With the international breaks done and dusted for the year, we can now focus all our attention on club football. The German Bundesliga returns on Friday with Borussia Dortmund at the summit following their thrilling 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich, leaving the defending champions languishing in fifth place, seven points behind BVB. Hannover, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart can be found in the drop zone, but we are only 11 rounds into the campaign with plenty of time to mount a comeback. Let’s get to it.
Friday 23 November
Bayer Leverkusen 11/20
Draw 34/10
Stuttgart 17/4
(21:30)
Bayer Leverkusen were in dismal form before the break with back-to-back losses, scoring just once and conceding seven times. Stuttgart have lost four of their last five matches but impressed last time out with a 2-0 victory away to Nuremburg. Nonetheless, the basement-dwellers have travelled poorly with four defeats from six games. They did, however, manage a surprise 1-0 win in this fixture last term and I’m backing them to get a positive result here. The sides are tipped to share the spoils.
Saturday 24 November
Hertha Berlin 2/1
Draw 26/10
Hoffenheim 12/10
(16:30)
Hertha Berlin are without a win in their last five matches, including two losses on the bounce, scoring once and conceding seven goals. Hoffenheim have been in terrific form with four consecutive victories. The hosts have lacked consistency this term and desperately need to pull up their socks and start finding some rhythm. Manager Julian Nagelsmann’s team are on the up and have won their last three travels. Back Hoffenheim to snatch a narrow win.
Mainz 36/10
Draw 3/1
Borussia Dortmund 7/10
(16:30)
Mainz were just starting to find their feet before the international break with two wins in a row. Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, remain the only unbeaten side in the league with eight wins and three draws from 11 games. I’m expecting Mainz to keep this contest tight with solid and organized defending. However, the hosts, as well as BVB have been scoring goals at will, so I would suggest climbing on the Both Teams to Score – Yes – market at 6/10.
Augsburg 15/10
Draw 5/2
Eintracht Frankfurt 33/20
(16:30)
Augsburg have been a difficult team to predict this season and when that happens, it’s best not to punt on them. Instead, we can look at the form of Eintracht Frankfurt and take it from there. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last six matches with five wins and one draw. Although they lost both meetings against Augsburg last term, they are in much better form coming into this clash. Back Eintracht Frankfurt on the (+1) Handicap at 5/10.
Wolfsburg 43/20
Draw 49/20
Leipzig 12/10
(16:30)
Wolfsburg have been terrible in recent weeks with four losses from their last five matches and have managed just one win from six home games. Leipzig are unbeaten in their last eight matches with five victories. The Red Bulls are five points off the table-toppers and will be looking to make some ground up here. Take Leipzig to edge the win.
Bayern Munich 1/12
Draw 10/1
Dusseldorf 25/1
(16:30)
Bayern Munich haven’t been their usual rampant selves this season with the defending champions suffering three defeats from 11 matches already, including a 3-2 loss at Borussia Dortmund last time out. Dusseldorf remain winless on the road, scoring a measly two goals and conceding 14 times. A goal fest is on the cards with Both Halves Over 1.5 Goals tipped at 27/20.
Schalke 11/20
Draw 29/10
Nuremburg 11/2
(19:30)
Schalke have registered only three wins from 11 matches and were thrashed 3-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt before the break. However, they return to home soil where they got a 3-1 victory over Hannover last time around. Nuremburg are yet to win a match on their travels and have lost three of their last five games. Schalke are tipped to capitalize on home advantage.
Sunday 25 November
Freiburg 7/4
Draw 24/10
Werder Bremen 15/10
(16:30)
Freiburg have been sloppy with just three wins from 11 matches. Werder Bremen have been horrendous in recent weeks with three straight losses. The River Islanders have, however, done fairly well on the road with three wins from five games. Neither team will want to drop any points here and with that, you can expect an end-to-end game of football. However, I’m backing Werder Bremen to come away with all three points.
Borussia Monchengladbach 9/20
Draw 36/10
Hannover 5/1
(19:00)
Monchengladbach are the only team in the league with a 100% win-record on home soil. They have won four of their last five matches, including back-to-back wins and will be eager to maintain that form. Hannover have been dreadful on the road as they are yet to win a match, scoring seven goals and conceding 15 times. The Borussians are tipped on the (-1) Handicap at 11/10, get on!
TREBLE @ 7/1
Mainz vs Dortmund BTTS 6/10
Bayern vs Dusseldorf Both Halves Over 1.5 Goals 27/20
Monchengladbach (-1) Handicap 11/10
Written by Jason Dewey