It’s time for the last home game of the season. This is also always the time when farewells are on the agenda. In the run-up to the Bielefeld game on Friday evening, the Blue and Whites will thank a total of eleven professionals, all of whose contracts expire this summer, for their past service in the VfL colours. However, it is by no means out of the question that a few of these eleven players will also play for VfL in the coming Bundesliga season.

Following the international break, Augsburg travelled to Gelsenkirchen to face strugglers Schalke 04 and the sides served up a five goal thriller at the VELTINS-Arena. Despite the fact that Mergim Berisha was sent from the field for a second yellow card, an Ermedin Demirović brace and an André Hahn header gave FCA a 3-2 win and their third league victory on the bounce. 

Germany coach Hansi Flick himself will have to decide soon. For now, here’s my picks for Germany’s squad in Qatar.

The team is not lacking any motivation, with the prize at stake a place in the semifinals and the best four teams in Germany. “We’re all really looking forward to the game. Luckily instead of having training tomorrow, we have a cup quarterfinal against FC Bayern,” said Streich, who admits to having tried a number of different approaches in Munich in the past, but was also full of praise of what the team has achieved recently. “We were in the last 16 of the Europa League, DFB-Pokal final last May and now we’re in the quarters again this season. That’s sensational. We don’t have anything to lose now, nor do we have anything to give away.”

With the first international break of the year coming up at the end of March, Hertha BSC will use the time to raise funds for a good cause. On Friday, 24th March 2023 (18:00 CEST), the Old Lady will play a charity match at the Poststadion against Regionalliga side Berliner AK. Both clubs will donate all the proceeds from the match to help the victims of the tragic earthquake in Turkey earlier this year.

777 Partners have become a new shareholder of Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA. The private investment firm with headquarters in Miami has quickly built up a global, multi-club network which includes several long-standing football clubs such as Italy’s Genoa, Brazil’s Vasco da Gama, Belgium’s Standard Liège, France’s Red Star FC, Spain’s Sevilla FC and Australia’s Melbourne Victory FC. 777 Partners have acquired all shares in Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA that were previously owned by Peil Investment B.V., a subsidiary of Tennor Holding B.V. (64.7%).

Did you know that… …Mainz are in very good form? Only Borussia Dortmund (15) have picked...

Masovic scores for Bochum | Defeat for RBL on matchday 25

Jonathan Burkardt is about to begin his fifth season as a Mainz 05 first-team player. Last season, the 22-year-old broke out of his role as the youngster and the one challenging to get in the side. Burkardt was FSV’s top scorer in the Bundesliga last season, netting 11 goals. He’s looking to continue making progress both on and off the field. “I’d like to take on more responsibility within the team,” said Germany U21s’ captain, something which also pleases his head coach.

Sebastian Hoeneß has replaced Bruno Labbadia as VfB Stuttgart head coach with immediate effect, signing a contract valid for both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 until 30 June 2025. The club has also parted ways with Labbadia, who took over as head coach in December 2022.