The German Bundesliga has just past the halfway mark, and Bayern Munich have let a big lead close down to five points. Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Union Berlin smell blood in the water and will strike in a blitz this coming weekend.
Friday 3 February
3/1 Augsburg | Draw 14/5 | Bayer Leverkusen 5/6 (19:30)
Kicking off proceedings in the German Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen makes a 500km+ trip to Augsburg’s BayArena. Leverkusen failed to close the gap on a Champions League spot when they lost 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund. However, to the credit of Leverkusen, they have won their last two away trips. Back the away team to win.
Saturday 4 February
17/10 Bochum | Draw 12/5 | Hoffenheim 29/20 (14:30)
It seemed that Bochum picked up where they left off before the World Cup break, winning their third straight league fixture in a 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin. However, back-to-back losses have put a dampener on the hopes of clawing their way out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile Hoffenheim remain on a eight game winless run and should they lose, will be tied on points with Bochum. The draw is likely here.
29/10 Cologne | Draw 13/5 | RB Leipzig 87/100 (14:30)
Cologne have a tough task on their hands when they welcome RB Leipzig where goals are almost always guaranteed. In the 11 matches between these two clubs, only one fixture has failed to produce both teams to score. Both teams are on a decent run of form but backing the BTTS (Yes) at 5/8 is a good play.
4/6 Borussia Dortmund | Draw 3/1| Freiburg 15/4 (14:30)
Borussia Dortmund have made a great restart to the Bundesliga with three straight wins, scoring eight goals, while Freiburg have had a mixed bag of results losing rather embarrassingly 6-0 to Wolfsburg, earning a point in a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, and more recently winning 3-1 against the bottom end of the table Augsburg. I’m putting my money on the form team here at decent odds.
12/25 Eintracht Frankfurt | Draw 7/2 | Hertha Berlin 5/1 (14:30)
Hertha Berlin enter this tie after tasting a gruelling Berlin Derby loss on home soil to taste a third straight defeat. Eintracht Frankfurt, on the other hand, will walk away from the Allianz Arena smiling after stealing a point. Eintracht are the form team undefeated in their last six fixtures having faced two of the top six. Get behind the home team.
20/21 Union Berlin | Draw 23/10 | Mainz 16/5 (14:30)
Union Berlin should be brimming with confidence and the fans will be in full voice after the Berlin Derby triumph away from home, and the acquisition Spaniard midfield general Isco from Sevilla on a free transfer. Now, they take on Mainz at their home fortress looking to make it 15 games undefeated on home soil. Even money on the home side is something the punter should not pass up.
52/100 Monchengladbach | Draw 7/2 | Schalke 9/2 (17:30)
I know I’m breaking the professional writing style in this statement, but this stat is absolutely wild! Schalke have not won an away fixture in the league since 2019 – 36 matches. We don’t even need to consider the form of Monchengladbach, back the home side.
Sunday 5 February
1/1 Stuttgart | Draw 5/2 | Werder Bremen 12/5 (14:30)
One of the more evenly matched fixtures is a double header this Sunday to close out the first fixture of the halfway mark in the German Bundesliga. Werder Bremen travel to the Mercedes Benz Arena having broken a four-match losing streak thanks to a Niclas Füllkrug’s brace. The 29-year-old German has now scored 13 league goals, and don’t forget the added confidence boost of two World Cup goals. In a tight affair, I’d rather back Füllkrug to score anytime.
15/4 Wolfsburg | Draw 10/3 | Bayern Munich 4/7 (17:30)
In the final match of the weekend, Bayern Munich hope to put an end to a three-game skid. The defending champions have been forced to settle for three straight draws since the return of the league having faced RB Leipzig, Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt. Sadio Mane’s return is on the horizon, and Bayern have just secured the loan deal of Joao Cancelo from Man City which could add a dynamic aspect to Julian Nagelsman’s side. If there is any side Bayern can bounce back against, it is Wolfsburg, having not lost to Die Wolfe since 2015 across all comps. Back the away side.
