The German league of excellence continues to shine as Bayern Munich separate themselves from the pack, Borussia Dortmund emphatically slip up, and RB Leipzig suffers defeat at the toughest away grounds.
There’s value on offer in each fixture and backing Sadio Mane to score continues to be the play as the Bayern number 17 nets goal after goal scoring three in just as many fixtures.
Friday 26 August
11/20 Freiburg | Draw 7/2 | Bochum 46/10 (20:30)
Freiburg was bruised by their 3-1 defeat when they last strutted on home soil, but the Breisgau Brazilians came out 1-0 the better against regional Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart in the 400th clash between the two sides across all competitions.
Freiburg’s 29-year-old left-back Christian Günter continues to be a threat down his flank and polishes up any defensive duties. Bochum, however, should not have a tough time breaking down the home side’s defence despite losing 7-0 to Bayern Munich in last week’s fixture. The away team has netted four goals despite losing all three Bundesliga fixtures to date. Back Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 15/20.
Saturday 27 August
7/4 Mainz | Draw 26/10 | Leverkusen 14/10 (15:30)
Before Aarón Martin stepped up to take his first professional penalty, Mainz had converted their previous 36 from the spot. The O5er’s number three was denied, but to the club’s delight, a 2-1 victory was still the result.
Patrick Schick and Moussa Diaby were looking for their first league goals against Hoffenheim after Bayer Leverkusen started the competitive season with three consecutive defeats. This was not to be the case losing their fourth successive fixture scoring just one. Leverkusen has quality, but something is not clicking as we speak. The home side has yet to taste defeat and should not this weekend. Back Mainz on the Double Chance Win/Draw at 5/10.
5/10 Leipzig | Draw 37/10 | Wolfsburg 5/1 (15:30)
RB Leipzig has a new yet familiar face upfront, with returning striker Timo Werner millimetres from netting in his second successive Bundesliga match striking the upright early on.
Leipzig was always going to find it tough away to Union Berlin, as many topflight German clubs do, and a 2-1 defeat ensued leaving the Red Bulls winless in their opening three. Wolfsburg, in my opinion, are the ones to be taken advantage of, without a win in three fixtures and without a goal in two. Back Leipzig in all multiples.
2/1 Schalke | Draw 49/20 | Union Berlin 13/10 (15:30)
Union Berlin’s new strike partnership of Jordan Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker hoped to do damage to Leipzig last time out after both scoring in the matchday one derby against Hertha.
And just as if it were written in the stars, Becker assisted a lovely, worked team goal which Siebatcheu converted, and just six minutes later, Becker worked his way into slot home his own earning Union three well-deserved points. Schalke have scraped together a point and a clean sheet against Wolfsburg last time out but have still yet to earn a full three points to date. I believe there is another draw for the home team on the horizon here.
5/10 Hoffenheim | Draw 37/10 | Augsburg 48/10 (15:30)
Rafał Gikiewicz was the Augsburg hero the week prior saving virtually everything to claim the first three Bundesliga points for new coach Enrico Maaßen. Including a cup clash, Augsburg had won their last six home games against Mainz, but that run ended abruptly losing 2-1.
Now, they must travel to Hoffenheim who ‘came to town’ early on against Leverkusen converting their first key chance thanks to Christoph Baumgartner’s excellently worked eighth-minute opener. Eventually, Die Kraichgauer ended the fixture having scored three and taking home all three points for their second successive fixture. Back Hoffenheim to win on home soil.
32/10 Hertha Berlin | Draw 33/10 | Dortmund 15/20 (15:30)
Dortmund are licking their wounds after being dealt with violently in front of their home fans in a matter of minutes. After leading against newly promoted Werder Bremen by two goals for the majority of the fixture, they let three goals slip in six minutes in the dying moments of the game losing 3-2.
Hertha Berlin is likely to be among the relegation-fighting clubs this campaign and trying to steal points off an injured ‘bigger team’ could prove vital. Back Both Teams to Score (Yes) and over 2.5 goals at 8/10.
1/4 Bayern Munich | Draw 5/1 | Monchengladbach 8/1 (18:30)
Bayern Munich does not face many tough tests in the Bundesliga, but Borussia Monchengladbach is one you could possibly consider. That possibility does not seem so likely though with the away side scrape 1-0 penalty converted victories. In the fixture prior, a 2-2 away result to Schalke is not that promising either.
What is promising, and devastating is the idea of Bayern Munich winning 7-0 in their last fixture away to Bochum. Matthijs de Ligt opened his Bayern account, while Sadio Mane netted a brace and continues to gloriously shine. Bayern Munich will unlikely run riot but winning both halves is as much value as you can find without looking a little nutty on the betting slip at 6/10.
Sunday 28 August
21/20 Cologne | Draw 26/10 | Stuttgart 24/10 (15:30)
Stuttgart started off slow against Freiburg last time out, and they paid the price going a goal down in the 11th minute. The Swabians tasted their first defeat of the season on home soil failing to convert any created chances to salvage any points.
Cologne faced their own battle against Frankfurt and despite going down by a goal in the second half the Billy Goats weren’t about to let their unbeaten start slide. On 82 minutes, their game-changer off the bench Jan Thielmann struck to seal a point with utterly exquisite technique in the volley from outside the box. Back the home side to walk away with a full complement of points.
31/20 Werder Bremen | Draw 26/10 | Eintracht Frankfurt 16/10 (17:30)
Eintracht Frankfurt was hoping Luca Pellegrini could pick up where departed striker Filip Kostić had left off and his debut matchup was not up to standard drawing 1-1 with Cologne stating, “We would like to win, everyone would like to win… we are disappointed about this, a two-point loss…”
Werder Bremen, on the other hand, showed heaps of character against German giants Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park netting three goals between the 89th minute and 95th to steal all three points. One side is desperate to elevate their performance, while another will be riding the wave of confidence. The draw is the most likely outcome.
TREBLE @ 36/10
Leipzig Win 5/10
Hoffenheim Win 5/10
Cologne Win 21/20
