Dear readers,

on Saturday evening, league leaders Borussia Dortmund take to the pitch against my old club, 1. FC Kaiserslautern. It's going to be a tough game for the hosts against this very pacy Dortmund side, who will be determined to leave with another three points to add to their lead at the top of the table.

Lautern really need a result themselves though as they battle against relegation and I think they will start the game cautiously rather than risk being taken apart. The memory of the teams' first meeting this season, where they lost 5-0, should see to that in itself. Even if you try to put such things to one side, they're still going to bubble up again. So I reckon the Red Devils will go into the match determined not to concede a goal for as long as possible.

Even though Dortmund have to be the odds-on favourites though, it doesn't mean Kaiserslautern have to go into hiding. Everyone knows what's at stake here, and understands that every point is important in the fight to avoid the drop. It did take a while though until they realised just how tough it is going to be, especially after having won their two opening games against Köln and FC Bayern. The team was heaped with praise and comparisons were even being made with the 1998 title-winning side. They have to switch gears swiftly now, because it's going to take a lot of hard work to stay up. Still, I'm confident they will manage it. With the proper fighting spirit, they will collect the points they need.

As far as Borussia Dortmund are concerned, I don't think they will let the lead they have slip now. They'll keep playing their carefree football and playing it as a unit. How things then develop at BVB next season remains to be seen. The young players who have come through there have been a huge success and can do their own thing without feeling under pressure. In their first year they're unstoppable, everything comes off for them. You take a pot from 40 metres out and it goes in. But the second year will be very difficult for them.

That happened with Marco Reich during my playing days. He was thrown in at the deep end and did well for six months, then wasn't really able to find his footing again. The likes of Götze and Großkreutz are good footballers without doubt, but they have to be handled with care. In Jürgen Klopp's hands though, I'm sure they will be.


Yours,

Harry Koch


Harry Koch started out in the Regional League at TSV Vestenbergsgreuth, one of the two clubs which combined to form SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The Bamberg-born central defender moved as a 25-year-old to 1. FC Kaiserslautern at the start of the 1995-96 season and ended it with a DFB Cup-winners medal and relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. A year later, Kaiserslautern and Koch returned to the top flight and became the first and to date only promoted team to march straight through to the title.

"Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer called it a world-class performance, national team coach Joachim Löw said his number 1 had been sensational and Schalke's Felix Magath did not hold back with the praise either. What occasioned it all was a goalkeeping masterclass from Manuel Neuer to hold Borussia Dortmund at bay and earn Schalke 04 a 0-0 draw at their near-neighbours and greatest rivals. The result frustrated the home team's hopes of making it a long-overdue Ruhr district derby season double, having won the first encounter 3-1 at the Veltins Arena. They remain well clear at the top of the table on 51 points however, with the Royal Blues continuing to tread water in eleventh (26 points).

"You can't let yourself be distracted either by off-the-pitch circumstances or what's going on right in front of you. My job is just to try and keep the ball out of the net", said the 24-year-old keeper, who justly took the plaudits from team-mates and fans alike after the final whistle had blown at the Signal Iduna Park. "Obviously, we have Manuel Neuer to thank for the point. We just have an excellent goalkeeper", Magath commented, and his opposite number at Dortmund Jürgen Klopp agreed: "We played very well and found no way past an extremely strong keeper."

The league leaders certainly hit the ground running and Neuer was forced to pull off no less than three vital saves inside the first seven minutes to foil Mario Götze(3'), Jakub Blaszczykowski (5') and Mats Hummels (7'). While not quite sustaining the same frenetic tempo, BVB continued to dominate proceedings as the half progressed and Blaszczykowski passed up another great chance to put them in front when clean through on Neuer in the 21st minute.

A Jose Manuel Jurado free kick a minute later was Schalke's first attempt on the home goal, before the action shifted promptly back to the other end, Hummels heading a Nuri Sahin free kick inches wide with Neuer this time beaten (28') and Lucas Barrios going just as close with a shot after running through one-on-one with the keeper (35'). Ten minutes after the restart, the Dortmund frontman fired another effort against the post in what was still very much a one-way contest, although Schalke responded this time with the first genuine opportunity of their own, Jefferson Farfan slamming a cross from Lukas Schmitz over the bar.

The Royal Blues made more of a game of it in the period that followed and their big chance came in the 77th minute, Raul slicing open the BVB defence with a great ball to his Spanish compatriot Jurado, who met his master however in home custodian Roman Weidenfeller. Dortmund then went straight back up the pitch on the counter, in a move that ended with Neuer risking his neck to foil substitute Robert Lewandowski. Borussia prodigy Mario Götze then finally found a way past the Royal Blues keeper in the 85th minute... only to see his close-range shot come back off the post.

Michael Ballack is back on the Bundesliga stage. The 98-time German international midfielder came off the bench on Matchday 19 to help Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at cellar-dwellers Borussia Mönchengladbach, a result which lifted Bayer up to second in the table. Ballack celebrated with his team-mates at the away end after the final whistle and was clearly relishing his return to competitive action.

"It was a great feeling to be back out on the pitch. When you've worked hard to get there after a long injury lay-off, you obviously really want to be playing. It was good to come on when we were 2-0 up, that's an easier situation for a sub", the 34-year-old veteran said, adding, "You don't get properly fit by training or playing friendlies, only in real matches. There's a different level of tension, and a faster pace to the game."

Ballack made his comeback in the 56th minute of the contest, 134 days after picking up a high shinbone fracture at Nürnberg. "Michael Ballack really helped the team out and displayed a masterful touch – just as I'd expected", Bayer coach Jupp Heynckes said of the star's comeback performance. The visitors were well in charge by that stage thanks to goals from Michal Kadlec and Gonzalo Castro. Martin Stranzl pulled one back in the 65th minute, before Castro set the seal on the victory with his own second just over quarter of an hour from the end, leaving Mönchengladbach still without a home win against Leverkusen since 1989.

Whatever way the Matchday 24 meeting of FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund (Saturday February 26th) now goes, the defending champions missed a golden opportunity to narrow the sizeable gap between themselves and the leaders when they lost 3-2 at 1. FC Köln.

"We squandered a great chance", coach Louis van Gaal acknowledged, on a matchday that saw fellow Champions League-chasers Leverkusen lose 1-0 at Nürnberg and Dortmund themselves held 0-0 at home by Schalke 04. "We wanted to get a run going and once again we didn't succeed", skipper Philipp Lahm said. CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was altogether more forthright, commenting that, "They must be having a real good laugh at Dortmund and starting to think they're in a special film of their own. They're held to a draw and still emerge as the winners."

A glance at the table reveals the bald fact behind Rummenigge's frustration. 21 games into the season, Bayern are fifth in the standings on 36 points, a whopping 15 behind pace-setters Dortmund (51). When the two sides met earlier in the season at the Signal Iduna Park, Borussia's dominance was rewarded with a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Lucas Barrios and Nuri Sahin. If nothing else, the Munich outfit will be seeking redress for that defeat in the rematch at the end of the month.

The negotiations were long and wearisome, but there was a happy ending for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim when they were able to unveil Ryan Babel as the acquisition to strengthen their front line. "With the departure of Demba Ba and the injury to Chinedu Obasi we were in a fix. Babel was one of the players we really wanted", Hoffenheim patron Dietmar Hopp explained after the deal was finalised.

The 24-year-old striker arrives from Liverpool FC on a contract through to June 2013, with the option to extend for a further year. "I'm looking forward to the new challenge at Hoffenheim. My first impressions are totally positive and I hope to be able to settle into the team quickly", said Babel. He made his debut just a day after putting pen to paper and played well, even though Hoffenheim went down to a surprise 1-0 defeat at 2. Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup.

"We're very proud of the fact that we've been able to bring an experienced international like Ryan Babel to Hoffenheim from a top club such as Liverpool", sporting director Ernst Tanner said following the capture of the 40-time Dutch international: "We're confident that, given his character and his qualities as a footballer, he'll be a big gain for us." Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli for his part added that, "With all his experience, even though he's still only 24, Babel will really strengthen our squad."

A dual Dutch-Surinamese national, Babel started out as a professional seven years ago at Ajax Amsterdam, before moving to Liverpool in 2007. He made 91 Premier League appearances for the Reds, but was ultimately unable to establish himself as a first-team regular. A member of the Netherlands squad that made its way through to the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Babel did not however get to play during the tournament.

Now though, he is aiming to see action aplenty at Hoffenheim. Away from the pitch incidentally, the new 1899 striker is a keen rapper. He has even released a couple of singles - "Eeyeeyo", with Dutch musician Darryl in 2008 and, early in 2010, under the nome de plume Rio, the song "Misgunners".

German international Patrick Helmes will be going for goal at VfL Wolfsburg. The 26-year-old forward joined the 2008-09 champions from Bayer Leverkusen just hours before the close of the winter transfer window at the end of January.

"VfL have always had good strikers, and that will continue to be the case", the new man confidently asserted at his unveiling in Wolfsburg. "Patrick's at the age where footballers hit their peak and has all the attributes a forward needs. He's a finisher with excellent shooting technique and he gives us fresh tactical options up front", sporting director Dieter Hoeneß enthused. Leverkusen general manager Wolfgang Holzhäuser meanwhile commented that, "Patrick Helmes is a top-class striker, who we certainly wouldn't have off-loaded on our own initiative. However, he didn't view his opportunities for long-term development at Leverkusen as positively as we did, so we accordingly granted his express wish to leave."

Helmes made a flying start to his career at Leverkusen after joining them from 1. FC Köln two-and-a-half years ago, bagging 21 goals in his first season. Things started to go wrong when he ruptured a cruciate ligament during a holiday kickabout in the summer of 2009, an injury which left him sidelined for six months. Two goals in twelve games towards the end of the 2009-10 season were not enough to subsequently earn him his place back in the Germany squad and a trip to the World Cup.

He had earmarked the current season as the one where he would really start making his mark again, but a series of niggling injuries further slowed his progress. With Stefan Kießling now established as Leverkusen's first-choice frontman, Helmes often found himself relegated to bit parts off the bench. At Wolfsburg by contrast, the departure of Edin Dzeko for Manchester City leaves Helmes with the chance to claim a regular first-team place, even if his debut was also as a substitute in the 1-0 loss at local rivals Hannover 96. That match incidentally marked the end of Steve McClaren's half-season tenure in charge, as struggling Wolfsburg parted company with their head coach and appointed assistant Pierre Littbarksi in his stead, provisionally until the end of the season.

Helmes was in fact just one of several last-minute signings by Wolfsburg as the transfer deadline loomed. Turkish national team skipper Tuncay Sanli also arrived, from English Premier League side Stoke City, with Czech international and former 1. FC Nürnberg midfielder Jan Polak also new on the books. The Wolves snapped up a couple of promising prospects as well in Yohandry Orozco from Venezuela's FC Zulia and Koo Ja-Cheol, late of Jeju United, tournament top scorer for South Korea at January's Asian Cup. Earlier, VfL had also acquired the services of talented Congolese striker Dieudonné Mbokani on loan until the end of the season from AS Monaco.

After coming back from two down to secure a vital win in a relegation six-pointer at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 21, VfB Stuttgart are now gunning for a follow-up success against 1. FC Nürnberg. Striker Martin Harnik talks in interview about that game and VfB's battle against relegation.

You scored the goal that got the score back to 2-2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach. How did you experience the contest?

Martin Harnik: It was a game of highs and lows for us. We started well, but conceded two goals as a result of a couple of mistakes. In the second half we came back really well and in the end, with a bit of luck as well maybe, we got the three points.

Stuttgart were 2-0 down at half time. What did coach Bruno Labbadia say during the interval that made the difference?

Harnik: He just found the right words, without getting loud about it. He discussed the mistakes and laid out the new tactical direction for the second half.

The pressure in the build-up to the match was enormous. How did the team deal with it?

Harnik: When you have twelve points at the midway mark, as we did, you're going to be under pressure until the end of the season. All we can do is take it a game at a time and focus on the next opponents, there's no point in speculating about what might happen.

The win leaves you hot on the heels of the teams directly above. Stuttgart are now just three points shy of 14th place. How does that help psychologically?

Harnik: The success at Gladbach will hopefully give us more confidence for the challenges ahead. The relief after the game was almost audible. But that win will count for nothing if we can't build on it.

With seven points from four games, VfB are sixth in the "2011 table". What's the explanation for the sudden improvement?

Harnik: We prepared very intensively for what we know are going to be a tough few months. We're functioning better as a team, every success adds to our self-belief, and as a result of that we're getting back to playing football again. But there are another 13 games to go and it's a long way yet until we're safe.

You made your fifth starting appearance for Stuttgart at Gladbach and scored. Four of your six league goals have come as a substitute though, and you also came off the bench to score a hattrick against Chemnitz in the DFB Cup. Why are you so successful in that regard?

Harnik: I can get involved in the game very quickly, maybe that's why it's been working out so far. Obviously though I'd prefer to be playing the whole 90 minutes and I try to make my case for that in every training session.

New signing Tamas Hajnal was another player who helped revitalise Stuttgart against Borussia. What does he bring to the team?

Harnik: Tamas got stuck in right away, he was looking for the ball and distributing it well, which gave the team a feeling of security. He's very experienced and has already shown at Gladbach that he'll be able to help the side.

How important is it for VfB to have Serdar Tasci fit and available again?

Harnik: Every player's important for us. Serdar has proved his worth to the team in the past and we're hoping he can stay injury-free in the future as well.

You had to come off yourself with an injury and were unable to travel with the Austria squad to the midweek friendly in the Netherlands. What happened?

Harnik: I took a knock on the calf late on and it got brusied, so I had to drop out of the national squad.

Will you be fit in time to help VfB against Nürnberg?

Harnik: I hope so.

What are your thoughts on that match?

Harnik: It's a tough one. Nürnberg have also taken seven points since the league restarted and beat Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen in their last two home games. I think we'll be up against disciplined opponents whose first priority is to keep it tight at the back.

How will you need to approach the game in order to get a result?

Harnik: We need to carry on where we left off in the second half in Mönchengladbach. We have to keep our shape while still putting together constructive football.

Timo Gebhart and Georg Niedermeier will both be missing due to suspension. How big a loss will that be?

Harnik: Yellow cards are part of the game. Timo's injured as well, unfortunately. But everybody in our squad is capable of stepping in and taking responsibility. Every player who 's involved against Nürnberg on Saturday will have to do everything in his power to see that we win.

Skibbe confirms contract extension
Eintracht Frankfurt and Michael Skibbe will go into the coming season in partnership after the club agreed terms with their head coach on a new deal through to June 2012. Skibbe, 45, took over at Eintracht in June 2009 and last season guided them to ninth place in the table.

Injury blow for Dortmund
League leaders Borussia Dortmund will likely have to do without Shinji Kagawa for the rest of the season. The 21-year-old midfielder suffered a fractured metatarsal during Japan's semi-final penalty shoot-out victory over South Korea at the Asian Cup in Qatar. "It's a big blow for us. He was the defining player of the first season-half", said BVB chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke. Kagawa, who joined Dortmund over the summer of 2010 from J-League newcomers Cerezo Osaka, was joint top-scoring midfielder in the Bundesliga going into the winter break, with eight goals in 17 matches.

Slomka extends at Hannover
Hannover 96 and coach Mirko Slomka have reached agreement over a contract extension for the coach, who has committed himself to the club until 2013. "The negotiations lasted a little longer than we'd expected, but we have a good basis now for continuing the constructive partnership aimed at bringing Hannover 96 success", sporting director Jörg Schmadtke said.

Sammer staying at the DFB
Matthias Sammer will continue to work as sporting director for the German FA (DFB), after the former Borussia Dortmund and Germany star turned down an offer of the same post at Hamburger SV. "I'm very honoured by Hamburg's interest, but there are a lot of tasks still to be tackled at the DFB and I'm looking forward to doing that", said Sammer. "Matthias Sammer has made numerous positive contributions to the development of the game in Germany over the past few years. We're delighted that he'll be carrying on with this committed and successful work at youth level in the future as well", DFB president Dr. Theo Zwanziger declared.

Four for Schalke
Schalke 04 signed up no less than four new players shortly before the close of the winter transfer window. Greek Euro 2004 winner Angelos Charisteas, who has bagged 26 goals in 122 Bundesliga appearances for Werder Bremen, 1. FC Nürnberg and Bayer Leverkusen, arrived as a free agent. Ali Karimi also came on a free transfer after his contract with Iran's Steel Azin FC was terminated. Both players have been signed up on deals running until the end of the season. Ghanaian midfielder Anthony Annan made the move from Norway's Rosenborg Trondheim on a contract through to 2014. And the Brazilian Danilo Avelar has switched to the Royal Blues on loan until the end of the season from Ukraine's Karpaty Lviv.

Bayern and Schalke meet again in cup semi
Holders Bayern München will be up against Schalke 04 in the semi-final of DFB Cup on March 2nd. The two sides will thus replay their meeting from the same stage of the competition last season, which Bayern edged late in extra time. On March 1st, the other last-four encounter sees two 2. Bundesliga clubs, MSV Duisburg and Energie Cottbus, go head-to-head for a place in the final in Berlin in May.

Szalai out for the season
FSV Mainz 05 will have to do without the services of Adam Szalai up front for the rest of the current campaign. The 23-year-old Hungarian striker was diagnosed with a cruciate ligament rupture during the course of an operation on his right knee. Szalai picked up the injury, initially believed to be only an outer ligament tear, in the Matchday 20 victory at regional rivals 1. FC Kaiserslautern. "It's a real piece of bad luck and very sad news", Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel said.