Borussia Dortmund will be aiming to narrow the gap on log leaders Bayern Munich after managing to capitalize on the Bavarians’ shock loss to Bochum. This week’s action sees Dortmund host Monchengladbach, while bottom-placed Greuther Furth are set to take on the defending champions.
Friday 18 February
39/20 Mainz | Draw 26/10 | Bayer Leverkusen 12/10 (21:30)
Mainz entertain in-form Bayer Leverkusen at the MEWA Arena after beginning February with a 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim and sharing the spoils away at Freiburg (1-1) last time out. Bayer Leverkusen are aiming for their fifth straight victory in the Bundesliga and enjoyed wins on the road against Borussia Monchengladbach (1-2) and Borussia Dortmund (5-2).
The visitors edged out a 1-0 win in the reverse tie and are my best bet to claim maximum points at 12/10.
Saturday 19 February
39/20 Arminia Bielefeld | Draw 23/10 | Union Berlin 14/10 (16:30)
Arminia Bielefeld’s spell of six unbeaten games which included three wins and three draws came to end with last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat away at Hoffenheim. Meanwhile, Union Berlin will also be aiming to return to winning ways after disappointing losses to Augsburg (2-0) and Borussia Dortmund (3-0). Aside from the loss to Augsburg, the Iron One’s were enjoying an upturn in form on their travels. However, the previous two meetings between these opponents have only yielded one goal. My money is firmly on Under 2.5 Goals at 7/10.
11/10 Stuttgart | Draw 5/2 | Bochum 22/10 (16:30)
Bochum come into the clash feeling confident after upsetting the applecart in an unbelievably entertaining first half which saw ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ lead Bayern Munich 4-1 and eventually ran out 4-2 winners. Following draws with Cologne (2-2) and Hertha Berlin (1-1), the result was unlikely to say the least.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart are in horrid form with seven losses in eight league games. Select Bochum on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 6/10.
16/10 Wolfsburg | Draw 5/2 | Hoffenheim 16/10 (16:30)
My banker bet of the weekend comes at the Volkswagen Arena when Hoffenheim make the trip to lock horns with Wolfsburg. After a nine-game winless streak that included seven defeats, the hosts, Wolfsburg, claimed back-to-back wins over Greuther Furth and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Hoffenheim, on the other hand, ended a four-game losing spell with victory over Arminia Bielefeld last time out thanks to goals by defender Benjamin Hubner and French youngster Georginio Rutter.
Take Both Teams To Score (Yes) at 11/20.
19/10 Augsburg | Draw 24/10 | Freiburg 14/10 (16:30)
Augsburg are hovering precariously above the relegation zone, winning just twice in their last 10 Bundesliga games. Meanwhile, Freiburg seek to get back to winning ways after suffering a 1-0 loss away at Cologne and then sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Mainz last time out.
Freiburg dominated this fixture (3-0 & 2-0) in 2021 and are my selection to continue this trend, however, if you’re feeling brave, Away Win To Nil (Yes) is priced at massive odds of 31/10.
27/20 Cologne | Draw 26/10 | Eintracht Frankfurt 18/10 (19:30)
Cologne are slipping off the pace to achieve a UEFA Europa League qualifying slot, winning just once in four games. Although, two of those defeats came at the hands of Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
Eintracht Frankfurt will be aiming to claim victory and leapfrog the hosts on the log standings, but it hasn’t been easy goings for the Eagles in 2022 – winning just once in five league games and losing all three home matches.
The last four meetings between these opponents have yielded two goals on each encounter with three matches ending in 1-1 draws. Take these evenly matched teams to cancel out each other.
Sunday 20 February
1/16 Bayern Munich | Draw 11/1 | Greuther Furth 28/1 (16:30)
Bayern Munich face the league’s bottom club, Greuther Furth, after suffering a humiliating 4-2 loss away at Bochum. The visitors have won two of the last three matches which gives them a slight glimpse at escaping the drop.
However, this task might prove too much. Home To Win Both Halves (Yes) 11/20 is my suggestion.
13/20 Borussia Dortmund | Draw 33/10 | Borussia Monchengladbach 36/10 (18:30)
Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach lock horns at Signal-Iduna-Park on Sunday in the pick of the action. The Yellow and Blacks are priced up as favourites and were able to capitalize on Bayern Munich’s defeat by beating Union Berlin 3-0 convincingly.
Last weekend’s 3-2 win over Augsburg was only the Foals’ second victory in 11 games across all competitions with the other win coming against Bayern Munich, you can’t rule out an upset.
Monchengladbach edged the previous meeting 1-0, but this time around my prediction is Borussia Dortmund on the (-1) Handicap at 14/10.
42/20 Hertha Berlin | Draw 32/10 | RB Leipzig 6/10 (20:30)
RB Leipzig are in fine form and need to keep winning in order to hold onto their UEFA Champions League qualification slot, with the likes of Hoffenheim, Freiburg and Union Berlin hot and their heels. All four clubs are equal on 34 points, making for an interesting second half of the campaign.
Hertha Berlin, on the other hand, find themselves in the opposite pack of teams on the log – looking to avoid relegation. RB Leipzig won the last three meetings, including an emphatic 6-0 win seven months ago. My money is on RB Leipzig on the (-1) Handicap at 29/20.
MULTIPLE @ 730/1
Bayer Leverkusen Win 12/10
Arminia Bielefeld vs Union Berlin: Under 2.5 Goals 7/10
Bochum Win/Draw Double Chance 6/10
Wolfsburg v Hoffenheim: BTTS (Yes) 11/20
Freiburg Win 14/10
Cologne vs Eintracht Frankfurt Draw 26/10
Bayern Munich vs Greuther Furth: Home To Win Both Halves (Yes) 11/20
Borussia Dortmund (-1) Handicap 14/10
RB Leipzig (-1) Handicap 29/20
