Round 27 of the German Bundesliga gets underway this weekend with Bayern Munich leading by just four points at the summit followed by Dortmund, Monchengladbach and Leipzig.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Friday 22 May
Hertha Berlin 13/10
Draw 47/20
Union Berlin 21/10
Hertha got back to winning ways last Saturday when winning 3-0 at Hoffenheim, but their opponents were missing their three main strikers. They have drawn three and lost three of their last six home league appearances and won only once in their last 10 at home, so the 13/10 odds on a home victory look a bit short to me.
Union Berlin were expectedly outclassed by Bayern Munich last Sunday, losing 2-0 at home, but benching their top scorer Sebastien Andersson until the last 15 minutes didn’t make sense, but you can guarantee he will start this derby. For me, I think Over 2.5 Goals at 9/10 is the Best Way to Go, as Local-Derbies are normally open encounters and my value bet is Hertha Berlin to Score in Both Halves at 24/10.
Saturday 23 May
Monchengladbach 27/20
Draw 26/10
Leverkusen 7/4
Borussia Monchengladbach look to continue keeping the pressure on the top two in the Bundesliga but they face a stern test against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. They beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 away last Saturday in an impressive performance, in a difficult environment. Gladbach have won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six league fixtures, while winning eight, drawing one and losing to Borussia Dortmund in their last 10 home league games.
Bayer Leverkusen cruised past struggling Werder Bremen on Monday Evening, winning 4-1 away from home. They have won 10 and drawn one of their last 11 matches in all competitions, while their last eight away outings has seen six wins, one draw and one defeat. Bear in mind that they won at Bayern Munich and drew at RB Leipzig earlier this season, so they have nothing to fear here. Backing either side is a tough call and the draw at 26/10 looks great value, but Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Total Goals well worth a punt at 6/10.
Freiburg 5/4
Draw 5/2
Werder Bremen 2/1
Freiburg were unlucky when they had a goal disallowed in injury-time when drawing 1-1 at highly-fancied RB Leipzig last Saturday. They have won two and lost one of their last three home league appearances and a similar performance to last week should be enough to secure the three points.
Werder Bremen were beaten 4-1 at home by fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Monday, which sees them second from bottom and five points behind the relegation playoff place. They have taken just a point from their last seven league fixtures and four points from their last 11 league games, while they have conceded at least 2 goals in their last seven league encounters.
Backing Freiburg to win at 5/4 looks the right call and Freiburg to Score in Both Halves at 2/1 looks worth a look. My value bet is Freiburg to Win and Both Teams to Score at 27/10.
Paderborn 22/10
Draw 26/10
Hoffenheim 11/10
Paderborn drew 0-0 at Fortuna Dusseldorf last Saturday, which keeps them bottom of the Bundesliga and six points from safety. They have drawn two and lost five of seven league matches, losing the last four at home, but strangely, they have scored in their last seven home league outings.
Hoffenheim were beaten 3-0 at home by Hertha Berlin last Saturday but were missing their three main strikers. They have drawn three and lost four of their last seven league appearances, but while they have scored in nine of their last 10 away league games.
The Injury Report will be key here. Unless either of Kramaric, Adamyan or Belfodil are available, 11/10 Hoffenheim looks too short and I would rather chance Paderborn Draw No Bet at 13/10 in a difficult looking fixture.
Wolfsburg 33/10
Draw 29/10
Borussia Dortmund 15/20
Wolfsburg scored in injury-time when beating Augsburg 2-1 away last Saturday. They have won four and drawn three of their last seven league matches, but worryingly, they have won one, drawn three and lost one of their last five home league encounters, and lost their last four home meetings against Dortmund.
Since the signing of striker Erling Haaland, BVB have won eight and lost one of their last nine league outings, scoring an impressive 31 Goals. They have kept five clean sheets in their last seven league appearances and won eight and drawn one of their last nine encounters with Wolfsburg.
Dortmund to win at 15/20 looks a good thing but with Wolfsburg being touted as the Best Team outside the Top 5, I am going for BVB to Win and Over 3.5 Total Goals at 2/1.
Bayern Munich 1/6
Draw 13/2
Eintracht Frankfurt 13/1
Bayern have won 11 and drawn 1 of their last 12 league fixtures and to me, look absolute certainties, especially ahead of Tuesday’s league decider at Borussia Dortmund.
Eintracht were beaten 3-1 at home by Borussia M’GB on Saturday, making it 4 league defeats in a row and having conceding 13 goals in those games. Another hiding looms large.
Looking for Bets at a decent price is tricky, but Bayern to Win and Both Teams to Score (No) at even money looks about right. Bayern to score Over 2.5 Goals at 6/10 looks a gift and Bayern to Score 4 + goals at 14/10 looks worth an interest as well.
Sunday 24 May
Schalke 1/1
Draw 49/20
Augsburg 26/10
Schalke were thrashed 4-0 away to local rivals Borussia Dortmund last Saturday. They have drawn four and lost four of their last eight league matches but at home, they have won five, drawn six and lost one of their last 12 league outings, losing to RB Leipzig.
Augsburg have lost their last four league appearances, conceding 2 goals in each of those games, while their last 10 league fixtures has seen one win, one draw and eight defeats. They have lost their last 5 away league encounters – scoring one, but conceding 14 goals.
David Wagner’s Schalke team will not have a better opportunity to get back to winning ways, so while even money isn’t the greatest of prices, they are only 2 points outside the E/L places. Schalke to Win by More than 1 Goal at 5/2 looks excellent value for me.
Mainz 5/1
Draw 15/4
RB Leipzig 9/20
Mainz fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Koln last Sunday to make it two wins, three draws and one defeat from their last six league matches. Worryingly, they have won only one of their last seven at home and were beaten 8-0 at RB Leipzig in November.
RB Leipzig were fortunate when drawing 1-1 at home with Freiburg last Saturday, which has ruined their title hopes. They have won two and drawn five of their last seven league outings, drawing the last three, but they have kept clean sheets in their last 3 away league appearances.
Mainz are only four points above the relegation zone and will no doubt be cautious early on. So, with little value, like most of the markets for this clash, I fancy RB Leipzig to keep a Clean Sheet at 15/10.
Cologne 8/10
Draw 28/10
Fortuna Dusseldorf 31/10
Cologne threw away a 2-0 lead when drawing 2-2 at home with Mainz last Sunday. They have won five, drawn one and lost one of their last seven home league fixtures while winning eight of their last 13 league games.
Fortuna drew 0-0 at home with bottom-placed Paderborn last Saturday and remain four points from safety. They have won one, drawn five and lost three of their last nine league encounters, scoring only nine goals.
Cologne to win at 8/10 is the right play but to Win by More than 1 Goal at 18/10 is worth a dabble too. The value bet at 21/10 is Cologne to Win and Both Teams to Score.
Written by Budgie Byrne
