German Bundesliga: Gameweek 1 Preview

On to Saturday now and we kick things off with a clash between Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin. These sides have drawn seven of the last 10 meetings – including the last three. This has draw written all over it. 


Stuttgart 12/10
Draw 24/10
Freiburg 43/20
(15:30)

Back in the Bundesliga after a one-year absence, Stuttgart will be hoping to get their season off to a winning start as they look to keep their top-flight status come May. They host a Freiburg side who managed just two wins from 17 on the road last season. Stuttgart performed well at home in the second tier and I fancy them to win here. 


Eintracht Frankfurt 13/20
Draw 31/10
Arminia Bielefeld 37/10
(15:30)

Winners of the German second division last season, Arminia Bielefeld make their return to the top flight following an 11-year absence. The Blues will be buzzing to be back in the top flight, but they face a stern test away to Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles ended the 2019/20 Bundesliga season with three wins and a draw from their final four matches. The hosts are tipped to bag all three points.


Cologne 31/20
Draw 51/20
Hoffenheim 16/10
(15:30)

Hoffenheim will look to start the season on a high and collect their first three points when they travel to Cologne on Saturday. The hosts went their final 10 games in the 2019/20 Bundesliga without a win, suffering six defeats. Hoffenheim have completed a league double over the Billy Goats in the past two seasons and I fancy them to come away with maximum points.


Union Berlin 12/10
Draw 23/10
Augsburg 9/4
(15:30)

Union Berlin will take on Augsburg and will be confident of claiming maximum points following their 2-0 home win over the Fuggerstadter last season. The hosts won three of their final four matches in the 2019/20 Bundesliga and will look to start the season on a winning note. Augsburg finished just above the relegation zone last term; it could be another challenging season for them. The home win is the way to go. 


Dortmund 13/20
Draw 33/10
Monchengladbach 36/10
(18:30)

Dortmund and Monchengladbach will bring the curtain down on Saturday’s action when they meet at the Signal Iduna Park. The Foals, who secured Champions League football for the first time since 2016-17, will be looking to cause a major upset against last season’s runners-up, but Lucien Favre’s side boast an excellent head-to-head record against Gladbach having won the last 11 meetings. Back Dortmund at 13/20. 


Sunday 20 September


RB Leipzig 4/10
Draw 17/4
Mainz 11/2
(18:00)

Moving onto Sunday now and the first of the day’s two games sees RB Leipzig against Mainz. The hosts come off a fantastic season where they finished third in the Bundesliga and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The Red Bulls will be hoping to build on that impressive campaign, but 34-goal striker Timo Werner will be sorely missed by Julian Nagelsmann. Mainz, on the other hand, will be delighted not to face the German star on Sunday – he scored two hat-tricks against the Carnival club last season. Leipzig are my best bet for the weekend, get on. 


Wolfsburg 7/4
Draw 24/10
Bayer Leverkusen 29/20
(18:00)

We close out the gameweek with a clash between Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. The Wolves failed to register a win from their final five matches in the 2019/20 Bundesliga, blowing their glorious chance of a top-six finish. Oliver Glasner’s side will need to push harder for a European spot this season and a victory over Leverkusen on Sunday will give them an early advantage. That will be easier said than done against Peter Bosz’s side, but with Kai Havertz and Kevin Volland moved on and May’s 4-1 win at the BayArena still fresh in the minds of the players, the Wolves will fancy their chances. At 7/4, the home win is worth a punt.