Reinartz to join Eintracht Frankfurt for free

    

The experienced midfielder will look to get much more game time at his new club.

Stefan Reinartz will move to Eintracht Frankfurt, for free, next season. The defensive midfielder signed a deal through to 2017 on Friday.

The 26-year-old has been at die Werkself since 2009 and will bring almost 147 games of Bundesliga experience with him. However, game time has been limited this season; Reinartz has made just sixteen appearances, scoring once.

"Stefan Reinartz will strengthen us with his qualities in the midfield area, because he is on the one hand very compact, but also boosts our game going forward," said the Eagles' coach Thomas Schaaf. Coincidentally, Leverkusen and Frankfurt square off on Saturday afternoon in the final Bundesliga game of the season for both sides.

"We are delighted that Stefan has decided to join Eintracht Frankfurt. I am sure that such a quality player with his experience can give the team huge impetus," added sporting director Bruno Hübner. Schaaf added that he will add 'more security' and will 'fit in well' at his new club.

Paderborn vs Stuttgart: Born basement battle a winner-takes-all brawl

SC Paderborn 07 v VFB Stuttgart / Saturday 23rd May, 2015 / 14:30 (BST)/ Benteler Arena / Bundesliga matchday 34/ Paderborn are bottom of the Bundesliga, and realistically can only reach the relegation playoff spot. Stuttgart will be safe with a win against Paderborn.

In the Bundesliga’s most finely balanced relegation battle in the league’s history, it is Paderborn and Stuttgart who are right in the thick of it.

Of the two, it is the vistors, who have been in the Bundesliga for 38 consecutive years and last won the Championship in 2007, who are in the best position; win and they are safe from relegation.

The way that the league is so finely poised, however, means that Die Schwaben will be absolutely desperate to claim all three points to escape the lottery of the permutations that could decide their fate if they don’t win.

The problem for Stuttgart is the fact they are away from home; having not lost at home since a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in February, Huub Stevens’ men have been awful away from home, last tasting victory on the road in the penultimate match of the Hinrunde against Hamburg.

Having said that, Paderborn aren’t looking forward to it either, having won just four times at home all season. The fact Die Schwabenwill be going into the game having won twice on the bounce (the second being over fellow strugglers Hamburg) compared to Paderborn’s two losses, means the nerves will be well and truly jangling for the Bundesliga newboys on Saturday’s winner-takes-all scrap.

LAST TIME OUT:

In their first ever meeting in the German top flight, Paderborn went away from Stuttgart with a point after a drab 0-0. Stuttgart’s Sven Ulreich had to be at his best to deny Uwe Hünemeier after his header from a free kick, whilst the home side only went close to scoring when Paderborn’s Daniel Brückner headed against his own post, after an incredible mixup with his goalkeeper Lukas Kruse.

TEAM NEWS:

Daniel Brückner is suspended after picking up a yellow card against Schalke, taking his season tally to five.  Thomas Bertels, Marvin Ducksch and Alban Meha will all be missing from the Paderborn team from the game on Saturday with injuries.

Stuttgart has much less of a worry injury-wise, and bar Carlos Gruezo head north with their full squad available.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Stuttgart’s manager Huub Stevens has told his squad to focus ahead of the game, explaining “If we win, then we know that we have definitely achieved our goal.

“With that in mind, we need focus solely on ourselves. The lads know what is required of them.”

The Dutchman also told the reporters at his press conference that he expects a different Paderborn to the team Die Schwaben faced in December, saying “I can well imagine that Paderborn are a more mature side compared to the team we faced in the first half of the season.”

Stuttgart’s former goalkeeper has also been speaking to the media positively, telling Sky Sports News “For a long time it looked like they (Stuttgart) were almost dead and buried and heading for the second tier.”

“At one point it seemed like there was no hope - especially considering the home form.

“But they've bounced back phenomenally and have a created a very reasonable situation going into the final day.”

Andre Breitenreiter, meanwhile, rallied the troops ahead of the do-or-die clash telling reporters, “We're ready. We have faith in our strengths. My boys always stand up again, even when nobody else believes in them.

“Apart from when we faced Bayern, we had a chance of beating everyone else we've played at home. The coaching staff and players are a very close-knit bunch."

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Paderborn: Kruse, Heinloth, Strohdiek, Hünemeier, Hartherz, Bakalorz, Vrancic, Koc, Rupp, Stoppelkamp and Lakic

Stuttgart: Ulreich, Schwaab, Rüdiger, Baumgartl, Klein, Gentner, Serey Die, Harnik, Didavi, Kostic and Ginczek

Hamburger SV vs FC Schalke 04: Dino aim to escape first ever relegation

Hamburg welcome Schalke 04 to the Imtech Arena for one of the club's most important games as they look to preserve their Bundesliga status. Read below for the match report, written by Liam Watson.

Hamburg's ever present Bundesliga status is in serious threat of being ended with Die Rothosen looking favourites to be relegated with the chance of staying up out of their own hands. Schalke travel north with much anger from the fanbase aimed towards the board and with Roberto Di Matteo under increasing pressure the Italian will be aiming to see his side go out on a high.

The hosts, who come off the back of an awful loss away to Stuttgartlast week, are near as they've ever been to the drop down to the 2.liga for the first time. The pressure has been on Bruno Labbadia's side ever since the Darmstadt-born coach took over the struggling Giants, a run of positive results were evened out by a sucker punching defeat to fellow relegation candidates Stuttgart know that for their everpresent Bundesliga status to be kept they have to rely on others to make certain of their safety.

Veteran goalkeeper René Adler said in midweek that he is still optimistic of his side's chances of beating the drop saying: "We just have to do our job against Schalke and hope the other results go our way", the thirty-year-old also admitted: "It's out of our hands now and that's an awful feeling." 

Schalke travel north a club in a downslide turn of events in recent weeks, growing pressure from the fanbase has been aimed at the board and coach Roberto Di Matteo who has came under great scrutiny for his defensive tactics which has seen the Gelsenkirchenbased side fail to progress and move up the table despite a positive beginning to the campaign.

An unconvincing win against foot of the table Paderborn was one which the underdogs could count themselves unlucky not to take anything away from the Veltins Arena. A 88th minute own goal from the unfortunate Uwe Hünemeier who had stood resilient with his teammates all game. Di Matteo later called for this week to have no public training sessions as tensions are rising high, the Italian who finds himself in a difficult situation will be hoping for a change in fortunes.