Leipzig host Bayern as Bundesliga returns: Gameweek 4 Preview

Two mouth-watering clashes take place this gameweek!

The first of the two spectacles sees free-scoring Bayer Leverkusen play host to Borussia Dortmund who have bounced back in a special way after a shock defeat in gameweek two.

And we close off Saturday in witness as RB Leipzig play host to Bayern Munich. 

Saturday 11 September

Leverkusen 9/4 | Draw 28/10 | Dortmund 21/20 (15:30)

Despite a torrid defensive display against Augsburg, the attack of Leverkusen has been clinical with the Czech Republic’s very own, Patrick Schick now finding the back of the net in consecutive fixtures.

After two consecutive losses, Borussia Dortmund fought hard to secure a 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim.

Erling Haaland drew a blank in the gameweek before and managed to put that behind him, securing an injury-time victory for the Black and Yellow.

Bayer Leverkusen has scored in each of their three Bundesliga fixtures so far, and the away team is within the same goalscoring bracket. Both teams haven’t yet shown great defensive displays, but the fighting spirit in the Black and Yellow camp, coupled with their quality of personnel has me backing Dortmund and Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 22/10.

Union Berlin 7/10 | Draw 29/10 | Augsburg 7/2 (15:30)

Union Berlin are starting to make their Stadion An der Alten Försterei a fortress, going unbeaten in 18 league appearances.

The Berlin outfit are unbeaten in all competitions this season, winning three of six fixtures and drawing the remainder, conceding just three goals in total.

Augsburg had yet to score a goal for the campaign before facing Bayer Leverkusen last time out and two early own goals was surely not the way to start. Florian Niederlechner did, however, take advantage of sloppy play in the opposition defence to score Augsburg’s first goal of the season, but ultimately lost 4-1. The Fuggers are without a win in the league and every club is finally starting to take shape going into the fourth round of fixtures.

If we’re looking for a banker towards the multiples, a straightforward Union Berlin win is as sure as you can get in betting.

Freiburg 11/10 | Draw 26/10 | Cologne 22/10 (15:30)

Freiburg have come out of the gates flying in their last two fixtures, scoring a sixth-minute goal against Dortmund where they won 2-1 and last gameweek, scoring two goals in 10 minutes to beat Stuttgart 3-2 at home.

In the head-to-head it looks bad for Cologne, losing both games last season by 0-5 and 1-4.

The Billy Goats have conceded goals in the first half in two of their three matches this season. Their last match, however, saw all three goals in the last five minutes plus stoppage time against newbies Bochum. Back Freiburg to win the first half at 16/10 and if you’re feeling adventerous, put money on the home team to score in the first 10 minutes at 34/10.

Hoffenheim 1/1 | Draw 11/4 | Mainz 24/10 (15:30)

Hoffenheim were unbeaten before they faced Borussia Dortmund who edged the fixture in the 91st minute. Now Die Kraichgauer have one win, one draw, and one loss in that order but have managed to score two or more goals in each fixture.

Mainz, on the other hand, have found themselves, winning two of their three fixtures. With both wins coming on home soil whilst the loss was an away upset to newly-promoted Bochum.

The home team looks balanced defensively and in attack with smooth transitions. Despite their stoppage-time loss to Dortmund last gameweek, they are looking in great form and spirits will not be dampened. They host Mainz who have not won on the road and with just four away wins out of 27 Bundesliga fixtures thus far. It is a difficult time for travelling teams in the league. Back Hoffenheim to win at even money.

Greuther Furth 4/1 | Draw 31/10 | Wolfsburg 6/10 (15:30)

Greuther Furth managed a draw in their first home fixture with the 12th man coming in handy. The home team has, however, not won a fixture or kept a clean sheet in their first three matchups.

Wolfsburg, on the other hand, are top of the table and the only team to win all three of their fixtures. Die Wolfe have shown great defensive quality and have been really compact in the midfield off the ball, resulting in just one goal conceded.

Wolfsburg seem to be at the top of their game being one of the few to grab a win in enemy territory over Hertha Berlin.

At 6/10, Wolfsburg are definitely in my weekend multiples.

RB Leipzig 21/10 | Draw 28/10 | Bayern Munich 11/10 (18:30)

A disgruntled RB Leipzig have a point to prove against Bayern Munich who have sought to destroy the Red Bull team through poaching of personnel.

Bayern Munich have taken Juliann Nagelsmann, Dayot Upamecano and their captain Marcelo Sabitzer over the break and we can only imagine the feeling of the fans when they all make their return at the Red Bull Arena.

Leipzig have struggled to find back-to-back wins in all competitive fixtures since the start of the season. They have lost both their away games by narrow one to nil defeats, but thumped Stuttgart 4-0 when last playing at home.

Bayern Munich seem to be kicking into gear after starting off the season quite shaky in defence. Bayern Munich sit among three teams on nine goals in three matches having made their presence felt again.

Dating back to February of last season, Robert Lewandowski has now scored in 16 straight games across all competitions for the reigning league champions. And not only did Lewandowski break German legend Gerd Müller’s record, but he did also it in style with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Hertha Berlin.

The home team may have a point to prove, but Bayern Munich at 11/10 is too much value not to pass up.

Sunday 12 September

Eintracht Frankfurt 19/20 | Draw 29/10 | Stuttgart 24/10 (15:30)

Eintracht Frankfurt are still without a win, losing their opening fixture to Bayern (no shame) but struggled to overcome Augsburg at home and Arminia Bielefeld away, securing two points.

The Eagles have been playing well in possession but lack the creativity to find the finishing pass. After dominating Arminia Bielefeld for the majority of the game last time out, they still recorded fewer shots than their opponents.

Stuttgart were stunned in their last match, going down by three goals in the first 28 minutes against Freiburg in their own backyard. Before the half was over, Stuttgart were able to pick themselves up after centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos took it upon himself to make a driving run to find the back of the net with a little bit of luck and determination.

And in the blink of an eye, Hamadi Al Ghaddioui got his head on the end of a cross to make it two goals in two matches for the German. Stuttgart, however, lost the match and after winning their opening fixture, have now suffered back-to-back losses.

Both teams are in desperate need of a win, but I see them meeting each other head-to-head only to share the points at 29/10.

Bochum 2/1 | Draw 9/4 | Hertha Berlin 14/10 (17:30)

Bochum seem to have the advantage of the home crowd backing after winning their home fixture 2-0 over Mainz and losing to both Wolfsburg and Cologne away. The newly-promoted team has two more points than their opponents and will look to take that confidence into the upcoming fixture. Bochum last beat Hertha 1-0 when they faced off in the Bundesliga back in 2009.

After selling both first-team strikers Matheus Cunha and Jhon Cordoba, Hertha Berlin had money to spend, bringing in 14 new players, including Stevan Jovetic who netted in their opening match. However, the Old Lady has not awoken yet, being the only Bundesliga team without a point on the board.

Hertha narrowly escaped relegation spots by just two points last season and will be under pressure to get on the board in this matchup. Back both teams to share the spoils, and also look at the line-up before the match with Jovetic at 2/1 as an Anytime Scorer.

Monchengladbach 9/20 | Draw 36/10 | Arminia Bielefeld 5/1 (19:30)

After astonishingly securing a point at home to Bayern Munich, Borussia Monchengladbach have found themselves losing both matches on the road. They now welcome Arminia Bielefeld to Borussia-Park where the home crowd is bound to play its part.

Arminia’s young midfielder Patrick Wimmer scored an absolute screamer to deservedly equalize and secure a point in their last fixture with Eintracht Frankfurt at home. The Blues are still unbeaten, but three draws is not the most inspiring set of results.

Arminia’s direct approach seems to be lacking the ability to get them over the finish line, losing possession quite often on the attack whereas M’Gladbach have found the back of the net in each of their Bundesliga appearances. I am finding it difficult to find a winner in this fixture and backing Both Teams To Score (Yes) is the safer bet at 15/20.

TREBLE @ 47/10
Union Berlin Win 7/10
Wolfsburg Win 6/10
Bayern Munich Win 11/10