They're back! Nik is back from a well-earned break in the Oman sunshine and ready to preside over a lower division roundtable. Jasmine and Maik join him to give you the lowdown on Dieter Hecking's return to the touchline in Nürnberg, FC St. Pauli's resurgence, and much more from the 2. Liga and lower down the German football pyramid.

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1. FC Union Berlin had a chance to shake up the Bundesliga on MD22. The overachievers from Köpenick clawed their way back to the top of the table with a strong start to the back half of the season. Now all they had to do to hang on there was beat 10-years-running Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, away from home and on short rest.

Gentle listener, that result was not on the cards. Matt and Terry hash out the Spitzenspiel that wasn't, Dortmund's win in Sinsheim, why we have Schalke to thank for a tightened-up relegation battle, and more...

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How often has the Bundesliga seen a three-way tie at the top after 21 matches? Just a tiny handful times, and not once in the three-points-for-a-win era that started nearly 30 years ago. That's another reminder of what an unusually close title race we're having, and what a treat these last 13 games are likely to be. Listen in as Matt is joined by Marie Schulte-Bockum again to hear how we ended up in this unaccustomed place. Why can't Bayern beat Gladbach? What made Schalke such a tough opponent for Union? And did Dortmund's win over a fairly tidy Hertha side illustrate why they might have what it takes to go all the way?

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Borussia Dortmund have done nothing but win since the Bundesliga restart, which has put them back in the title mix, just three points back of FC Bayern München. It's a tight race between the two biggest clubs in the division, but both teams will be turning their attention to the UEFA Champions League this week as they take on Chelsea and PSG respectively. Union Berlin still may have something to say - they racked up another come-from-behind win this week, this time at RB Leipzig. Matt talks it all over with Marie Schulte-Bockum...

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What a time to be alive - here we are into February and the top of the Bundesliga table is still something of a traffic jam! After Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund dispatched their opponents on Saturday afternoon, Bayern Munich actually needed to win away to Wolfsburg on Sunday to stay top. Matt and Terry talk over all the action at the top, all the static off the pitch surrounding Manuel Neuer's big vent, Gio Reyna's scoring tear, and much more.

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At last the German second tier has returned from its looooong break - one even longer that the big boys in the top flight. Plenty to talk about after a weekend of action there in the 2. Bundesliga, and plenty more to dissect from the rungs below as well. Nik Wildhagen is back with Jasmine and Maik to take it all in.

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Could 1. FC Union Berlin be on the verge of something truly magical? They brushed aside their cross-town rivals Hertha for the fifth derby on the trot and are now within one point of FC Bayern München. After the Rekordmeister limped through the English week with nothing but draws, there's a chance their season could end without (gasp!) the usual multi-trophy celebration. With Union and Bayern topping the docket, who else could Matt turn to but Kit Holden? The Scheisse! We're Going Up! author joins TFD from Vietnam - the lucky guy.

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Can you believe it's been 10 WEEKS since we've had Bundesliga football to watch? It seems much of the league was more than ready to go, as fans saw 41 goals across the match day, including a 7-1 result, a 6-0, and no fewer than six games with four goals or more. Interestingly, Bayern and Leipzig's Spitzenduell was among the less eventful affairs on Match Day 16. Matt and Adam Khan break down what's happening with those two high-profile sides, what's gotten into Wolfsburg, whether BVB should part with a club legend, and which mid-table sides could risk a slide into the relegation scrap if the have a poor englische Woche.

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So you thought all was well up in Hamburg? Think again. Despite rounding out the pre-World Cup part of the season with a big win, a couple of negative stories emerged to rain on their parade. Meanwhile, down in Fürth, helter-skelter football merchant Alexander Zorniger has led the Kleeblätter on a real tear. Listen in as Nik, Jasmine and Maik lead you through all those stories and more from the 2. Liga and the lower leagues in Germany...

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After a roller coaster of a first almost-half of the season, we're back to where we started. FC Bayern München are top of the league and in the kind of form that should make the rest of the league quiver. Still, plenty of intrigue just a little below: SC Freiburg proved they are the darkest horse in the title picture, hammering 1. FC Union Berlin, and RB Leipzig head into the winter break with all kinds of wind in their sails. All that and more as Matt and Marie take stock in the state of the league ahead of that one tournament in Qatar...

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