The German Bundesliga celebrates its 60th birthday this 2023/24 season. After the tight run-in between league giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, this campaign is heating up to be another barn burner.
Friday 18 August
Werder Bremen 7/1 | Draw 11/2 | Bayern Munich 27/100
Defending champions Bayern Munich have bolstered their already star-studded line up with arguably the world’s best centre-forward Harry Kane. Last season, Bayern clinched the title by the skin of their teeth, and hopefully the England national captain can add surety upfront. Back the champions to get out of the blocks quickly..
Saturday 19 August
Augsburg 13/8 | Draw 13/5 | Monchengladbach 7/5
Augsburg managed to remain afloat in the topflight by a single point. Monchengaldbach, on the other hand, by no means had their most prolific season, but have boosted their attack, midfield, and defence in the transfer market. The value bet of gameweek one is undoubtedly the away team.
Bayer Leverkusen 7/5 | Draw 5/2 | RB Leipzig 7/4
Having stolen the show from Harry Kane, Dani Olmo’s hat-trick in the German Super Cup pins him as the prime attacker for RB Leipzig this season. Bayer Leverkusen are no pushovers, showing utter domination in their 8-0 DFB Pokal win, where Granit Xhaka made his club debut. Both Teams To Score (Yes).
Hoffenheim | Draw | Freiburg
Odds TBA*
Hoffenheim versus Freiburg will be as tightly contested as it was last season. If it wasn’t for the 84th-minute red card to Hoffenheim in the reverse fixture, both ties would have ended in draws. Back the stalemate here.
Stuttgart 4/6 | Draw 16/5 | Bochum 7/2
After a torrid run, Sebastian Hoeness was brought in during April of last season, and he did roughly steady the ship, but Stuttgart had to successfully endure relegation play-offs. Bochum struggled last season and bringing in eight new players doesn’t add much stability: back the home win.
Wolfsburg 3/5 | Draw 10/3 | Heidenheim 4/1
A town of 50,000 will host Bundesliga football in 2023/24 after Heidenheim secured a historic maiden promotion to the German topflight by mere goal difference. Competing in the fifth tier just 20 years ago and led solely by local boy Frank Schmidt since 2007, Heidenheim will be raring to go, but Wolfsburg will want to correct their wrongs of last season after missing out on a European spot by a single point. Back the home side in all multiples.
Dortmund 38/100 | Draw 21/5 | Cologne 6/1
Dortmund is surely still ruing their missed opportunity at a Bundesliga title. Edin Terzic has bolstered the midfield with Felix Nmecha and Marcel Sabitzer, complimented by the left-back signing of Ramy Bensebaini on a free transfer. Not much tinkering, but the squad has shown their readiness to go with an impressive pre-season. Confidently back Dortmund.
Sunday 20 August
Union Berlin 20/21 | Draw 23/10 | Mainz 11/4
Union Berlin heavily faded towards the end of the season, but kicking off the campaign on home soil bodes heavily in their favour. Back the home side.
Eintracht Frankfurt 4/11 | Draw 4/1 | Darmstadt 11/2
I’m always a fan of smaller teams earning promotion to the topflight but being realistic here and backing Eintracht Frankfurt is a no brainer.
