Union Berlin are clear of juggernauts Bayern Munich by four points at the top of the Bundesliga table after defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0. We should just let their fans dream of securing their first elite German title after being promoted in 2019. While things remain interesting at the top, there are much more intriguing bets on offer for the punters. Check out all that as well as an irrefutable treble.
Friday 21 October
5/4 Mainz | Draw 51/20 | Cologne 21/10 (20:30)
Friday night football sees Mainz host Cologne separated by a single point at the MEWA Arena. Mainz had already won three on the road and added their fourth straight away win when they defeated an in-form Werder Bremen 2-0.
Marcus Ingvartsen netted his second in as many games to open the scoring and should find himself starting upfront, yet again.
Cologne has proven they are no pushovers, coming from a goal behind to take their last encounter 3-2 over Augsburg. Both sides will be looking to build on convincing wins, so I’m backing this encounter as a stalemate.
Saturday 22 October
11/20 Borussia Dortmund | Draw 36/10 | Stuttgart 46/10 (15:30)
A disaster start for Borussia Dortmund in their last encounter which saw goalkeeper Gregor Kobel slip in attempting to control a back pass as early as the seventh minute proved the beginning of the end.
A 2-0 defeat at Union Berlin’s home grounds is no shame, and Dortmund should easily pick themselves up at Signal Iduna Park.
And what better way to do so than against the most favourable opponent, Stuttgart, who have managed just their first win of the season against the bottom-of-the-log Bochum. Banker Dortmund.
44/10 Augsburg | Draw 7/2 | RB Leipzig 11/20 (15:30)
Augsburg didn’t show the know-how on holding a lead or sustaining a draw, losing 3-2 at the hands of Cologne and subsequently threw us out of our 6/1 treble last matchday.
In great similarity, RB Leipzig almost let a 3-0 lead slip right through their fingers, taking all three points by the skin of their teeth 3-2 against Hertha Berlin.
A win for Leipzig will see them extend their unbeaten run to three fixtures. Back the away side to continue clawing their way back to European contention.
44/10 Hoffenheim | Draw 4/1 | Bayern Munich 5/10 (15:30)
You might be seeing Bayern Munich’s odds and thinking, ‘what are these bookmakers on? I’m emptying out my coffers’, but I would advise against it strongly.
In 29 previous encounters across all competitions, the defending champions have recorded just seven away wins over Hoffenheim.
Hoodoo, superstition, bogus, or whatever you want to call these kinds of occurrences in football, but Die Kraichgauer is that team for Bayern. I’m getting behind Both Teams to Score (Yes) plus Additional Totals Over 2.25 at 6/10.
13/20 Bayer Leverkusen | Draw 32/10 | Wolfsburg 37/10 (15:30)
Wolfsburg has taken eight points from their last five games after bringing Monchengladbach back down to Earth with a 2-2 draw as head coach Niko Kovac enjoyed his 51st birthday.
After Wolfsburg went through three managers last season, there seems to be a bit of faith in the former Bayern Munich player despite sitting 13th on 10 points.
Bayer Leverkusen are surprisingly short favourites after registering just one win in their last five, and a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt last time out. This week’s value bet is Wolfsburg on the Draw/Win Double Chance at 21/20.
19/20 Freiburg | Draw 28/10 | Werder Bremen 26/10 (15:30)
High-flying Werder Bremen were shot down by two goals from Mainz, and surprisingly struggled to find the target after ‘scoring goals for fun’ already hammering in 20 after the first nine matchdays.
In contrast or similarity, depends on how you look at it, Freiburg was a no-show against a rather rotated Bayern Munich side and will chalk off the 5-0 defeat heading into this encounter.
Neither side showed great signs, but prior to their defeats looked good. Both Teams to Score (YES) at 6/10.
12/10 Monchengladbach | Draw 28/10 | Eintracht Frankfurt 2/1 (18:30)
Borussia Monchengladbach was on a high after beating Cologne 5-2 but were quickly humbled by Wolfsburg with a 2-2 draw.
On the flip side, Eintracht Frankfurt recorded an emphatic 5-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen as Daichi Kamada netted a brace, after securing a Champions League goal against Tottenham days before.
Both sides don’t inspire confidence for the win, so backing the Japanese forward, Kamada, as an anytime goalscorer is my play.
Sunday 23 October
28/10 Bochum | Draw 5/2 | Union Berlin 1/1 (15:30)
Union Berlin secured the top spot with a massive 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in their uncanny bid to secure their first Bundesliga title.
Yes, it is still a long way to go, but we should just let their fans dream as they sit four points clear of juggernauts Bayern. Bochum has been poor, making this encounter first versus last, back Union at attractive odds.
19/20 Hertha Berlin | Draw 26/10 | Schalke 11/4 (17:30)
Schalke is getting that same old sinking feeling, again, as they went down 3-0 to Hoffenheim last time out, and unquestionably, the discipline and composure are going out the window, as two of those three goals were penalties.
It’s four successive Bundesliga defeats for Schalke, but Hertha Berlin’s recent 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig means they are without a win in five fixtures. I’m backing the draw here.
TREBLE @ 53/10
Borussia Dortmund Win 11/20
Wolfsburg Draw/Win Double Chance 21/20
Union Berlin Win 1/1
