As we all know, the biggest salvo of matchups in Bundesliga takes place on Saturdays and there won’t be any different this time. This three-match preview starts with the duel at Opel Arena between the host team that is coming off from a 1:1 road draw in Monchengladbach and winless FC Koln squad that suffered yet another loss, this time at home by Hoffenheim (0:3). Second duel features rejuvenated Leverkusen squad that recorded a 1:1 draw in last round at Augsburg, against RB Leipzig who emerged victorious against Hannover 96 at Red Bull Arena (2:1).
The final duel will take place at Allianz Arena between surging defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and FC Augsburg who defeated Werder Bremen last time they were on the road.
FSV Mainz 05 vs. FC Koln
Three-Way: 1: 1. FSV Mainz 05 +114; X: +260 Draw; 2: FC Koln +298 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: 1. FSV Mainz 05 +106; FC Koln -111
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under -105
FSV MAINZ 05
The Mainz team is winless in last three rounds but they also haven’t been defeated since October 20th as they’ve recorded two draws (at home against Frankfurt and on the road against Monchengladbach) in last two rounds. They’re placed at the lower part of the Bundesliga table at No. 13 spot with 12 points and a 3-3-5 record (3-1-2 at home).
Team scores 1.67 and concedes 1.33 goals per game at home (10-8 goal difference) and 50% of the matchups in front of their home crowd had over 2.5 goals in total while 17% of those home duels had over 2.5 goals in total at half-time. Both teams scored in 55% of Mainz’s total matches and they lost only one of those duels (2-3-1 record when both teams score). Yoshimori Muto is the team’s leading scorer with three goals while midfielder Levin Oztunali recorded team-high four assists so far. Goalkeepers Rene Adler and Robin Zentner have 133 shots against, 27 saves and only one clean-sheet game combined.
Rene Adler (thigh) and Karim Onisiwo (shoulder) are expected to be available in mid-January next year while Fabian Frei’s (personal reasons) and Emil Berggreen’s (thigh) status is unknown. Niko Bungert (thigh) and Aaron Seydel (knee) are listed as day to day.
FC KOLN
The Billy Goats continue to be the worst squad in the Bundesliga after 11 rounds played with no wins and only two points earned so far. Their current losing streak is two games against Leverkusen on the road and at home by Hoffenheim. I’m bedazzled about the amount of credits Peter Stoger receives from the board because, in my opinion, there is no team in Germany that wouldn’t part ways with its manager after a 0-2-9 start of the season.
Obviously, FC Koln ranks at the bottom of the league table with eight points less than the first team that is ranked above the relegation line and if they don’t change something fast, Zweita is their destiny next year. Their goal difference is 4-22 (2-13 on the road) and 64% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals in total. Both teams score in every third away duel and most common score on the road is a 2:1 loss (occurred twice). Sehrou Guirassy, Dominique Heintz, Yuya Osako and Frederik Sorensen are the authors of four goals scored by the team so far while goalie Timo Horn has 185 shots against (most in the league), 39 saves (most in the league) and two clean-sheet games at the moment.
Dominique Heintz (thigh) is set to be back in early January while Marco Hoger (thigh) and Jonas Hector (ankle) should be available during the next month. Marius Laux’s (unknown) and Marcel Risse’s (meniscus) status is unknown while Christian Clemens (groin) should be back in few days. Claudio Pizzaro (thigh), Jhon Cordoba (thigh) and Nikolas Nartey (meniscus) are all back in training.
FSV Mainz 05 vs. FC Koln – Match Prediction
Is this the round FC Koln finally records a win? I say yes and that’s why I’ll go all in with Billy Goats on Saturday. Some of their key players are back and healthy and it’s time for them to start rolling. I would also go with under in totals because I expect a 0:1 or 0:2 score after the final whistle.
My pick: FC Koln to win (+114)
Additional pick: Under 2.5 goals (-105)
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig
Three-Way: 1: Bayer Leverkusen +140; X: +290 Draw; 2: RB Leipzig +235 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Bayer Leverkusen +127; RB Leipzig -130
Total +3: Over -108; Under +108
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
As aforementioned, the Leverkusen team is playing rejuvenated as they are currently riding a six-game undefeated streak. A little glitch in this immaculate record occurred in the last Bundesliga round when they recorded a 1:1 road draw at Augsburg but that definitely can’t be considered as a bad result.
They are climbing their way up in the league table and they are currently ranked at the No. 9 spot with 16 points and a 4-4-3 record (3-2-0 at home). Their goal difference is 23-16 (13-5 at home) and every game so far at Bay Arena had over 2.5 goals in total while 60% of those duels had over 3.5 goals in total. They’ve managed to score at least one goal in both halves in 80% of their matchups but most common score at home was a 2:2 draw (occurred twice). Kevin Volland tops the team in scoring with six goals while Wendell and Kai Havertz have team-high three assists each. Goalie Bernd Leno has 121 shots against, 24 saves and two clean-sheet games so far.
Sven Bender (broken rib) should be back in Christmas time while Benjamin Henrichs (virus) is expected to be available in few days. Jonathan Tah (back) is back in training.
RB Leipzig
The Bulls from Leipzig are back where they finished the last year (No. 2 spot in the Bundesliga table) after recent flops by Borussia Dortmund and they are firmly galloping towards another UEFA Champions League spot kind of season. One of the youngest teams in Germany (founded in 2009) proved to be a very successful soccer undertaking and the fans are loving it.
They have earned only four points less than leader Bayern (22) with a 7-1-3 record and 18-13 goal difference. Only 33% of Leipzig’s road matches had over 2.5 goals in total while 27% of their total matches had over 3.5 goals in total. Both teams scored in 55% of their overall duels and most common score on the road is a 2:0 loss (occurred twice). Timo Werner is the team’s leading scorer with six goals while Jean-Kevin Augustin and Yussuf Poulsen recorded three each. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer collected team-high three assists while goalies Yvon Mvogo and Peter Gulacsi have 133 shots against, 32 saves and two clean-sheet games combined.
Dayot Upamecano (knee), Ibrahima Konate (thigh), Stefan Ilsanker (broken toe) and Fabio Coltorti (muscle) are all listed as day to day while Jean-Kevin Augustin (thigh) should be available in few days.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig – Match Prediction
This game has a potential to be a high-scoring one having in mind both teams’ tendencies. Leverkusen scores and concedes a lot while Leipzig rarely loses the game.
My pick: Over 3 goals (-108)
Bayern Munich vs. FC Augsburg
Three-Way: 1: Bayern Munich -417; X: +869 Draw; 2: FC Augsburg +2200 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2.5: Bayern Munich +121; FC Augsburg -120
Total +3.5: Over -120; Under +114
BAYERN MUNICH
Jupp Heynckes is back at the Bayern’s helm and his working his magic again as the Bavarians haven’t dropped a point since his arrival (6-0-0 record, four wins in Bundesliga and two in UEFA Champions League). They are also back at the top of the Bundesliga caravan with 26 points earned and 8-2-1 record and they are coming off from another win in “Der Klassiker.”
Their goal difference is 27-8 (16-3 at home) and they’ve managed to score at least one goal in each of their last eight duels. They’ve also scored the opening goal in 91% of their matches and they were leading at halftime in 73% of their games. 64% of their matches had over 2.5 goals in total while 80% of their home games had over 3.5 goals in total. The team managed to score at least one goal in both halves in 60% of their home duels while both teams scored in 36% of Bayern’s total games. Robert Lewandowski tops the team and the league with 11 goals so far while Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller lead the team in assisting with four each. Goalie Sven Ulreich has 80 shots against, 20 saves and four clean-sheet games at the moment.
Franck Ribery (knee) should be back in training next month while Manuel Neuer (broken foot) is expected to be out until at least late April next year. Jerome Boateng’s (muscle) status is unknown while David Alaba (thigh) should be available in few days. Robert Lewandowski (thigh), Javier Martinez (thigh), Thomas Muller (thigh) and Juan Bernat (ankle) are all back in training.
FC AUGSBURG
The FC Augsburg team is playing extraordinary well on the road this year as they have only one loss so far into the season (Week 1 at Hamburger SV). The Fuggers managed to take full prey in Frankfurt and Bremen while they split points in Stuttgart and Hoffenheim which makes them a top-six visiting team in Germany.
They currently rank right in the middle of the Bundesliga table at No. 10 spot with 16 points and a 4-4-3 record. Their goal difference is 16-11 (7-4 on the road) and 64% of their matches had over 2.5 goals in total while 20% of their road games had over 3.5 goals in total. Both teams scored in 40% of their visiting duels and they’ve managed to score at least one goal in both halves in 36% of their overall games. Alfred Finnbogason and Michael Gregortisch lead the team in scoring with five goals each while defender Philipp Max collected league-high five assists so far. Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz has 166 shots against, 35 saves and four clean-sheet games at the moment.
Martin Hinteregger (ankle) is expected to be back later this month while Michael Gregorticsh’s (ankle) and Joannis Gelios’s (back) status is unknown. Sergio Cordova (ankle) should be back in a few weeks while Jan Moravek (knee), Georg Teigl (back) and Moritz Leitner (ankle) are all listed as day to day.
Bayern Munich vs. FC Augsburg – Match Prediction
Home team win should not come in question and that’s easy money here. I’m also not convinced that Augsburg can score here and -1 spread on Bayern also sounds good. The additional pick here will be both teams doesn’t score.
My pick: Bayern Munich AH -2.5 (+121)
Additional pick: Both teams don’t score (-105)
