The German Bundesliga Round 29 is kicking-off on Saturday and Sunday with plenty of exciting match-ups on schedule. The game of the Round is definitely the match-up between the Bayer Leverkusen who will host the Champion FC Bayern Munich. Other than this game, there are plenty more exciting games out of which we have picked three. Therefore, lets jump right on the three matches that we have combined and analyzed for you.
VfL WOLFSBURG vs. FC INGOLSTADT 04
The match-up between the VfL Wolfsburg and FC Ingolstadt 04 could be marked as the derby of the bottom part of the table, as it could turn out to be decisive for both teams in the battle for the Bundesliga status next season. It comes as a huge part to put the Wolves in this contest but to be honest, they could have not expected anything other after displaying poor play from the very start of the season. On the other side, “Die Schanzer” were expected to be in this position, but after connecting three straight wins in their last three games, they are showing that they shouldn’t be counted out just yet. Their first meeting with the Wolves this season finished with a 1:1 draw.
3-Way: 1: VfL Wolfsburg +112; X: +254 Draw; 2: FC Ingolstadt +304
Spread -0.5: Wolfsburg +110; Ingolstadt -114
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -114
VfL WOLFSBURG
The VfL Wolfsburg has suddenly found them self back in the danger zone with only 1 point outside the relegation line. The Wolves are under a lot of pressure and it’s time for them to start performing up to the expectations. Otherwise they are going to experience something that hardly anyone could have expected prior to the start of the new season, the battle for the Bundesliga status. The Wolves had a decent run recently, connecting 4 games without a loss (2 D and 2 W), and against some respectable opponents, defeating RB Leipzig on the road and pulling a 3:3 draw on the road against the Bayer Leverkusen.
The Wolves currently hold the 14th spot on the table with a total of 30 points (8W, 6D, 13L). They have scored 27 and allowed 42 goals. At home, the Wolves have won only 14 of possible 42 points. In fact, the Wolves are the 2nd worst home team winning only 4 games, with 2 draws and 8 losses, and a 11:18 goal differential.
The Wolves played a great match against Bayer, and just when everyone thought that they are catching the form, they went on to suffer a home loss to the SC Freiburg at home. Most recently they were demolished with 4:1 on the road to the FC Schalke 04. Nothing seems to be working for the Wolves, whose coach is trying to refresh the energy changing the starting lineup often. Only Mario Gomez has so far, played exceptionally well, scoring 13 goals in the season, while the rest of the team has underperformed heavily.
The Wolves will not be able to count on Benaglio, Bruma, Rodriguez, Dejagah and Ntep.
FC INGOLSTADT 04
The FC Ingolstadt 04 has performed perfectly in their three latest match-ups against the teams from the bottom part of the German Bundesliga table, winning all three games. Despite not fully reaching out of the relegation zone, FC Ingolstadt is now inches away from the safe zone. Only couple of points divide them from their next opponent, the VfL Wolfsburg. The Schanzer most recently defeated Mainz 05 (2:1) at home, FC Ausburg 3:2 on the road and Darmstadt with 3:2 at home.
With the latest winning streak in the German Bundesliga, the FC Ingolstadt 04 has significantly improved their chances of playing Top Bundesliga soccer next season, currently holding the 17th spot with a total of 28 points to their name (8W, 4D, 16L). They have scored 31 goals while conceding 47. On the road, Ingolstadt has won 13 points, scoring 14 and allowing 23 goals.
Bregerie and Hartmann are going to miss the Saturdays game against the Wolves.
On paper, the Wolves are a clear favorite, but in reality, the visitors are in a much better form and the home team will certainly not have it easy. The two teams have meet 4 times previously and in all four meeting the total has not exceeded 2 goal. However, if there is one game where everything has to click perfectly for the Wolves, I believe it is this game against the Ingolstadt. For this reason, I am picking the home team to win and the total to go over 2.5 goals!!!
MY PICK: VfL Wolfsburg to win (+112)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (+110)
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM vs. FC BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
One of the most interesting match-ups of the German Bundesliga Round 29 is definitely the Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Monchengladbach game. Both teams are battling for the European competitions, as the hosts are in a good position to even qualify for the Champions league, while the visitors are only 2 points behind the spots that lead to the Europa League. The Hoffenheim were on a 7 games streak without a loss, prior to suffering a 1:2 road loss to HSV in the last round. On the other side, the visitors recorded 2 wins and a draw in their last three games. In the first meeting between the two teams the finals score was 1:1.
3-Way: 1: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim +110; X: +284 Draw; 2: FC B. Monchengladbach +320
Spread -0.5: Hoffenheim -104; Monchengladbach +100
Total +2.5: Over -133; Under +125
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM
Hoffenheim had a nice streak in the German Bundesliga in which they haven’t experienced a loss and during which they recorded 5 wins and 2 draws, defeating even the mighty Bayern Munich two round ago, for the first time in their history. However, after that huge win, they traveled to Hamburg where they took on the HSV, only to see their streak end as they got defeated with 2:1. Despite the loss, Hoffenheim is still ranked pretty high, holding the third spot on the table with a total of 51 points (13W, 12D, 3L), 7 points behind the 2nd ranked RB Leipzig and 1 point ahead of the 4th ranked Borussia Dortmund. Hoffenheim managed to score 51 goals (4th best in the league), while conceding 28 (2nd best in the league).
In their loss to the HSV, coach Nagelsmann was forced to make some changes to the roster, as couple of players sat out with injuries, which is probably why the team under-performed. Going into the game against the Borussia Monchengladbach, the situation with the injured players has improved and as of right now Kaderabek is the only player listed to miss the match-up on Saturday.
FC BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
With the latest two wins in the German Bundesliga, Borussia Monchengladbach has suddenly found themselves back in the battle for the European cups spots. Firstly, Borussia defeated Hertha BSC with 1:0 at home, while most recently defeating the FC Koln with a 3:2 win on the road. They certainly hope to extend that winning streak over the weekend, but they are fully aware that it will not be easy as Hoffenheim is one of the best home teams in the league.
Borussia Monchengladbach has won a total of 39 points in 28 games (22W, 6D, 11L). They have not been too efficient this season, scoring only 34 goals, while conceding 36 goals. On the road, the Borussia Monchengladbach has won 15 points (4W, 3D, 7L) while also scoring 13 goals and allowing 24 goals.
Coach Dieter Hecking will not be able to count on Doucoure, Kramer, Johnson, Jantschke, Schulz and Raffael, while Traore is finally back in action.
Hoffenheim is one of the three teams that have not suffered a loss in front of their home crowd this season. However, against their next opponent, Hoffenheim has not seen a lot of success. In fact, the last time Hoffenheim managed to defeat Borussia Monchengladbach, was back in 2013, when they celebrated a 2:1 home win. Since that win, the two teams met 6 more times, during which Monchengladbach recorded 3 wins, along with 3 draws. Interesting also to note is that in their last 7 meetings, both teams have scored at least 1 goal, with the total going over the 2.5 goals in 6 of the 7 games. Therefore, I expect these trend to continue.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-149)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-133)
RB LEIPZIG vs. SC FREIBURG
The Red Bull Leipzig has been one of the biggest positive surprise this season, as they are on the path of securing the UEFA Champions league play next season. They will look to continue their exceptional play on Saturday when they host another great story this season, the SC Freiburg, at the Red Bull Arena.
3-Way: 1: RB Leipzig -217; X: +392 Draw; 2: SC Freiburg +803
Spread -1.5: Leipzig +129; Freiburg -132
Total +2.5: Over -132; Under +125
RB LEIPZIG
The Red Bull Leipzig started the German Bundesliga season furiously going 13 games undefeated and indicating that the 2016/2017 could be exceptional and full of surprises. After the strong push in the first part of the season, many expected the Red Bull to slow down the pace and started slipping down the table, towards the middle. However, the Red Bulls have had different plans, winning 7 of the 11 games after the break, but also recording 4 losses and a draw.
The Red Bulls suffered two straight losses to VfL Wolfsburg (0:1) at home and Werder Bremen (0:3) on the road, but would quickly bounce back winning their next three games against Darmstadt (4:0 at home), Mainz 05 (3:2 on the road) and Bayer Leverkusen (1:0 at home). Overall, the Red Bulls have collected a total of 58 points (18W, 4D, 6L) in 28 games, during which they scored 51 goals (3rd in the league) and allowed 30 goals (3rd best). At home they have won 34 points, winning 11 games, along with 2 losses and 1 draw. They have scored 27 goals, giving up 11 goals to their opponents.
Coach Ralph Hasenhuttl will not be able to count on Klostermann and Orban.
SC FREIBURG
We have already mentioned that this German Bundesliga season is definitely full of surprises and teams that have played above all expectations. While many praise the consistency and performance of the Red Bull Leipzig and the resurgent and rejuvenated play from the Hoffenheim, Hertha BSC and Eintracht Frankfurt, who battled the relegation last season but know are among the top teams in the German Bundesliga, very few have noticed that SC Freiburg has climbed up the rankings and is sitting at the 6th spot.
The Breisgau Brazilians have already won 41 points in the 28 games played (12W, 5D, 11L). They have scored a total of 36 goals and conceded 47 goals. On the road, the SC Freiburg have collected 16 of the possible 46 points (5W, 1D, 8L) scoring 18 and conceding 25 goals. Most recently, the SC Freiburg has recorded 2 wins, defeating the VfL Wolfsburg with 1:0 on the road, while also recording a win with the same score in the last round against Mainz 05. In their last 5 games on the road, Freiburg has a record of 2 W, 2D and 1 L. Furthermore, the SC Freiburg has lost only 1 of the 8 games since the last December.
The last time these two teams met, back in November of the last year, RB Leipzig celebrated a comfortable 4:1 at the Schwarzwald Stadium in Freiburg. This game could also be a high scoring game, which is why I am going with the Over 2.5 goals.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-132)
