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Matchday 18 in the Bundesliga kicks off in three days as teams return from their winter break. The 2015-16 season will resume with Bayern Munich holding an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund. Seven teams are separated by six points at the bottom of the table.
Hertha Berlin is the surprise of the year as they sit in third place. They will begin the second half of the season with a tricky match against Augsburg. However, the best matchup this weekend will be Borussia Mönchengladbach hosting Dortmund.
The remainder of the Bundesliga season will run from this weekend until the middle of May. Wolfsburg and Bayern will also be gearing up for Champions League play in a few weeks. For those who have been anxious about the return of the Bundesliga, here is what to watch for.
5. New Teams Staying Up
Credit: Official FIFA German Language Twitter Account5. New Teams Staying Up
Ingolstadt and Darmstadt have stayed away from the relegation zone for the first half of the season. However, both teams have negative goal differentials and only earned four points from the last five games before the break. Both were clear relegation candidates when the season started, but now the fight really begins.
4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Scoring Touch
Credit: Getty Images4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Scoring Touch
Aubameyang is one of the best goal scorers in all of Europe right now. He has 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games, and leads Robert Lewandowski by three. Aubameyang has 24 goals in all competitions. There are plenty of rumors that teams are after his services, and he is one of the most exciting players in the Bundesliga and makes fans tune in.
3. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's Role in Bundesliga Popularity
Credit: Official Bayer Leverkusen Twitter Account3. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's Role in Bundesliga Popularity
For fans of soccer in North America, Chicharito is the ultimate villain or a cult hero. Regardless, he is scoring plenty of goals for Bayer Leverkusen and attracting plenty of new fans to the Bundesliga. The league created a page strictly for the Mexican striker on their website. Chicharito has been an exciting addition to the league, and will continue to help its popularity.
2. Hertha's European Dreams
2. Hertha's European Dreams
Hertha earned 12 points from the last five matches before the break and moved into a Champions League spot. Their European hopes could go up in flames over the next six weeks with many matches against teams in the top half of the table. USMNT center back John Brooks has been a big part of their surge up the table, but the silly season has brought rumors of his departure. Regardless, the question of Hertha's staying power remains.
1. Bayern's Treble Quest
Credit: Official Bayern Munich English Twitter Account1. Bayern's Treble Quest
Bayern have not run away with the Bundesliga, but most still expect them to win. With the news that this is Pep Guardiola's last season as head coach, many players are saying they want to win the treble for the manager. Bayern got a favorable draw in the DFB Pokal, but will face Juventus in the Champions League. It will not be easy for Bayern to complete the treble.
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