As mentioned at his pre-match press conference, Pál Dárdai didn’t make any changes to the side that started last week’s win over VfB Stuttgart, with the Hungarian setting his team up in a 4-4-2 formation. His opposite number Steffen Baumgart brought two new players into his starting line-up: Kingsley Schindler replaced the suspended Benno Schmitz and Eric Martel came in for Jan Thielmann. The Billy Goats also began with former Berliner Davie Selke up front.

Friday night football under lights, an exciting prospect for any fan of the game. Hertha kick off Bundesliga matchday 32 at 20:30 CEST against 1. FC Köln and would like to pick up another three points in the fight for survival after a win at home against Stuttgart last Saturday. “We can’t be satisfied after a win and have to keep going. We need a run, to take the next and can’t afford to give up an inch,” said Pál Dárdai at his press conference. Benjamin Weber joined Hertha’s head coach and described the positive lessons from the last game. “I’m pleased by the togetherness and the communication that the team showed again against Stuttgart. The way that they got the result over the line together and really fought for the win helps. It gives you self-confidence and gives us all optimism for the run-in. Now we have to up the ante!” herthabsc.com has summarised the most important comments from Dárdai and Weber on…

Many football fans had already earmarked FC Schalke 04 for relegation by the end of the first half-season. They were thrashed 6-1 by Leipzig on Matchday 17, by which point S04 had only nine points on the board. But coach Thomas Reis has now guided his charges into safer waters: the Royal Blues are unbeaten in eight matches and have narrowed the gap to the non-relegation places.

Press conference ahead of Bundesliga game between RB Leipzig and SV Werder Bremen | Marco Rose speaks to the media

Eniss Shabani has signed his first professional contract with 1. FSV Mainz 05. The 18-year-old talent, who has been in the Mainz youth academy since January 2015, has signed until 2025. Shabani is one of five players in the academy to have signed a professional contract this season, along with Lasse Rieß, Ben Bobzien, Nelson Weiper and Phillip Schulz. In addition, he was recently nominated for the Germany U19s for the first time.

The white-and-red family keeps on growing! VfB Stuttgart 1983 e.V. have hit a major milestone in recent days, with Baden-Württemberg’s biggest club now boasting over 80,000 members.

The Dublin-based side, who are sixth in the League of Ireland, competed in this season’s UEFA Europa Conference League, losing out in Qualifying Round 3 against PAOK Salonika.

The Wolves made it four league games without defeat with the 1-0 win at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon. Before they get the chance to extend that run on 1 April at home to FC Augsburg (kick-off 15:30 CEST), it’s the first international break of the year. Training will of course continue in Wolfsburg during this period, but head coach Niko Kovac will be without several first-team players as no fewer than 13 Green-and-Whites made their way to their national teams following the win in Stuttgart.

The Reds had built up a little bit of momentum prior to these games thanks to victories over Rangers, Manchester City and West Ham.

The scenario: BVB wanted to win their away match in Oldenburg in order to prevent the four-point gap to second place (Thüringer HC) from growing even further and to maintain their lead over Blomberg. BVB were without an important player in captain Alina Grijseels, who is still suffering from the after-effects of her thigh injury. She was joined on the sidelines by the injured duo of Lisa Antl and Zoë Sprengers. That meant that the Black & Yellows were without their three top scorers, who between them have netted 224 goals this season.