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| Leipzig have defied all odds this season and sit three points above Bayern Munich at the summit. |
For the second consecutive week, Leipzig knocked Bayern Munich from the Bundesliga’s top spot as a result of a home win against form side Schalke. Bayern had regained top spot by goal difference following a routine performance at Mainz. Hoffenheim went into the top four after romping to victory against Cologne and remain the only side, other the Leipzig, unbeaten after 13 matches.
Friday 9 December
14/10 Eintracht Frankfurt | Draw 24/10 | Hoffenheim 37/20 (21:30)
Frankfurt shared the spoils with Augsburg at the weekend and missed the opportunity to go joint-third with Hertha Berlin. Branimir Hrgota gave Frankfurt the lead but the home side fought back to level in a lively first half. Frankfurt have gone seven matches unbeaten in the league but face a massive test against a Hoffenheim side superior by goal difference. Hoffenheim remained unbeaten this season with an emphatic 4-0 home victory over a Cologne side that was previously level on points with the hosts. Sandro Wagner struck a brace in the win, with goals from Jeremy Toljan and Mark Uth rounding out a resounding performance that sent the club into the top four. Back Both Teams to Score at 6/10.
Saturday 10 December
1/6 Bayern Munich | 6/1 | Wolfsburg 15/1 (16:30)
Bayern Munich secured a 3-1 comeback win against Mainz that briefly took them back to the summit of the Bundesliga. Despite conceding an early breakaway goal, Bayern rallied as two goals from Robert Lewandowski and an Arjen Robben strike was enough to gain revenge for a 2-1 home defeat to Mainz in April. Wolfsburg’s dismal season continued as they lost 3-2 at home to Hertha Berlin. Julian Draxler was dropped for the match and Wolfsburg made a bright start as a flurry of goals in the first 20 minutes saw the home side leading 2-1. After conceding an equaliser in the second-half, disaster struck with Paul Seguin sent off late on and ten-man Wolves giving away an injury-time penalty to lose the match. Over 2.5 Goals at 4/10 is the tip.
4/1 Cologne | 3/1 | Dortmund 13/20 (16:30)
Cologne conceded half as many goals in 90 minutes as they had in their previous 12 matches as they were hammered 4-0 away at Hoffenheim. The defence that had provided the solid foundation for the club’s great start to the season showed massive cracks under heavy pressure from their hosts. The club will require a response with the visit of a Dortmund side in a good vein of form. Dortmund disposed of Monchengladbach 4-1 in a resounding victory last weekend. Going a goal down early seemed to sting Dortmund into action as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang extended his lead at the top of the Bundesliga goalscoring charts with a brace. Cologne have been a strong side this season and are only two points behind Dortmund, but I’m tipping the away win at 13/20.
13/10 Hamburg | 9/4 | Augsburg 43/20 (16:30)
Hamburg climbed off the bottom of the log by picking up their first win of the season at Darmstadt. Michael Gregoritsch, who scored a brace against Werder Bremen, netted for the second week running before Matthias Ostrzolek killed off the game in the 90th minute. Augsburg drew their third match on the trot, conceding their first goal after keeping three consecutive clean sheets. They fought back to gain a point against high-flying Frankfurt and will come into this match eager to leave with something. Nevertheless, Under 2.5 Goals looks the smart call at 7/10.
4/1 Ingolstadt | 26/10 | Leipzig 7/10 (16:30)
Ingolstadt’s tough start to the season continued with a 2-1 loss to fellow strugglers Werder Bremen last weekend. For manager Maik Walpurgis, it was his first defeat in his third game in charge of the Bavarian club. It means Ingolstadt are well and truly entrenched in the relegation zone and simply must find an added gear to prevent going into the winter break towards the bottom of the league. The league leaders roll into town off the back of a 2-1 win over Schalke. Timo Werner opened the scoring for Leipzig from the penalty spot as early as the second minute, before the opposition equalised and then scored an own goal to hand Leipzig the three points. To win the league, you’ll need quite a bit of luck. Leipzig are a valuable 7/10 to pick up the away win.
13/20 Freiburg | 28/10 | Darmstadt 17/4 (16:30)
Freiburg halted their recent slide down the Bundesliga standings and managed to pick up a point on their visit to Leverkusen. Janik Haberer gave Freiburg the lead after half an hour as the visitors caused Leverkusen plenty of problems during the opening exchanges. Freiburg then frustrated the home side and held on to share the spoils. Darmstadt lost 2-0 at home to bottom side Hamburg in a match that could’ve lifted them above Wolfsburg and out of the relegation zone. Instead only two points separates Darmstadt from the basement. I’m tipping Freiburg to pick up the home win at 13/20.
15/20 Hertha Berlin | 11/4 | Werder Bremen 34/10 (19:30)
Hertha Berlin kept hold of third place with a 3-2 win away at Wolfsburg last weekend. Marvin Plattenhardt cancelled out the opener from the hosts, with Alexander Esswein equalising once again in the second half. Following a red card that reduced the hosts to ten men, Hertha Berlin capitalised to win a penalty and subsequently all three points. Werder Bremen moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Ingolstadt last time out. Fin Bartels scored the winning goal to secure all three points in a match that could probably have gone either way. This one has a home win written all over it at 15/20.
Sunday 11 December
7/10 Monchengladbach | 29/10 | Mainz 7/2 (16:30)
Monchengladbach fell to a disappointing 4-1 loss to Dortmund last weekend that only serves to heap the pressure on manager Andre Schubert. The Foals have won only three of their 13 matches, going seven straight games without a win. One has to feel that Schubert’s days are just about numbered. Despite Jhon Cordoba’s early breakaway opener for Mainz, the club still folded to a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich. Following the first goal, Mainz were almost totally dominated and chances were truly few and far between. This match is a tough one to call. Mainz haven’t lost to Gladbach since 2014 and the away Double Chance at 21/20 is great value.
27/20 Schalke | 24/10 | Leverkusen 39/20 (18:30)
Schalke’s 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions was brought to an end by league leaders Leipzig last weekend. Schalke conceded an early penalty but refused to go into their shells, Sead Kolasinac levelling to ensure that the sides entered the halftime break all square at 1-1. Kolasinac then went from hero to villain, putting the ball into his own net early in the second half to condemn the Blues to their first loss since September. Leverkusen were frustrated into a 1-1 draw with Freiburg that leaves the club ninth after 13 matches. It will certainly not have been the plan pre-season and Leverkusen have a lot of work to do if they have Champions League aspirations next season. I’m tipping the home win at 27/20 in what should be a cracking match.
TREBLE @ 5/1
Freiburg Win 13/20
Hertha Berlin Win 15/20
Schalke Win 27/20
Written by Rick John Henry
