A very exciting weekend is in front of us as the competition in top tier German Bundesliga begins. The first matchup of the week 1 will take place on Friday when Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen lock horns at Allianz Arena while the remainder of the matchups will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
In this article, we’ll bring you some swift and thorough analysis of the remaining clashes that will take place on Saturday in order to get some money into your piggy bank. There are no less exciting matchups from the betting point of view and sometimes the jackpot waits exactly where you never thought it would be. Hopefully, we shall enter the season with some profound betting tips so let’s take a closer look.
1.FSV Mainz 05 vs. Hannover 96
Three-Way: 1: 1. FSV Mainz 05 +110; X: +263 Draw ; Hannover 96 +326
Spread -0.5: 1. FSV Mainz 05 +100; Hannover 96 -104
Total +2.5: Over +112; Under -116
1.FSV Mainz 05
The Mainz team stayed above the relegation line in the league table last year thanks to their better goal difference than Wolfsburg team. If they want to avoid the battle for survival this season they’ll need to hit the right gear from the beginning, especially on home soil. During the offseason, they sold their first striker Jhon Cordoba to Koln while young Bosnian center-forward Kenan Kodro has been added to the team from Spanish side Osasuna. A couple of more exciting young players were added to the team including defender Abdou Diallo (from AS Monaco) and winger Viktor Fischer (from Middlesbrough). Besides Cordoba, Florian Niederlechner and Pierre Bengston are two more notable departures. When we put everything together, I think Maniz has a pretty potent team and we’ll see if the new manager Sandro Schwarz can find the way to catalyze this young squad.
Jannik Huth (knee), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (thigh) and Alexander Hack (ankle) are all unavailable for Saturday while Florian Muller (hip), Gaetan Bussman (groin) and Gerrit Holtman (thigh) are all back in training. Marin Sverko (muscle), Danny Latza (unknown) and Niko Bungert (muscle) are listed as day to day while Aaron Seydel’s (knee) and Leon Balogun’s (muscle) status is unknown.
HANNOVER 96
The Hannover team ended the last season ranked second on the Zweite (second tier Bundesliga) league table with 67 total points earned (one point more than third-ranked Braunschweig) thus avoiding the additional qualifications and qualifying automatically to the top tier competition. Certainly, their first objective during this season will be securing of the survival but it’s not unheard of that the newly promoted team makes much more success instantly (remember RB Leipzig last year).
Their roster is almost identical to last year’s with a couple of veteran players acquisitions like right-back Julian Korb who came from M’Gladbach and goalkeeper Michael Esser who signed from SV Darmstadt 98. Only notable departure is center-back Andre Hoffmann who was sold to F. Dusseldorf for 250.000 Euros.
Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee’s (thigh), Miiko Albornoz’s (thigh) and Edgar Prib’s (knee) status are unknown while Uffe Bech (knee), Felipe (thigh) and Pirmin Schwegler (hip) should be back in few days and it’s unknown if they’re going to be available on Saturday.
FSV Mainz 05 vs. Hannover 96 – Match Prediction
Well, if the Mainz team is unable to win the home opener against the newly promoted team in Bundesliga then they’ll have something to worry about but I don’t think it will happen and that’s why I would put my money on home squad to take the win in a low scoring game.
My pick: FSV Mainz 05 to win (+110)
Additional pick: Under 2.5 goals (-116)
Hamburger SV vs. FC Augsburg
Three-Way: 1: Hamburger SV +125; X: +245 Draw; FC Augsburg +275
Spread -0.5: Hamburger SV +121; FC Augsburg -128
Total +2.5: Over +129; Under -125
HAMBURGER SV
Another deeply underperforming team from last season HSV, who fought for the survival in the last round of the Bundesliga campaign against Wolfsburg (2:1 home win), is definitely not eager to repeat the heartbreaking and pain-inducing year for their fans. Good results at home will be crucial for it if the Red Shorts want to be a successful team in 2017/18 season.
The team was active in the transfer market during the offseason as they added five new signings including proven defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos from Bayer Leverkusen and solid striker Andre Hahn from Borussia M’Gladbach. Centre-Forward Michael Gregoritsch signed with their next and first opponent in the league FC Augsburg and on Saturday it will be a little homecoming for him.
Filip Kostic (knee) and Pierre-Michael Lasogga (thigh) are back in training while Mats Kohlert’s (muscle) status is unknown. Albin Ekdal (back) is listed as day to day while Kyriakos Papadopoulos (knee) is doubtful for Week 1.
FC AUGSBURG
Along with their first opponents HSV, the FC Augsburg also ranked in the second part of the Bundesliga league table last season with the battle for survival being their prime objective. They were not very active during the offseason when it comes to roster strengthening as they addressed only the needs that were an imperative. As mentioned above, Gregoritsch was the most notable acquisition while Dominik Kohr (Bay. Leverkusen), Paul Verhaegh (VfL Wolfsburg) and Albian Ajeti (FC ST. Gallen) left the team.
Manager Manuel Baum will have most of his players available for Saturday as Caiuby Francisco Da Silva (thigh) and Raul Marcelo Bobadilla (thigh) is back in training. Only Gojko Kacar (thigh) and Dong-Won Ji (foot) are questionable to appear on the team.
Hamburger SV vs. FC Augsburg – Match Prediction
Not sure if HSV has enough juice to take down “Die Fuggerstadter” and that’s why I’ll put home team win as my additional pick. Safe bet here is under 2.5 goals in total.
My pick: Under 2.5 goals (-125)
Additional pick: Hamburger SV to win (+125)
Hertha BSC vs. VfB Stuttgart
Three-Way: 1: Hertha BSC +116; X: +262 Draw; VfB Stuttgart +284
Spread -0.5: Hertha BSC +110; VfB Stuttgart -115
Total +2.5: Over +100; Under -106
HERTHA BSC
The team from the capital managed to finish last Bundesliga season ranked at one of the spots that earn the UEFA Europa League berth (No. 6 spot) and the season was graded as the successful one. This year could be a lot different story after they sold their top defensive player John Anthony Brooks to league rivals VfL Wolfsburg. Young Dutch Centre-Back Karim Rekik who was signed from Marseille should fill the defensive void that appeared and we’ll see if he’s up to the task. Also, striker Davie Selke from RB Leipzig has been added in order to strengthen Hertha’s attacking game after offseason departures of Centre-Forward Sami Allagui and attacking midfielder Alexander Baumjohann.
Valentin Stocker (muscle) is back in training while Dennis Smarsch’s (cruciate ligament), Jonathan Klinsmann’s (ankle) and Maximilian Mittelstadt’s (foot) status are unknown. Valentino Lazaro (ankle) and Davie Selke (toe) should be back in few weeks will Julian Schieber (knee) is set to be available in mid-September.
VfB STUTTGART
Constant relegations and promotions in the top tier of Bundesliga have been the Stuttgart’s team reality in last decade and if they’re want to change this trend they’ll have to provide us with some strong season opening. Young manager Hannes Wolf who led the team back to the top German soccer competition in his first year with the squad might be that long awaited refreshment which can bring the much-needed consistency for the fans.
During the offseason, they strengthened the middle of the field by signing midfielders Chadrac Akolo (from FC Sion) and Orel Mangala (from Anderlecht Res.) while keeper Ron-Robert Zieler came from Leicester City. Romanian native Alexandru Maxim is the only notable departure as he was sold to FSV Mainz 05 for a fee worth 3.00 Mill. Euros.
Carlos Mane and Emiliano Insua will be out until early autumn with some knee afflictions while Jerome Junior Onguene (hip) is day to day. Anto Grgic’s (ankle), Ailton Ferreira Silva’s (muscle), Dennis Aogo’s (muscle) and Timo Baumgartl’s (concussion) status is unknown.
Hertha BSC vs. VfB Stuttgart – Match Prediction
This matchup could be the sleeper that we are all looking for as, by my opinion, Stuttgart has the chance of snatching all three points in Berlin on Saturday. Still, I’ll put that as my additional pick because total goals scored looks like a bit safer bet.
My pick: Under 2.5 goals (-106)
Additional Pick: VfB Stuttgart to win (+284)
