This German Bundesliga round will start on Friday, January 19th, 2018, with a derby clash between Hertha BSC and Borussia Dortmund, while on Saturday, January 20th, 2018, we’ll see more entertaining football, including another derby when Hoffenheim meets Bayer Leverkusen. On Sunday, January 21st, 2018, we’ll get two more matches as Bayern Munich welcomes Werder Bremen, and Schalke 04 meets Hannover 96.
HERTHA BSC vs. DORTMUND
3-Way: 1: Hertha BSC +271; X: +264 Draw; 2: Dortmund +100 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: Hertha BSC -115; Dortmund +101
Total +2.5: Over -117; Under -101
HERTHA BSC
The Old Lady started the new year with a 1:0 defeat against Stuttgart on the road, taking just one shot on target for 90 minutes. After two wins and a draw in the previous three rounds, Hertha had a poor game last weekend, and now they will face a tough Borussia Dortmund side, so a much better performance is needed if they want to get a positive result. So far, Hertha has earned 14 points on the home soil with a 4-2-3 record and a 15:14 goal difference.
Injuries and suspensions: Karim Rekik (shin), Alexander Esswein (cold, doubtful)
Head-to-head: Dortmund won their first H2H meeting of the season at home, 2:0, while Hertha won the previous match at Olympiastadion in Berlin, 2:1.
DORTMUND
The Black and Yellows disappointed their fans in the previous round of the German Bundesliga playing a nil-nil draw with Wolfsburg at home, and now they are 15 points behind the leader Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga trophy seems inaccessible this season, but the battle for the UEFA Champions League will be a tight one, so Dortmund has to find better performance as soon as possible. They earned 15 points on the road in nine games thus far, winning just once in the previous five away matches.
Injuries and suspensions: Maximilian Philipp (knee), Marco Reus (training deficit), Marcel Schmelzer (calf), Raphael Guerreiro (thigh)
Hertha BSC vs. Dortmund – Match Prediction
The visitors are favorites in this one, while I expect to see a much better display from both teams than a week ago. Therefore, I think we’ll see some goals on both sides, similar to their last meeting at Olympiastadion.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 Goals (-117)
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH vs. FC AUGSBURG
3-Way: 1: Borussia Monchengladbach +112; X: +258 Draw; 2: FC Augsburg +239 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Borussia Monchengladbach +109; FC Augsburg -128
Total +2.5: Over -134; Under +112
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
The Foals upset their fans last weekend when they lost 2:1 to the bottom side FC Koln on the road, and it was their third defeat in the last five Bundesliga matches. Monchengladbach is currently in the sixth spot of the table with 28 points and a 28:30 goal difference, two points behind Schalke 04 in the third spot, so they will try to get back on the winning track against Augsburg and continue to fight for the UEFA Champions League spot.
Injuries and suspensions: Tobias Strobl (knee), Ibrahima Traore (muscle), Fabian Johnson (back), Mamadou Doucoure (muscle), Raffael (calf), Raul Bobadilla (osteitis pubis)
Head-to-head: In the last five H2H duels both teams recorded one win each, while three games were finished in a stalemate, including a second-round match at Augsburg (2:2).
FC AUGSBURG
After a 1:0 victory over Hamburger SV at home in the previous round of the Bundesliga, Augsburg is sitting at the eighth spot of the table, one point behind their next rival Borussia Monchengladbach, but with a solid 28:23 goal difference. On the road, Augsburg has a 3-2-3 record with a 12:11 goal difference, while they’ve lost two out of the previous three away matches.
Injuries and suspensions: Moritz Leitner (wound), Dong-Won Ji (knee), Philipp Max (fever, doubtful)
Borussia Monchengladbach vs. FC Augsburg – Match Prediction
This is an important match for both teams in their battle for Europa qualification, so I believe we’ll see an exciting match, probably with some goals on both sides. Augsburg was pretty solid away from home thus far, and I expect to see more of the same.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 Goals (-134)
SC FREIBURG vs. RB LEIPZIG
3-Way: 1: SC Freiburg +250; X: +252 Draw; 2: RB Leipzig +110 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: SC Freiburg -126; RB Leipzig +109
Total +2.5: Over -120; Under +102
SC FREIBURG
Freiburg is unbeaten for six Bundesliga matches in a row, recording three victories and three draws in a process. However, they are still just above the danger zone, sitting at the 14th place of the table with 20 points and an 18:32 goal difference, four points ahead of Werder Bremen in the 16th spot. At home, they are playing patiently, recording three wins, five draws, and just one defeat thus far with an 8:6 goal difference.
Injuries and suspensions: Philipp Lienhart (knee), Mike Frantz (knee), Yoric Ravet (Achilles tendon)
Head-to-head: RB Leipzig won the previous three H2H meetings, all three pretty convincingly (4:1, 4:0 and 4:1).
RB LEIPZIG
The Red Bulls had a great match last weekend against Schalke 04 at home, beating their rivals 3:1 to overtake them at the Bundesliga table, so they are currently in the second spot with 31 points and a 30:26 goal difference. It was their first win in the last five Bundesliga games, while in the previous four matches on the road they’ve earned just two points.
Injuries and suspensions: Emil Forsberg (muscle, doubtful)
SC Freiburg vs. RB Leipzig – Match Prediction
The Red Bulls are favorites and I expect to see them winning three points here, besides Freiburg’s good recent form. If RB Leipzig wants to stay in the second spot, they just have to win matches like this one.
MY PICK: RB Leipzig to Win (+110)
TSG HOFFENHEIM 1899 vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN
3-Way: 1: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 +189; X: +259 Draw; 2: Bayer Leverkusen +139 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 +113; Bayer Leverkusen -130
Total +3: Over -103; Under -109
TFG HOFFENHEIM 1899
In the last four Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga matches we saw more than two goals just once, in a 2:1 defeat against Dortmund, while in the previous round they played a 1:1 draw with Werder Bremen on the road. Hoffenheim is still in the seventh spot of the table with 27 points and a 28:23 goal difference, while they were pretty good on the home soil with a 5-3-1 record and a 15:7 goal difference.
Injuries and suspensions: Kerem Demirbay (muscular problems)
Head-to-head: Hoffenheim won two out of the last three H2H duels, but in the second round earlier in the season the match at Leverkusen was ended in a 2:2 draw, even Bayer was a far better team.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Leverkusen had a difficult start of 2018, losing 3:1 to their arch-rival Bayern Munich in front of the home fans. It was their first defeat after almost four months and 14 games in all competitions, while they are laying at the fifth spot of the Bundesliga table with 28 points and a 35:26 goal difference. Their away games were pretty efficient so far, as we saw 32 goals in nine encounters.
Injuries and suspensions: All players are ready to go.
TSG Hoffenheim 1899 vs. Bayer Leverkusen – Match Prediction
This is certainly one of the derby clashes of the Round 19, and I expect to see a similar match to their first meeting of the season. Therefore, I’m backing the over in this one.
MY PICK: Over 3 Goals (-103)
FSV MAINZ 05 vs. VfB STUTTGART
3-Way: 1: FSV Mainz 05 +159; X: +225 Draw; 2: VfB Stuttgart +183 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: FSV Mainz 05 -114; VfB Stuttgart +102
Total +2.5: Over +111; Under -134
FSV MAINZ 05
Even they had a 2:0 lead after the first 30 minutes of the game, Mainz lost 3:2 to Hannover in the previous round of the German Bundesliga to record their third defeat in the last five matches along with two draws with Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig. With 17 points and a 21:31 goal difference, Mainz is sitting in the 15th spot of the table with their heads just above the water.
Injuries and suspensions: Rene Adler (hamstring), Karim Onisiwo (training deficit)
Head-to-head: These two teams had a couple of clashes this season, and they’ve recorded one win each. In the second round of the German Bundesliga Stuttgart won at home, 1:0, while Mainz was victorious on the home soil in the German DFB Pokal, 3:1.
VfB STUTTGART
Stuttgart has beaten Hertha BSC 1:0 at home last weekend to put an end on a four-game losing string, and they are sitting at the 13th spot of the Bundesliga table with 20 points and a 14:21 goal difference. They are the worst team in the league on the road thus far, recording just one draw and eight losses with a terrible 4:16 goal difference.
Injuries and suspensions: Ailton (ankle), Matthias Zimmermann (knee)
FSV Mainz 05 vs. VfB Stuttgart – Match Prediction
Both teams are playing poorly in the last few rounds of the German Bundesliga, and even I fancy Mainz chances at home, I’m pretty worried that the visitors will have to get something on the road sooner or later.
MY PICK: FSV Mainz 05 to Win (+159)
VFL WOLFSBURG vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
3-Way: 1: VFL Wolfsburg +122; X: +231 Draw; 2: Eintracht Frankfurt +240 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: VFL Wolfsburg +122; Eintracht Frankfurt -144
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under -128
VFL WOLFSBURG
The Wolves managed to resist Dortmund last weekend, earning a valuable nil-nil draw on the road, so now they are laying at the 12th spot of the Bundesliga table with 20 points, a 21:21 goal difference, and a 3-11-4 record. However, they are winless in the previous four rounds, recording three draws and one defeat on those four occasions.
Injuries and suspensions: Ignacio Camacho (ankle), Jakub Blaszczykowski (back, doubtful)
Head-to-head: In the last five H2H duels Wolfsburg is leading 4:1, while the previous three duels were finished in the under and Eintracht Frankfurt couldn’t find the net.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
The Eagles played a 1:1 stalemate with Freiburg at home in the previous round, and it was their second consecutive draw on the home soil, while on the road, they are the second-best team in the Bundesliga with a 5-3-1 record and an 11:7 goal difference. However, they couldn’t keep the clean sheet in the previous six matches away from home.
Injuries and suspensions: Alexander Meier (ankle), David Abraham (shin), Marco Fabian (training deficit), Marco Russ (heel)
VFL Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt – Match Prediction
This is a tricky one to predict the final outcome, but after 11 draws this season I think it is time for Wolves’ victory, particularly because the visitors were so successful on the road thus far, and I don’t think they are so strong to get another win.
MY PICK: VFL Wolfsburg to Win (+122)
HAMBURGER SV vs. FC KOLN
3-Way: 1: Hamburger SV +116; X: +233 Draw; 2: FC Koln +254 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Hamburger SV +115; FC Koln -136
Total +2.5: Over +112; Under -137
HAMBURGER SV
The Red Shorts recorded their third defeat in a row losing 1:0 to Augsburg last weekend, while they’ve managed to score just twice in the last five Bundesliga matches, conceding six goals in a return. They are currently in the 17th spot of the table with 15 points and a 15:26 goal difference, two points behind Mainz in the safe 15th spot.
Injuries and suspensions: Nicolai Muller (knee), Lewis Holtby (muscle), Aaron Hunt (malleolar), Albin Ekdal (knee)
Head-to-head: Hamburger SV won all three H2H meetings in 2017, including a 3:1 victory at Koln in the second round.
FC KOLN
The Billy Goats have beaten Borussia Monchengladbach 2:1 at home in the previous round of the German Bundesliga to record their second consecutive victory, while they are still sitting at the bottom of the table with nine points and a 12:33 goal difference, six points behind their next rival, and eight points behind Mainz in the 15th spot. Koln had a lot of problems with injured players in the last couple of months, and now some important guys are back in the squad, so we can expect a much better performance in the further rounds.
Injuries and suspensions: Leonardo Bittencourt (muscle), Marcel Risse (training deficit), Jannes Horn (ill)
Hamburger SV vs. FC Koln – Match Prediction
It is always interesting to watch two bottom sides facing each other, and Koln just cannot allow losing this one if they want to keep the pace with other teams in the danger zone. Therefore, I expect to see a tight game, with no more than two goals in a total.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 Goals (-137)
BAYERN MUNICH vs. SV WERDER BREMEN
3-Way: 1: Bayern Munich -833; X: +841 Draw; 2: SV Werder Bremen +1998 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2.5: Bayern Munich -101; SV Werder Bremen -111
Total +4: Over +106; Under -126
BAYERN MUNICH
The Bavarians are marching throughout the Bundesliga recording five wins in a row, including a 3:1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round. They are topping the table with 44 points and a 40:12 goal difference, 13 points ahead of RB Leipzig in the second spot. Bayern’s best striker Robert Lewandowski missed the match with Leverkusen due to a knee injury, but he should be ready for the game against Werder.
Injuries and suspensions: Manuel Neuer (metatarsal fracture), Thiago Alcantara (muscle)
Head-to-head: Bayern won 17 out of the last 18 H2H duels, while Werder scored just one goal in the previous nine encounters.
SV WERDER BREMEN
After a poor start of the season, Werder Bremen is playing quite well in the last five rounds, recording two wins, two draws, and only one defeat in the process. However, they are pretty inefficient this season, scoring just 14 goals in 18 Bundesliga matches, while they are sitting in the 16th spot of the table with 16 points.
Injuries and suspensions: Fin Bartels (Achilles tendon), Thomas Delaney (muscular problems), Aron Johannsson (knee), Ishak Belfodil (wound, doubtful), Yuning Zhang (with national team)
Bayern Munich vs. SV Werder Bremen – Match Prediction
This should be an easy task for the Bavarians, and hopefully, they will win with the bigger margin in front of the home fans after a modest 1:0 win against the bottom side Koln.
MY PICK: Bayern Munich AH -2.5 (-101)
SCHALKE 04 vs. HANNOVER 96
3-Way: 1: Schalke 04 -185; X: +325 Draw; 2: Hannover 96 +511 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Schalke 04 -105; Hannover 96 -106
Total +2.5: Over -129; Under +106
SCHALKE 04
The Miners lost 3:1 to RB Leipzig in the previous round of the German Bundesliga, and it was their first defeat in the last 13 Bundesliga matches, recording six wins and six draws in the process. They’ve dropped to the third spot of the table with 30 points and a 29:24 goal difference, while at home, they have a 5-3-1 record with a 16:10 goal difference.
Injuries and suspensions: Pablo Insua (inflammation), Leon Goretzka (bone), Sascha Riether (lumbago)
Head-to-head: In the second round earlier in the season Hannover won 1:0 at home, but Schalke easily won the previous three H2H meetings, two of them on the home soil.
HANNOVER 96
The 24-year old striker Niclas Fullkrug was a true hero last weekend scoring a hat-trick in a Hannover’s 3:2 victory over Mainz at home. Fullkrug is on fire recently, scoring six goals in the last six Bundesliga matches, while Hannover 96 is currently in the 10th spot of the table with 26 points, a 27:28 goal difference and a form of WDLWL. However, they lost four games in a row away from home.
Injuries and suspensions: Edgar Prib (knee), Jonathas (tendon crack), Pirmin Schwegler (nasal fracture)
Schalke 04 vs. Hannover 96 – Match Prediction
The Miners’ form is obviously descending in the last few rounds, and this could be a tricky game for them, especially because the visitors will try to put an end to a losing string on the road. So, I think we’ll see an interesting clash with at least one goal on both sides.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-118)
