The final double-header of the Bundesliga week 13 previews will take place at Schwarzwald Stadium and at Borussia Park. In black forest (Ger. Schwarzwald), SC Freiburg squad that is coming off from third consecutive loss, this time at Wolfsburg, will host almost equally underperforming Mainz team that did record a win in last round, but against unprecedentedly poor FC Koln squad at home (1:0).
The second matchup is beside the one in the Dortmund, the most interesting one because it faces old foes, Monchengladbach squad that took down Hertha on the road last week (4:2 road win), and Bayern Munich who is coming off from their fifth consecutive win (3:0 against FC Augsburg at home).
SC Freiburg vs. 1. FSV Mainz 05
Three-Way: 1: SC Freiburg +190; X: +240 Draw; 2: 1. FSV Mainz 05 +177 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: SC Freiburg +102; 1. FSV Mainz 05 -105
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -111
SC FREIBURG
The SC Freiburg team is winless in last five rounds and they’ve earned only one point during that span. As a matter of fact, they’ve recorded only one win so far into the season (3:2 home win over Hoffenheim) which is very disturbing having in mind that they competed in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League (eliminated by the Slovenian side Domzale). Something will have to be changed in their approach if they want to avoid a battle-for-survival kind of year.
They currently rank at No. 17 spot in the Bundesliga table with only eight points and 1-5-6 record (1-4-1 at home). Team scores 0.58 and concedes 2.00 goals per match (7-24 goal difference) and 83% of their home games had under 2.5 goals in total while 42% of their road games had over 3.5 goals in total. Both teams scored in every second Freiburg’s home duel and the most common scores at home were 1:1 and 2:2 draw (both occurred twice). Striker Florian Niederlechner top the team in scoring with two goals while Janik Haberer and Nicolas Hofler collected team-high two assists each.
Mike Frantz (knee) will be out until at least February 2018, while Onur Bulut’s (back) status is unknown. Amir Abrashi (ankle) is listed as day to day while Philipp Leinart (knee), Vincent Sierro (hamstring), Jonas Meffert (foot), Manuel Gulde (back) and Georg Niedermeier (back) are all back in training.
FSV MAINZ 05
After one of the worst starts of the season (four losses in first five rounds), the Mainz squad has been gradually rising its form and now we can say that they have only one loss in last seven games along with three wins and three draws. Still, they’ll have to continue with this trend because the league rankings are getting more structured and they certainly don’t want to set the tone that will result in the lower part of the table, fighting for the survival.
They are ranked at No. 12 spot with 15 points earned and 4-3-5 record (0-2-3 on the road). Team’s goal difference is 13-17 (2-9 as visitors) and 67% of their overall matches had under 2.5 goals in total while 20% of their road games had over 3.5 goals in total. Both teams score in every second Mainz’s matchup and the most common score on the road was 1:1 draw (occurred twice). Yoshinori Muot is still the team’s leading scorer with three goals while Abdou Diallo, Danny Latza and Suat Serdar have two each in their accounts. Levin Oztunali tops the team in assists with four.
Giulio Donati (yellow card suspension) is out for Saturday while Emil Berggreen’s status (thigh) is unknown. Leon Balogun (hand) is expected to be available in a few weeks while Rene Adler’s (thigh) and Karim Onisiwo’s (shoulder) timetable for return is set for mid-January next year. Aaron Seydel (knee) is listed as day to day while Niko Bungert (thigh) is back in training.
SC Freiburg vs. 1. FSV Mainz 05 – Match Prediction
This is the matchup between two mediocre squads while the hosts are also underperforming at the moment. Mainz on the other side has shown some signs of life lately and it’s maybe time for their first road win of the season. Still, my first pick here will be under 2.5 goals in total having in mind both teams’ tendencies.
My pick: Under 2.5 goals (-111)
Additional pick: FSV Mainz 05 to win (+177)
Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich
Three-Way: 1: Borussia Monchengladbach +530; X: +409 Draw; 2: Bayern Munich -161 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +1: Borussia Monchengladbach +112; Bayern Munich -112
Total +3.5: Over +110; Under -112
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
The Foals are a tough team this season that has proved to be capable of defeating anyone. Still, they flop at home more often having in mind that two of three total defeats recorded, occurred in front of their own crowd. The team is undefeated in last three rounds but they haven’t recorded a home victory in almost two months (2:1 win over Hannover 96 on September 30).
They are currently ranked at No. 4 spot in the Bundesliga table with 21 points and 6-3-3 record (3-1-2 at Borussia Park). Their goal difference is 21-21 (7-8 at home) and 33% of their home matches had over 2.5 goals in total while 50% of their overall matchups had over 3.5 goals in total. They’ve scored at least one goal in each of their last nine matches and they’ve managed to score at least one goal in both halves in 17% of their overall showdowns. Strikers Thorgan Hazard, Raffael and Lars Stindl top the team in scoring with four goals each while Jannik Vestergaard added three. Along with Hazard, Nico Elvedi and Vincenzo Grifo lead the team in assists with two each.
Laszlo Benes (foot) is set to be back during next month while Tobias Strobl’s (cruciate ligament) expected return stands at early February next year. Ibrahima Traore’s (thigh) and Jonas Hofmann’s (knee) status is unknown while Mamadou Doucoure (thigh) is back in training.
BAYERN MUNICH
The defending Bundesliga champions are grinding their way back to the top of the Bundesliga ranking as they already have six-point advantage over the closest contender. They have managed to string together five consecutive wins in Bundesliga and they are coming off from a very successful week in Europe, defeating the Belgian side Anderlecht on the road 2:1, thus securing the advantage to the next phase.
They are 9-2-1 in Bundesliga (4-1-1 on the road) with 29 points earned so far. They are also the best visitor as they’ve earned 13 points away, with an 11-5 goal difference (30-8 overall). They’ve managed to score at least one goal in each of their last nine duels while 67% of their overall games had over 2.5 goals in total. Every third road matchup has over 3.5 goals in total and both teams scored in every third overall Bayern’s game. Centre-forward Robert Lewandowski tops the team and the league with 13 goals while Arjen Robben has three so far. Joshua Kimich leads the team in assists with five.
Arjen Robben (muscle) and Thiago Alcantara (muscle) should be available in a few weeks while Manuel Neuer’s (foot) timetable for return is set at late April next year. David Alaba’s (back) and Rafinha’s (ankle) status is unknown while Kingsley Coman (tendon) is listed as day to day. Thomas Muller (thigh) and Franck Ribery (knee) are back in training.
Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich –Match Prediction.
Duel between old foes should be a very interesting one, and definitely a game worth watching having in mind potential performance quality that these two teams are capable of showing. Jupp Heynckes’ winning streak will have to end once and Borussia Park is as good place as any. Reason for this might come in the fact that two very important Munich’s players got injured during the week (Roben and Alcantara) while Muller and Ribery are probably not yet ready to step in 100%. Still, my first pick here will be under 3.5 goals in total while my additional play is a DC on the home team.
My pick: Total: Under 3.5 goals(-112)
Additional pick: Bor. Monchengladbach DC 1X (+175)
