The German Bundesliga always impresses with quality football, and this season Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund continue to apply pressure on Bayern Munich in an actual title race.
Friday 17 February
Augsburg 13/8 | Draw 5/2 | Hoffenheim 31/20 (19:30)
Opening Friday night’s Bundesliga action, Augsburg has the perfect opportunity to win a relegation six pointer when they welcome Hoffenheim to the WWK Arena. Although the travellers have registered a goal or more in each of their last six fixtures, they have failed to pick up a full compliment of points in just as many games. Augsburg have picked up back-to-back 1-0 wins on home soil and I’m tipping them to win.
Saturday 18 February
Bochum 2/1 | Draw 12/5 | Freiburg 5/4 (14:30)
This fixture is a no brainer – Freiburg are the banker of the weekend with considerable value. Their solitary loss to Borussia Dortmund would have stung but they bounced back strongly.
Monchengladbach 11/2 | Draw 9/2 | Bayern Munich 38/100 (14:30)
Value on Bayern? For good reason! Bayern have only defeated Monchengladbach just three times in the last 10 meetings cross all competitions. However, the home side have registered one win in their last five and I can’t pass up Bayern at 38/100.
Stuttgart 7/5 | Draw 12/5 | Cologne 9/5 (14:30)
Stuttgart continues to struggle in their pursuit of a win. Three defeats on the bounce and failing to keep up their decent home record in a recent 2-0 loss to Werder Bremen. Cologne addressed the lack of goals over their last two fixtures with a big 3-0 victory last time out and that gives confidence to punt on the Draw/Win Double Chance at 11/20.
Wolfsburg 9/4 | Draw 5/2 | RB Leipzig 11/10 (14:30)
RB Leipzig suffered a big match defeat last weekend on home soil and need to pick up the pieces as soon as possible. A win over Wolfsburg, who are bidding to close that six-point gap between the two sides, would be just the game to spur them on. Die Wolfe do not have the same defensive ability as Leipzig’s last opponents and Leipzig should find it easier to break the opposition down. You can back Leipzig, but showing caution in this encounter would benefit your kitty.
Eintracht Frankfurt 4/7 | Draw 10/3 | Werder Bremen 4/1 (17:30)
Eintracht Frankfurt’s recent 3-0 loss came as a shock while Werder Bremen’s 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund did not. Both these sides had decent runs of form prior to their losses and while the odds may suggest otherwise, a cagey affair ending in a draw seems probable.
Sunday 19 February
Union Berlin 11/20 | Draw 13/5 | Schalke 5/1 (14:30)
Union Berlin at home? At 6/10? Against dead last Schalke? Sign me up! Union have registered six straight wins across all comps after overcoming RB Leipzig away from home last time out and more impressively, look to build on their 15-match undefeated run on home soil. Back Union.
Borussia Dortmund 32/100 | Draw 21/5 | Hertha Berlin 13/2 (16:30)
Borussia Dortmund have been on an absolute tear! Six straight victories across all competitions, but now they must consider the fact that the UEFA Champions League is back up and running. Dortmund boss Edin Terzic will not underestimate relegation fighting Hertha Berlin with wholesale changes considering their league position, and you can expect a respectable starting XI. Get strongly behind Dortmund.
Bayer Leverkusen 4/5 | Draw 11/4 | Mainz 3/1 (18:30)
Closing out the weekend, Bayer Leverkusen continue to close the gap on the European spots when they see Mainz enter the BayArena. Bayer Leverkusen are favourites to take the game, but new Mainz signing Marcus Ingvartsen and 30-year-old Karim Onisiwo share a combined 16 goals, alongside Japanese attacking midfielder Lee Jae-sung who has netted six, so back Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 4/6.
