The Bundesliga returns for week 20 with European competitions also on the horizon. Borussia Dortmund’s Sebastian Haller will search for a third goal since his return to the pitch after netting in their 5-1 victory on World Cancer Day – how fitting.
Friday 10 February
Schalke 13/5 | Draw 13/5 | Wolfsburg 20/21 (19:30)
Kicking off the Bundesliga action, Wolfsburg travel to Schalke’s VELTINS-Arena. Schalke’s return to topflight German football looks to be over before it began after their fifth straight fixture without a win. Despite Wolfsburg’s 4-2 drubbing from log leaders Bayern, Die Wolfe can take confidence in finding the back of the net, whereas their current opponents have managed just one goal in their last five games. Wolfsburg victory.
Saturday 11 February
Bayern Munich 1/7 | Draw 8/1 | Bochum 14/1 (14:30)
After a seven-goal thriller, 15th-placed Bochum must try their luck against top-of-the-table Bayern Munich. Bochum had much to offer in a fixture that could benefit the charge to put relegation behind them with a 5-2 win over Hoffenheim. The record champions had their own goalfest as winter loanee Joao Cancelo assisted one of the four goals scored against Wolfsburg. Bochum will be confident after an impressive win, and this should result in an open game. Back Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 10/11.
Freiburg 5/6 | Draw 13/5 | Stuttgart 16/5 (14:30)
Freiburg missed the chance to inch closer to Champions League places in a 5-1 thumping to Borussia Dortmund. To add insult to injury, promising 20-year-old defender Kiliann Sildillia serves suspension after picking up a red card – two yellow cards within 17 minutes. However, Stuttgart’s five-game winless run leaves 5/6 on the home side quite appealing.
Hoffenheim 19/10 | Draw 13/5 | Bayer Leverkusen 5/4 (14:30)
Hoffenheim are currently on the longest winless run of all Bundesliga teams – nine games. Leverkusen’s recent form does not suggest they will continue their oppositions misery, having lost their last two fixtures 2-0 and 1-0 to Dortmund and Augsburg respectively. A draw will come as no surprise, but personally, I’m staying out.
Mainz 4/5 | Draw 14/5 | Augsburg 16/5 (14:30)
Augsburg has recorded two one nil wins in their last five. Their most recent victory was a hard-earned result against Leverkusen at home, but on the road, they have failed to earn a full complement of points since the second of October. Mainz’s recent 5-2 home victory with much of the thanks heading to Karim Onisiwo’s hat-trick which should be a major confidence boost, but playing this one safe is the better bet with Over 2.5 goals at 3/4.
Werder Bremen 29/10 | Draw 16/5 | Borussia Dortmund 77/100 (14:30)
The return of Sebastian Haller has been quite the story! The rest of the season should turn out solid for the 28-year-old Ivorian forward having added two goals since his return. With the trajectory that Dortmund are on, revenge following a 3-2 loss to Werder earlier in the season looks likely.
RB Leipzig 8/11 | Draw 13/5 | Union Berlin 4/1 (17:30)
Undoubtedly the most anticipated fixture of matchday 20 in the Bundesliga takes place at the Red Bull Arena. RB Leipzig set out to tie points with second-placed Union should they find victory, but a recent 0-0 draw with midtable Cologne might dampen the spirits. In the opposition corner, Union extended their win streak to five straight across all competitions after defeating Mainz 2-1. Both sides need to collect as many Bundesliga points as possible before their respective European campaigns resume. An extremely attacking side clashes with a well-organized defence, back the home side at 8/11.
Sunday 12 February
Hertha Berlin 17/10 | Draw 5/2 | Monchengladbach 11/8 (16:30)
Monchengladbach seemed to have turned a corner after two straight defeats since the turn of the year with a convincing 4-1 win over Hoffenheim, but a recent 0-0 draw with rock-bottom Schalke underlines major inconsistency. Hertha Berlin are non the better having swallowed another heavy defeat, conceding their 13th goal in a fourth straight defeat. Neither side inspires any confidence, and a draw is the most possible outcome.
Cologne 13/8 | Draw 12/5 | Eintracht Frankfurt 29/20 (17:30)
After a third straight draw, Cologne has the most draws of any side in the Bundesliga this campaign (eight). This one is shaping up to be a similarly cagey affair having drawn 1-1 back in the opening month of the season and an exact same scoreline in four of the last six head-to-heads. Get behind the draw.
