This round of the German Bundesliga brings us a lot of exciting matches, but all eyes will be on Bayern Munich vs. Schalke 04 clash set for this Saturday, February 10th, 2018, at Allianz Arena. The opening match of the round is set for Friday, February 9th, 2018, when RB Leipzig welcomes FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena, while on Sunday, February 11th, 2018, we will see two games including a bottom-half derby between SV Werder Bremen and VFL Wolfsburg at Weser-Stadion.
RB LEIPZIG VS. FC AUGSBURG
3-Way: 1: RB Leipzig -132; X: +280 Draw; 2: FC Augsburg +372 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: RB Leipzig -132; FC Augsburg +113
Total +2.5: Over -119; Under -101
RB LEIPZIG
The Red Bulls had a great game last weekend at Monchengladbach, beating Borussia 1-0 although they were dominating for all 90 minutes on the field. However, three points will work for the Red Bulls who are sitting at the third spot of the Bundesliga table at the moment with 35 points, same as Bayer Leverkusen in the second spot, and one point ahead of Schalke and Dortmund behind them. At home, RB Leipzig has recorded just one win in the last four matches along with two draws and one defeat.
Injuries and suspensions: Emil Forsberg (osteitis pubis, doubtful)
Head-to-head: Augsburg won three out of the last five H2H duels including a 1-0 victory at home earlier in the season.
FC AUGSBURG
Augsburg continues with their on-off form, and in the previous round of the German Bundesliga, they have beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in front of the home fans to record their second win in the last five matches along with two draws and one defeat. On the road, they’ve lost three out of the previous five games, while Augsburg is currently in the seventh spot of the Bundesliga table with 31 points and a 32:26 goal difference, just three points behind Dortmund in the fourth spot.
Injuries and suspensions: Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (knee)
RB Leipzig vs. FC Augsburg – Match Prediction
This is one of the derby matches of the Round 22 and I expect to see an entertaining football with plenty of scoring chances on both sides of the pitch. Therefore, I’m backing goals in this one.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 Goals (-119)
BAYER LEVERKUSEN vs. HERTHA BSC
3-Way: 1: Bayer Leverkusen -192; X: +346 Draw; 2: Hertha BSC +512 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Bayer Leverkusen -110; Hertha BSC -101
Total +3: Over +102; Under -118
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
After two consecutive wins against Mainz at home (2-0), and Hoffenheim on the road (4-1), Leverkusen has earned a nil-nil draw at Freiburg in the previous round of the German Bundesliga to stay in the second spot of the table with 35 points and a 41:27 goal difference, 18 points behind the leader Bayern Munich. Bayer Leverkusen is searching for a Champions League spot, so three points against Hertha seem like a priority for them.
Injuries and suspensions: Lars Bender (adductor problems, doubtful)
Head-to-head: In the last nine H2H meetings Leverkusen is leading 7-2, as there were no stalemates in the process. Earlier in the season, Hertha won 2-1 at home.
HERTHA BSC
The Old Lady has drawn three times in a row against Hoffenheim (1-1), Werder Bremen (0-0), and Dortmund (1-1), while Hertha is still winless in 2018. Their cautious approach is sometimes counterproductive, as Hertha has scored just two goals in the previous four Bundesliga matches, and a much better offensive work is needed if they want to get something from the clash with Leverkusen.
Injuries and suspensions: Karim Rekik (muscle), Ondrej Duda (calf), Julian Schieber (muscular problems)
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hertha BSC – Match Prediction
The hosts are favorites in this one, but I expect to see a great battle and a strong resistance by the visitors. Hertha lost just three out of their ten matches away from home this season, so they should be a tough opponent to beat.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-135)
DORTMUND vs. HAMBURGER SV
3-Way: 1: Dortmund -278; X: +412 Draw; 2: Hamburger SV +750 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1.5: Dortmund +105; Hamburger SV -119
Total +3: Over +101; Under -116
DORTMUND
The Black and Yellows finally got a victory after three consecutive stalemates at the start of 2018, beating FC Koln 3-2 on the road, while Dortmund is undefeated for six Bundesliga matches in the row. They are currently in the fourth spot of the Bundesliga table with 34 points, same as Schalke 04 in the fifth, and one point behind Leverkusen in the second spot.
Injuries and suspensions: Andriy Yarmolenko (foot), Sebastian Rode (bone), Marcel Schmelzer (calf), Mario Gotze (back)
Head-to-head: Dortmund won the last four H2H meetings, three of them with a 3-0 result, while once at Hamburg the Black and Yellows humiliated the Red Shorts, 5-2.
HAMBURGER SV
The Red Shorts are winless for eight straight Bundesliga matches, recording four draws and four losses in the process, but in the previous two rounds they’ve played pretty well against Hannover 96 (1-1), and RB Leipzig (1-1). However, they have to start winning on a regular basis if they want to survive in the Bundesliga, while they are currently deep in the relegation mire with 17 points and a 17:30 goal difference.
Injuries and suspensions: Nicolai Muller (knee), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (red card suspension)
Dortmund vs. Hamburger SV – Match Prediction
This should be an easy job for the home team, although they’ve failed to meet expectations many times this season. However, I think we will see an interesting clash with at least three goals in the total.
MY PICK: Over 3 Goals (+101)
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. FC KOLN
3-Way: 1: Eintracht Frankfurt -111; X: +250 Draw; 2: FC Koln +329 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Eintracht Frankfurt -111; FC Koln -101
Total +2.5: Over +104; Under -126
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
The Eagles were heavily beaten 3-0 by Augsburg on the road in the previous round of the German Bundesliga, and it was their first defeat in the last six matches, and only the second away from home this season. Eintracht Frankfurt is currently in the sixth spot of the Bundesliga table with 33 points and a 26:23 goal difference, just one point behind the Champions League spot, so the next clash against FC Koln will be huge for them.
Injuries and suspensions: Alexander Meier (ankle), David Abraham (ankle), Jonathan de Guzman (training deficit)
Head-to-head: Both teams were winning alternately in the previous eight H2H duels, and the Eagles have won their first clash of the season at Cologne, 1-0.
FC KOLN
The Billy Goats have lost 3-2 to Dortmund at home in the previous round of the Bundesliga, and it was their first defeat in the last five matches along with three wins and one draw, while FC Koln is still at the bottom of the Bundesliga table with 13 points and a 17:37 goal difference, seven points behind Werder Bremen in the safe 15th spot. After a terrible start of the season, FC Koln improved their game in the last month and a half, and we’ll see if they can keep on with impressive displays.
Injuries and suspensions: Leonardo Bittencourt (adductor problems), Christian Clemens (muscle)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. FC Koln – Match Prediction
The Eagles are favorites in this match, but I’ll go with the Billy Goats, and if you want to know why, check out the H2H section.
MY PICK: FC Koln to Win (+329)
HANNOVER 96 vs. SC FREIBURG
3-Way: 1: Hannover 96 +110; X: +247 Draw; 2: SC Freiburg +257 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Hannover 96 +108; SC Freiburg -127
Total +2.5: Over -110; Under -109
HANNOVER 96
Hannover is winless for three Bundesliga matches in a row, and after a 1-1 draw at Hamburger in the previous round they are still in the 10th spot of the table with 28 points, a 29:31 goal difference and a 7-7-7 record. They were beaten just once in the last five games on the home soil scoring ten goals in the process and conceding eight in a return.
Injuries and suspensions: Edgar Prib (knee)
Head-to-head: We saw both these teams scoring in the last five H2H meetings, while just their last duel had less than three goals in the total (1-1).
SC FREIBURG
Freiburg continues to impresses, as they are unbeaten for nine Bundesliga matches in a row, recording four wins and five stalemates in the process. In the previous two rounds they’ve resisted Bayer Leverkusen (0-0), and Dortmund (2-2), and now they are laying at the 12th spot of the Bundesliga table with 25 points and a 22:35 goal difference, five points above the danger zone.
Injuries and suspensions: Florian Niederlechner (knee), Mike Frantz (knee), Nicolas Hofler (yellow card suspension), Janik Haberer (yellow card suspension)
Hannover 96 vs. SC Freiburg – Match Prediction
The visitors are in the better form than the hosts, so this could be a tricky match for Hannover 96, while I expect to see a close combat with a likely draw at the end.
MY PICK: Draw (+247)
TSG HOFFENHEIM 1899 vs. FSV MAINZ 05
3-Way: 1: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 -147; X: +304 Draw; 2: FSV Mainz 05 +398 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 +118; FSV Mainz 05 -136
Total +3: Over +105; Under -121
TSG HOFFENHEIM 1899
Hoffenheim was a better team against Hertha BSC last weekend, but after 90 minutes they’ve managed to earn just a 1-1 draw, so now they are winless for five straight Bundesliga games, recording two draws and three losses in the process. They are still in the ninth spot of the table with 28 points and a 32:33 goal difference, but with a lot of defensive issues on their minds, as Hoffenheim has conceded 13 goals in their last five tilts.
Injuries and suspensions: Kerem Demirbay (malleolar)
Head-to-head: Hoffenheim won three out of the previous five H2H meetings, while all these five tilts were finished with at least four goals in the total.
FSV MAINZ 05
Mainz is struggling recently, losing two games in a row against Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen without finding a net, while they’ve won just one out of the previous nine Bundesliga matches. They are currently sitting at the 16th spot of the table which leads to the relegation play-offs with 20 points and a 24:37 goal difference, the same number of points as Werder Bremen in the safe 15th spot.
Injuries and suspensions: Karim Onisiwo (training deficit, doubtful)
TSG Hoffenheim vs. FSV Mainz 05 – Match Prediction
Both teams are in crisis, and three points from this clash could be a huge relief, while I expect to see a bunch of goals just like in their previous five H2H meetings.
MY PICK: Over 3 Goals (+105)
BAYERN MUNICH vs. SCHALKE 04
3-Way: 1: Bayern Munich -370; X: +496 Draw; 2: Schalke 04 +1019 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1.5: Bayern Munich -125; Schalke 04 +108
Total +3: Over -120; Under +103
BAYERN MUNICH
The Bavarians won all their matches in the last two months in all competitions, including a 6-0 victory over the third tier side Paderborn in the German DFB Pokal Quarter-Finals last Tuesday. They’ve scored 14 goals in the last four Bundesliga matches, conceding five in a return, while they are topping the table with 53 points and a 51:16 goal difference, 18 points ahead of their closest rivals.
Injuries and suspensions: Manuel Neuer (metatarsal fracture), Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Javi Martinez (ankle), Thomas Muller (thigh, doubtful)
Head-to-head: Bayern won four out of the previous five H2H duels, including a 3-0 victory at Veltins-Arena earlier in the season, while the Miners’ last win over the Bavarians was in the 2010/2011 season.
SCHALKE 04
The Miners upset their fans in the previous round of the German Bundesliga, losing 2-1 to Werder Bremen at home after a 1-0 lead at the halftime. It was their second defeat in the last four Bundesliga matches along with a 2-0 win over Stuttgart and a 1-1 draw with Hannover, while the Miners are currently in the fifth spot of the table with 34 points, same as Dortmund in the fourth spot.
Injuries and suspensions: Pablo Insua (inflammation), Weston McKennie (knee), Matija Nastasic (red card suspension)
Bayern Munich vs. Schalke 04 – Match Prediction
The Bavarians are looking unstoppable at the moment, although they’ve kept the clean sheet just once in the last four Bundesliga matches, so I think their defense is a chance for the visitors to find a net here.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-109)
VfB STUTTGART vs. BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
3-Way: 1: VfB Stuttgart +150; X: +240 Draw; 2: Borussia Monchengladbach +183 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: VfB Stuttgart -122; Borussia Monchengladbach +108
Total +2.5: Over -125; Under +103
VfB STUTTGART
The Swabians earned an important 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg on the road last weekend, their first in the previous eight Bundesliga matches along with one win and six losses. At home, they’ve lost three out of the last four games, scoring just one goal in the process, while the Swabians are currently in the 14th spot of the table with 21 points and a 17:27 goal difference, just one point above the danger zone.
Injuries and suspensions: Carlos Mane (torn tendon), Holger Badstuber (adductor problems, doubtful)
Head-to-head: Monchengladbach has won the last five H2H meetings, while they’ve also won the previous three duels at Mercedes-Benz Arena.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
The Foals have lost two matches in a row without scoring a goal, while they were beaten three times in the previous five Bundesliga games, so they’ve dropped to the eighth spot of the table with 31 points and a 30:33 goal difference, three points behind Dortmund in the fourth spot. On the road, the Foals have lost four consecutive tilts, scoring just one goal in the process.
Injuries and suspensions: Tobias Strobl (knee), Fabian Johnson (back), Yann Sommer (hamstring)
VfB Stuttgart vs. Borussia Monchengladbach – Match Prediction
The home team is playing in a quite poor form recently, and after four straight losses on the road, I expect to see the Foals earning some points in this one.
MY PICK: Borussia Monchengladbach to Win (+183)
SV WERDER BREMEN vs. VFL WOLFSBURG
3-Way: 1: SV Werder Bremen +112; X: +246 Draw; 2: VFL Wolfsburg +252 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: SV Werder Bremen +111; VFL Wolfsburg -131
Total +2.5: Over -108; Under -110
SV WERDER BREMEN
Werder Bremen made a huge upset last weekend beating Schalke on the road 2-1 to put an end to a five-game winless string in the German Bundesliga. They’ve also moved up to the 15th spot of the table with 20 points, same as Mainz in the 16th spot, and four points behind their next rival. Meanwhile, Werder was beaten by Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in the German DFB Pokal Quarter-Finals.
Injuries and suspensions: Fin Bartels (Achilles tendon), Philipp Bargfrede (foot), Michael Zetterer (wrist)
Head-to-head: Werder won three out of the previous four H2H meetings, all three were finished in the over, while their previous clash earlier in the season was ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
VFL WOLFSBURG
The Wolves played a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart at home on last weekend, and it was their 12th stalemate this season in 21 matches. They’ve won just one out of the last five games, against Hannover on the road, 1-0, while they are currently in the 13th spot of the table with 24 points and a 24:25 goal difference, four points above the danger zone.
Injuries and suspensions: Ignacio Camacho (ankle), John Anthony Brooks (knee)
SV Werder Bremen vs. VFL Wolfsburg – Match Prediction
This is one of the most unpredictable tilts of the round, and although it may look like a draw, I just can’t bet on it after twelve Wolfsburg’s stalemates this season. As both sides are pretty inefficient, I will go with the under.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 Goals (-110)
