After two days off the Borussia Dortmund team start their preparations for the run-in to the Bundesliga season, with three games against TSG Hoffenheim, away to FC Augsburg and against Werder Bremen ahead of them.

The team had more than deserved the short break, after going through a back-breaking run of nine (!) games in the last 29 days. Thomas Tuchel said on Saturday: "it is important that we catch our breath. We have a few players who have suffered a knock and they need to recuperate. This month was very exhausting, with some extraordinary stories to tell."

That is when his team had ended the marathon-month with a 0-0 against 1. FC Köln. Even if the game didn't match expectations and the result didn't reflect the run of the game, neither the spectators nor the manager were disappointed after all the chances they had. Instead the team got a big compliment going into their long weekend: "I am very satisfied with the way we played after all the pressure we have been under this month and this week. You could not have foreseen everything that has happened." 

BVB got three wins, two draws and suffered one defeat during the six Bundesliga matches in April, eleven points, that's OK. Even if third place had to be conceded to TSG Hoffenheim again, who got a last minute goal two times within the last week, "it is still in our own hands" according to Tuchel regarding the direct qualification to the Champions League.

Both still have to play Augsburg and Bremen

Both teams face each other on Saturday (15:30 hrs), this is the so called "match for third place". If there is a winner in this match, this could put them in touching distance to securing third place. If it is a draw, the final league position will be decided on match days 33. and 34. It is an interesting fact that both teams play the same opponents in the last two games. They both still have to play against Werder Bremen and FC Augsburg, even though the home-away constellation is different.

Whilst Hoffenheim was knocked out of the DFB Cup in the second round and they have since only had to play three games a week on two occasions, this is the first time since the 11. March that Black Yellow has been able to prepare for a Bundeliga game for a full five days. (br)