PREVIEW: Bundesliga Matchday 18

FOOTBALL - The following are some key facts and figures on a selected assortment of matches in the Bundesliga this weekend. The matches we have looked into are Schalke 04 - Hannover 96, Bayern München - Greuther Fürth and Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund.

Schalke 04 - Hannover 96 (Friday 18 January, 20:30 CET)

> Schalke and Hannover drew their first match this season 2-2. These teams have never drawn twice against each other in the same Bundesliga season. In the 2nd Bundesliga, this happened once - in 1989/1990 (2-2 in Hannover, 1-1 in Gelsenkirchen.

>  Schalke went winless in six straight Bundesliga matches for the first time since April-August, 2011. Their last longer run without a win – nine matches between March and May, 2000. Last Schalke win – 2-1 at home against Werder Bremen, on November 10, 2012.

> Hannover have lost their last three Bundesliga away matches. Since February 26, 2012, Hannover lost 12 of 14 away from home. Only wins – 0-4 at VfL Wolfsburg on September 2, 2012 and 2-4 at VfB Stuttgart on November 11, 2012.

 Bayern  München - Greuther Fürth (Saturday 19 January, 15:30 CET)

> Bayern have scored exactly four times as many goals as Fürth this season (44 to 11). Fürth have conceded exactly four times as many goals as Bayern this season (28 to 7).

> Bayern have equalled the record for fewest goals conceded after 17 match rounds in a Bundesliga season – seven. VfB Stuttgart also conceded seven after 17 (and 18) in 2003/2004. Stuttgart did not concede in their 18th match.

>  In round 17 against FC Augsburg, Lasse Sobiech broke Fürth’s 513–minute goalless spell, the longest drought of the season.

 Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund (Saturday 19 January, 18:30 CET)

> Matches between these teams are almost a guarantee for goals. In 89 encounters, no fewer than 280 goals have been scored (Bremen 150-Dortmund 130), averaging 3.15 per match.

> Bremen collected 22 points after 17 matches. Since 2001/2002, they always collected at least 26 after 18, except for 2010/2011, when they had 22.

> In their past two championship seasons, Dortmund conceded 10 and 12 goals after 17 matches, this season they have 20 against them. The number of goals scored is (quite) equal to the 35 and 39 they compiled in the last two seasons – 35.