League football is back this weekend after the international break. In the Bundesliga, log leaders Dortmund travel away to Coface Arena as they take on ninth-place Mainz. The home side will be hoping to collect all three points, however, BVB are in high spirits after a convincing win against Bayern Munich in their previous match.
This week, Nhlanhla Mshibe takes a look at the fixtures and makes his predictions.
Mainz v Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Match 2 Soccer 6 Pool 24 November S6 V3 P1
League Rankings: Mainz 9th v Dortmund 1st
Useful facts: Dortmund, no doubt buoyed by the fantastic win over Bayern Munich prior to the FIFA international break, will be out to collect all three points away to Mainz and keep hold of their spot at the top of the standings. The home side, who have been blowing hot and cold but secured a morale-boosting win over SC Freiburg in their last league encounter, will want to put up some sort of resistance in order to move up the table. Mainz had the better of Dortmund the last time the two teams did battle, in May, with a 2-1 scoreline.
Nhlanhla Mshibe: Dortmund win
Valencia v Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)
Match 3 Soccer 6 Pool 24 November S6 V3 P1
League Rankings: Valencia 15th v Rayo Vallecano 19th
Useful facts: The two teams sit on the wrong end of the table, but it is Valencia who will feel that they should have been up there, if not for their drawn matches. So far, they have registered eight draws in 12 league matches, the highest amount in the league. The visitors, therefore, have a mountain to climb but will be well aware that even as is quite early in the season, a loss will exacerbate their troubles and they may be in danger of relegation. They got a credible draw against 10-men Villarreal in their last league match, but this is a must-win for them.
Nhlanhla Mshibe: Valencia win
Huesca v Levante (La Liga)
Match 4 Soccer 6 Pool 24 November S6 V3 P1
League Rankings: Huesca 20th v Levante 8th
Useful facts: Even though playing away from home, Levante are favourite to take home all three points, facing a Huesca side sitting at the basement of the log standings. The home side has only won one game in 12 league matches and conceded 25 goals, the joint-highest in the league. It's hard to see them walking away with a win against a Levante side that has won five, drawn two and lost five. The two sides last met in June last year, with Huesca winning 2-1.
Nhlanhla Mshibe: Draw
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