game against Eintracht Frankfurt

1. FSV Mainz 05 have taken seven points from their first three games this season, as they prepare to host Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon (15:30 CEST). The Champions League participants are still without a point in 2022/23, but head coach Bo Svensson doesn’t see his side automatically slipping into the role of the favourites this weekend. “Their games so far this season have been very different,” he explained during the pre-match press conference. “They should have won both in Dortmund [1-0 loss] and against Augsburg [2-1]. They have top-quality players and we will need to deliver a top performance in order to keep up,” Svensson said.

VfB Stuttgart slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Schalke 04 on Matchday 22.

Union had shaken themselves down and dusted themselves off, and they would be buoyed by the impossible news. 

The new Bundesliga season starts with a battle of the green-and-white northern clubs on Saturday 6 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) as Niko Kovac’s side host promoted Bremen. 

He has also made a strong start to the 2022/23 campaign as he has been involved in six goals in nine appearances.