There are only three more rounds before the end of the German Bundesliga season and things are heating up. We already have the new (old) champion Bayern Munich but situation is more than interesting when it comes to survival because six teams are in the danger zone and beside Darmstadt who is already a member of the “Zweite” Bundesliga, there are two more spots that lead to relegation. Here, we have prepared for you match previews for the clash in Frankfurt between Eintracht and Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Audi Sportpark so let’s take a closer look.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. VfL WOLFSBURG
3-Way: 1: Eintracht Frankfurt+172 X: +254 Draw; 2: VfL Wolfsburg +183
Spread 0: Eintracht Frankfurt -104; VfL Wolfsburg +100
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under -109
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
The Eintracht Frankfurt team is going through the crisis when it comes to results but thanks to the better first half of the season, they are out of the danger zone. They have only one win in the last 12 games and they are 1-3-4 in the last eight match-ups including 1-3-0 record at home. They currently rank 11th in the German Bundesliga table with 41 points, eight above the relegation line. Their overall record at home this season is 7-6-2 with 22-14 goal difference (32-35 overall) and they rank ninth in the home league table with 27 of 45 possible points earned.
Frankfurt scores 1.47 and concedes 0.93 goals per game at home (1.03-1.13 overall) and 53% of their home matches had over 2.5 goals in total. Only 16% of their overall games had over 3.5 goals (27% of home matches) and most common result at home is a 0:0 draw (occurred three times).
Marco Fabian tops the team in scoring this season with seven goals while Alexander Meier scored five. Fabian is also team’s leading assister with four while passing segment belongs to Bastian Oczipka and David Abraham with 1266 and 1145 total passes. Goalkeepers Lukas Hradecky (30 appearances) and Heinz Lindner (two appearances) have 67 saves and 11 games with clean sheets combined.
David Abraham (suspension) is unavailable for the next match while Marius Wolf (Shoulder), Jesus Vallejo (Thigh) and Makoto Hasebe (Knee) are out for the season. Omar Mascarell (Shoulder) should be out until late May while Michael Hector (Thigh) and Talb Tawatha (Ankle) are listed as doubtful for Saturday. Andersson Ordonez’s (Calf) and Slobodan Medojevic’s (Knee) status is unknown while Soares de Oliveira Anderson (Knee) is day to day.
VfL WOLFSBURG
The VfL Wolfsburg is in the battle for survival as they currently rank 15th in the German Bundesliga, with 33 points in 31 games, same as the Hamburger SV that ranks 16th (below the relegation line). Poor recent form (four losses in the last five games) might cost them too much this time and the team must focus and get some kind of positive results in last three rounds of the German Bundesliga if they want to play in top German soccer contest next year.
They are 3-1-4 in the last eight games and 1-1-2 in the last four road games. Overall record on the road is 4-4-7 with 16-25 goal difference and they rank eighth in the road league able with 16 of 45 possible points earned. They score 1.07 and concede 1.67 goals per match (0.97-1.58 overall) and most common results on the road are 1-1 draw and :0 loss (both occurred twice).
Leading scorers this season are Mario Gomez with 14 goals and Yunus Malli with seven goals. Malli is also team’s leading assister with eight assists so far. Best passers are Ricardo Rodriguez and Luiz Gustavo with 1029 and 978 total passes. Goalies Diego Benaglio (14 appearances) and Koen Casteels (17 appearances) have 100 saves and 10 games with clean sheets combined.
Jeffrey Bruma (Knee) and Victor Osimhen (Meniscus) should be ready in a few weeks while Ricardo Rodriguez (Ankle) and Joshua Guilavogui (Muscle) are listed as doubtful for next match. Yunus Malli (Rib) and Ismail Azzaoui (Cruciate ligament) are back in training.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs. VfL WOLFSBURG MATCH PREDICTION
VfL Wolfsburg is a solid team on the road and they need the points while Eintracht is pretty much set up and will play for prestige. If Yunus Malli is ready for Saturday (he should be) I think that the visitors could pull an upset on the road and win three valuable points. Also, go with the over as both teams are giving up a lot of goals and have combined for more than 3 goals in three of their last 5 games in the German Bundesliga.
MY PICK: VfL Wolfsburg (+183)
TOTAL: Ovr 2.5 goals (+106)
INGOLSTADT FC vs. BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN
3-Way: 1: Ingolstadt FC +158; X: +282 Draw; 2: Bayer 04 Leverkusen +199
Spread 0: Ingolstadt FC -116; Bayer 04 Leverkusen +114
Total +2.5: Over -133; Under +127
INGOLSTADT FC
The Ingolstadt FC is in a very tough position and they are the second most probable travelers to the second German Bundesliga (Zweita). Team currently ranks 17th with 29 points in 31 games and they are four points below the relegation line. Survival is still possible but they have to win at least seven of nine points available until the end of the season to have any kind of chance.
They are 3-2-3 in the last eight games but they are winless in the last three match-ups. They are the worst host in the league this season with 4-3-8 overall home record and 19-28 goal difference (33-54 overall). Ingolstadt ranks last in the home league table with 15 of 45 possible points earned and their most common result at home is a 0-2 loss (occurred five times).
Almog Cohen leads the team in scoring with seven goals while Dario Lezcano has five in his account. Top assister is Markus Suttner with five assists while passing segment belongs to Pascal Gross who has 986 completed passes so far. Goalkeepers Martin Hansen (21 appearances) and Orjan Nyland (11 appearances) have 84 saves and three games with clean sheets combined.
De Oliveira Bernardo Roger (suspension) and Alfredo Morales (suspension) are unavailable for the next match while Moritz Hartmann (Thigh) is out for the season. Matthew Leckie (Head) is listed as doubtful.
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN
The Bayer 04 Leverkusen is also not completely safe from relegation but they are in a much better position than their next opponent. The currently rank 12th in the German Bundesliga, with 36 points in 31 games which is only three points above the relegation line but considering that this part of the league table is pretty much crowded, red light is still not on. Team is also in a poor form lately as they have only one win in the last 10 games with 1-3-4 record in the last eight match-ups.
They are 1-0-3 in the last four road games and overall record of the season on the road is 5-1-9. Away goal difference is 19-24 (44-50 overall) and they rank seventh in the road league table with 16 of 45 possible points earned. Most common result away is a 2:1 loss (occurred five times).
Javier Hernandez Chicharito tops the team in scoring this season with 10 goals while Hakan Calhanoglu and Kevin Volland have six each in their accounts. Kevin Kampl and Wendell lead the team in passing segment with 1427 and 1287 total passes. Goalie Bernd Leno played in every game of the season in the league for the team and collected 96 saves with six clean sheets games.
Hakan Calhanoglu (suspension) and Lars Bender (Ankle) are out for the season while Vladlen Yurchenko (Back) and Julian Brandt (Muscle) are day to day. Ramazan Ozcan (Knee) is listed as doubtful for Saturday.
INGOLSTADT FC vs. BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN MATCH PREDICTION
If Ingolstadt FC doesn’t get the full prey from this one they will most likely play in Zweita next season. On the other side if Bayer losses against the worst home team in the league they will put themselves in an unenviable position.
The visitors have not played to the expectations for most of the season, and considering their roster, they are certainly one of the biggest disappointments in the German Bundesliga this season. However, I am picking them to come up with an crucial road win this weekend, while also expecting both teams to score at least a goal!!!
MY PICK: Bayer 04 Leverkusen (+199)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score YES (-154)
