The tail end of the Bundesliga is producing quality football and goals galore. Bayern Munich might have wrapped up the league with five matches to play, but the European places remain wide open, while the relegation battle continues. Round 31 gets underway on Friday evening, let’s find out what’s in-store.
Friday 20 April
Monchengladbach 17/20
Draw 51/20
Wolfsburg 3/1
(20:30)
Monchengladbach were annihilated 5-1 at champions Bayern Munich last time out and will be looking to return to winning ways on home soil. Wolfsburg are unbeaten in their last three matches with two draws and one victory. Die Wolfe have scored just twice in their last four matches, while conceding just once. A tight matchup is on the cards with the Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – market tipped at 9/10.
Saturday 21 April
Leipzig 17/20
Draw 29/10
Hoffenheim 26/10
(15:30)
Only one point separates Leipzig and Hoffenheim and a defeat for either team could have massive ramifications on their chances of UEFA Champions League/Europa League football. The Red Bulls are strong at home, while Hoffenheim are unbeaten in their last seven matches. Home advantage usually makes all the difference when these sides lock horns. Back Leipzig to grind out a narrow and hard-fought victory.
Stuttgart 13/10
Draw 24/10
Werder Bremen 2/1
(15:30)
Stuttgart are unbeaten in their last five home games and will be looking to build on that. Werder Bremen have travelled dismally with just three wins from 15 matches and that doesn’t look like improving here. Just two points separate the sides and this is likely to be a tightly matched contest. However, I’m backing the hosts to come out on top.
Hamburg 11/10
Draw 43/20
Freiburg 26/10
(15:30)
Hamburg are placed second from bottom of the log, eight points adrift of safety and desperately need a win to give them a chance of surviving the drop. Should Freiburg win this match, it will ensure the hosts face the drop for the first time in their history. However, Freiburg have lost four matches on the spin, scoring just once and conceding eight times. Hamburg earned an impressive and hard-fought 3-2 win on their ground in their last home game against Schalke and are tipped to make it two home wins on the bounce.
Eintracht Frankfurt 15/20
Draw 51/20
Hertha Berlin 37/10
(15:30)
Eintracht Frankfurt are unbeaten in their last eight league games at home with five wins and three draws. Hertha Berlin have been terrible on the road with only four wins from 15 matches and should go down here. The Eagles won the reverse tie 2-1 and will be looking to pull off the double against the Old Lady. Take Eintracht Frankfurt to claim the all-important victory.
Hannover 9/2
Draw 36/10
Bayern Munich 5/10
(15:30)
Hannover, like Bayern Munich, don’t have much to play for in the league. However, the hosts still need to ensure they don’t get involved in the relegation play-offs and they could also improve their position on the standings. The Bavarians will likely play a fringe side on Saturday afternoon, with their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid coming up on Wednesday next week. That being said, I’m going to have a sneaky punt on Hannover to edge this one.
Borussia Dortmund 13/10
Draw 26/10
Bayer Leverkusen 37/20
(18:30)
Borussia Dortmund might have suffered a 2-0 defeat at Schalke last weekend but they return to their ground where they remain unbeaten in their last eight matches with three wins in a row, scoring seven goals and conceding just twice. Bayer Leverkusen have been in top form with four wins from their last six games, including consecutive 4-1 victories. Both Teams to Score – Yes – should be backed at 5/10.
Sunday 22 April
Augsburg 21/20
Draw 23/10
Mainz 26/10
(15:30)
Augsburg have been dismal at home with four straight losses, scoring just twice and conceding 10 goals. Mainz are coming off a 2-0 home win against Freiburg and will be looking to keep that form up as they remain above the relegation play-offs only on goal-difference. Augsburg have won just once against Mainz in the last eight meetings and the latter will look to maintain that excellent record. The visitors are tipped on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 7/10.
Cologne 3/1
Draw 51/20
Schalke 9/10
(18:00)
Cologne must claim maximum points here to make sure they still have a chance of survival, but it will be easier said than done against an in-form Schalke side. The relegation-candidates have managed just five wins from 30 games, while Schalke have won seven from their last eight. The Royal Blues claimed a narrow 1-0 victory in the corresponding leg and will look to pull the double over Cologne.Schalke are tipped to come away with maximum points.
TREBLE @ 4/1
Hamburg Win 11/10
Dortmund vs Leverkusen BTTS 5/10
Mainz Win/Draw 7/10
Written by Aaron Crowie