In matchday nine, it is all about Der Klassiker as Borussia Dortmund plays host to Bayern Munich at the Signal Iduna Park. While either side are not at the summit of the table, this fixture remains and will always remain the centre of attention in the German top-flight. Check out all that and more in this week’s Bundesliga preview.
Friday 7 October
1/1 Hoffenheim | Draw 28/10 | Werder Bremen 49/20 (20:30)
Kicking off the Bundesliga weekend, Hoffenheim entertains a fully confident Werder Bremen at the PreZero Stadium.
A 49th birthday for Hoffenheim coach Andre Breitenreiter was not to be celebrated with a good result, drawing away to Hertha Berlin 1-1. Now, what would have been a game the Blues would be looking forward to has turned into one that should prove a rather tough contest after Werder Bremen dispatched Monchengladbach 5-1.
The home side has proven themselves defensively over their last six fixtures, conceding just three goals, and this encounter looks to be a rather cagey affair. Additional Totals Under 2.5 at 16/10 is tipped, but Niclas Fullkrug as an Anytime Goalscorer is definitely an option too.
Saturday 8 October
11/20 Leverkusen | Draw 36/10 | Schalke 46/10 (15:30)
Bayer Leverkusen was in heavy need of three points and faced a Bayern Munich that was lacking in confidence.
However, Leverkusen was unable to capitalize on the opportunity before them and in actual fact crumbled to a 4-0 loss – this marks Leverkusen’s worst Bundesliga start in 40 years. Schalke fought hard to come back from two goals down against Augsburg, but a 77th-minute strike stole the chance to secure any points.
Leverkusen sits on five points while Schalke has collected just one more, and this fixture could prove pivotal to the following results for October. I’m backing the Draw No Bet in favour of the away team at 29/10.
26/10 Bochum | Draw 11/4 | Eintracht Frankfurt 1/1 (15:30)
There are a few teams struggling after eight fixtures being played to date, but none more so than Bochum. Just one point coupled with 23 goals conceded after their 4-0 loss to RB Leipzig last time out is atrocious.
Eintracht Frankfurt has bounced back after their 1-0 defeat to Wolves with a convincing defeat of Stuttgart, but the midweek UCL result against Spurs will be hard on the legs. Either way, really, you can back the away side at even money.
39/20 Augsburg | Draw 24/10 | Wolfsburg 14/10 (15:30)
Augsburg’s goalkeeper Rafał Gikiewicz had kept a clean sheet in his side’s derby win against Bayern in the previous game, and one against Leverkusen in the game before that.
He would have arrived at the fixture against Schalke intent on making it three in a row, and his side’s two goals before the half-hour mark would have given the side the confidence to go on. Lapses in concentration were evident and it was 2-2 before a 70-minute strike put all three points on the board.
Wolfsburg were also a part of a five-goal thriller where they defeated Stuttgart 3-2 courtesy of an even later 90th-minute strike from Yannick Gerhardt – his second of the season, and both earned his side three points.
While goals seem to be the play, after the last gameweek they have not been the trend for these sides, and I am more inclined to back a stalemate here.
9/4 Mainz | Draw 51/20 | RB Leipzig 12/10 (15:30)
RB Leipzig did exactly what was expected of them last matchday dispatching bottom-of-the-log Bochum 4-0.
Both Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku had gone five competitive games without scoring, and both found their names on the scoresheet with a brace each.
Mainz are now on a three-match winless streak after their 2-1 loss to Freiburg, but one positive to take away is having found the back of the net in each fixture. The home side’s scoring record coupled with RB Leipzig’s defensive record this season makes me lean toward the camp of Both Teams to Score (YES) at 6/10.
7/2 Borussia Dortmund | Draw 36/10 | Bayern Munich 13/20 (18:30)
In matchday nine, it is all about Der Klassiker as Borussia Dortmund plays host to Bayern Munich at the Signal Iduna Park. The last time these giants clashed, Bayern secured their 31st Bundesliga title at the sold-out Allianz Arena with a 3-1 victory.
Dortmund tends to make the brighter start in these encounters, but slow and steady progression into Julian Nagelsmann’s tactics has prevailed in the last two meetings. Both sides sit on 15 points with Bayern third and Dortmund fourth, but the +17-goal difference for the away side is eye-catching despite their poor form.
The recent 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen inspires no confidence in the defending champions and similarly a 3-2 loss against Cologne for Dortmund. This encounter always produces an eye-catching fixture, and you can go “heavy” with Both Teams to Score (Yes), and Additional Totals Over 2.5 at 11/20 is surprisingly the safest option.
Sunday 9 October
1/1 Monchengladbach | Draw 11/4 | Cologne 5/2 (15:30)
A first of three Bundesliga fixtures on Sunday afternoon sees two of the most inconsistent sides lock horns. Two draws, two losses and one win in Monchengladbach’s last five fixtures shows the home side at odds with themselves, especially when you consider their 5-1 loss to Werder is preceded by a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig.
Cologne is non the better with the exact same form over their last five, but positively the Billy Goats have dispatched Borussia Dortmund 3-2. Neither side draw here, so back the Home/Away Double Chance.
21/10 Hertha Berlin | Draw 49/20 | Freiburg 13/10 (17:30)
A landmark 200th game for Hertha Berlin’s Andrej Kramaric was marked by an his 91st goal for the club when he slotted home a rebound during their 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim, marking Berlin’s third straight draw.
Freiburg are level on points with Union Berlin for the number one spot in the Bundesliga but back-to-back 0-0 draws before their recent 2-1 win over Mainz hurt the Breisgau Brazilians’ goal difference. Freiburg takes all three points.
33/20 Stuttgart | Draw 22/10 | Union Berlin 17/10 (19:30)
Union Berlin was bound to slip up at some point, but now the rest of their season could hinge on how they respond when they face Stuttgart at the Mercedez Benz Arena in the final encounter of the weekend.
The Berlin outfit remains top of the Bundesliga on 17 points, but it is their goal difference that keeps them in the number one spot. Their goal scoring is not prolific, but more so their defensive cohesion. Union Berlin on the Draw/Win Double Chance at 4/10 is safe.
TREBLE @ 6/1
Eintracht Frankfurt Win 1/1
Mainz/RB Leipzig BTTS (Yes) 6/10
Freiburg Win 13/10
