Bundesliga Match Day 31 June 13 Betting Preview
Fortuna Düsseldorf vs Borussia Dortmund
Time: 9:30 AM EST
Odds: Fortuna Düsseldorf +700, Draw +450, Borussia Dortmund -310
Last Game: Borussia Dortmund 5 : 0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Watch: FS1
Two sides at opposite ends of the table meet when Dortmund travels to Düsseldorf. Hosts Fortuna Düsseldorf enter this game following a 2-2 home draw to European hopefuls Hoffenhiem. Currently in 16th, a win here could see Fortuna draw level with Mainz 05 on points. Kaan Ayhan returns from suspension for this one, while Adam Bodzek will miss this match after picking up his 10th yellow card last weekend. Zack Steffen and Oliver Fink will both sit this match out with injury.
Borussia Dortmund enter this game following a 1-0 win at home to an in form Hertha Berlin side. Dortmund have been the 2nd best side in the Bundesliga since the restart winning 4 of their 5 games thus far, and sit firmly in 2nd place. A win here would see them move four points clear of 3rd place RB Leipzig. Mats Hummels returns from suspension and both Erling Haaland and Marco Reus may be available after returning to training this week.
These teams are worlds apart in terms of quality, and without the help of their home crowd Fortuna Düsseldorf look to have their hands full in this one. Fortuna did beat Dortmund the last time they met at the Esprit Arena, their only win in the last 6 matches against Dortmund at home, and will be hoping to put together another upset performance here. The games between these two at the esprit arena have been low scoring affairs, with the last 6 having an average of 1.5 goals scored per game. Expect Dortmund to come out on top here, especially if Håland or Reus are fit to start.
Hertha Berlin vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Time: 9:30 AM EST
Odds: Hertha Berlin +105, Draw +270, Eintracht Frankfurt +240
Last Game: Eintracht Frankfurt 2 : 2 Hertha Berlin
Watch: FS2
Two mid table sides meet when Eintracht Frankfurt travel to Hertha Berlin. Hosts Hertha Berlin come into this game following a hard fought 1-0 away loss to 2nd place Borussia dortmund last week. Hertha’s strong run of form prior to the Dortmund game has seen them rise to a comfortable spot in 9th. With an additional Europa spot now up for grabs, a win here could see Hertha move to within 2 points of a European berth. Javairô Dilrosun picked up an injury in the Dortmund game and will not play again this season. Marius Wolf and Santiago Ascacibar both remain unavailable due to foot injuries while Mathew Leckie has been ruled out with a muscle injury.
Eintracht Frankfurt enter this game following a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal in midweek and a 2-0 loss at home to Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga last weekend. Frankfurt remain in 11th despite the five teams below them picking up points last weekend. There is little risk of Frankfurt sliding back into the relegation battle, but a loss here could see them finish the weekend as low as 13th. Lucas Torro returns from suspension while Sebastian Rode takes his place on the sideline with a suspension after picking up his 10th yellow card last weekend. Gonçalo Paciência is still working his way back from injury and will be evaluated closer to game time.
Hertha have had the advantage when facing Frankfurt at the Olympiastadion, with Frankfurt only managing a single win in their last 6 visits. Despite some recent success, Hertha has struggled at home this year and has one of the worst home records in the Bundesliga. Hertha should have fresh legs for this one, as they didn’t play in midweek. Frankfurt have a slight edge in goals for, while Hertha have the edge in goals against. Expect a tough hard fought game between these evenly matched sides.
VfL Wolfsburg vs SC Freiburg
Time: 9:30 AM EST
Odds: VfL Wolfsburg -150, Draw +300, SC Freiburg +400
Last Game: SC Freiburg 1 : 0 Wolfsburg
Two European hopefuls meet when SC Freiburg visit VfL Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg enter this game on the heels of a 1-0 away win at relegation fodder Werder Bremen. Wolfsburg remained in the 6th place spot and are now two points ahead of 7th place Hoffenhiem, a win here could extend that gap to five points after Hoffenhiem’s loss Friday. Renato Steffen returns from suspension for this match.
SC Freiburg enter this game on the heels of an upset 1-0 win at home against Champions League hopeful Borussia Monchengladbach. Despite a tumultuous return to Bundesliga action Freiburg sit in 8th and are just two points back of 7th and the final Europa League spot. Manuel Gulde has been ruled out and Yoric Ravet is listed as doubtful.
Wolfsburg have the slight edge when playing Freiburg at home, with 3 wins and 1 draw in the last 6 matches played at Volkswagen Arena. Wolfsburg look to have the slight edge here but don’t expect a flurry of goals when these two defensive minded sides meet.
FC Köln vs 1. FC Union Berlin
Time: 9:30 AM EST
Odds: FC Köln +105, Draw +240, 1. FC Union Berlin +270
Last Game: 1. FC Union Berlin 2 : 0 FC Köln
This game is one of the three relegation six pointer this weekend, a win for either side in this one would all but ensure another year in the Bundesliga. Hosts FC Köln enter this game following a 1-1 draw at Augsburg last week. Köln come into this match in 12th place, and a win here could see them jump as high as 9th. With only four match weeks remaining Köln sit seven points above the drop zone and another year in the Bundesliga is all but secured. Sebastiaan Bornauw and Dominick Drexler return from suspension for this one and Mark Uth is probable after recovering from injury.
Visitors 1. FC Union Berlin come into this game on the heels of yet another disappointing performance that saw them settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Schalke 04 after taking an early lead. Union Berlin have been the 2nd worst team in the Bundesliga since the restart collecting a mere two points in five matches, this poor run of form has seen them slip to 14th and they sit a mere 4 points above the relegation playoff spot. A win here would put them out of reach and secure a 2nd consecutive year in the top flight for the Berlin side. Robert Andrich is suspended for the 2nd time this season after picking up his 10th yellow last week and Christopher Lenz will be a game time decision.
These sides have only met four times previously at the RheinEnergieStadion, all in the 2. Bundesliga, with Köln taking three games and drawing one. Köln have performed well at home this year, but are winless in their last three home matches. Union Berlin meanwhile have the worst road record in the Bundesliga and have lost each of their last three games away. While neither side is likely to inspire much confidence, Köln are the better side and Union Berlin will be the more motivated side. Expect a close hard fought game with the goals being few and far between.
Paderborn vs Werder Bremen
Time: 9:30 Am EST
Odds: Paderborn +210, Draw +270, Werder Bremen +115
Last Game: Werder Bremen 0 : 1 Paderborn
This game is one of three relegation six pointers, when the two teams at the bottom of the table face off with their Bundesliga lives on the line. Host Paderborn come into this game following a shocking 1-1 draw away at Champions League side RB Leipzig last week. Paderborn have fought hard since the return to play, earning four draws in five games, but it hasn’t been enough to escape last place. Sitting in 18th, eight points adrift of the relegation playoff with four games remaining it will take a miracle for Paderborn to see another year of Bundesliga football. Uwe Hünemeier and Streli Mamba will miss this game due to suspension while Gerrit Holtmann and Sebastian Schonlau remain doubtful.
Werder Bremen enter this game on the heels of a 1-0 home loss to Wolfsburg last weekend, their 2nd loss in a row. Werder Bremen remain in 17th but have pulled themselves to within three points of the relegation playoff and six points from safety. With only four games remaining Bremen will need to win games if they want to play Bundesliga football next year. Claudio Pizarro and Milot Rashica will be game time decisions and Niclas Füllkrug may also be available as he works towards a return from a knee injury.
What this game lacks in star power it should make up in intensity as both sides need a win to keep the hope of staying up alive. Weder have only played at the Benteler Arena twice previously and have yet to win a game, the last game in 2015 ended in a draw. Werder have been a different team away from home, picking up over three times as many points on the road than they have at home. Paderborn meanwhile has been abysmal at home, where they’ve gone 161 days without a win. Werder have been the better side since the restart, but with Paderborn showing a willingness to fight to the end don’t expect anything to come easy in this one.
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Monchengladbach
Time: 12:30 PM EST
Odds: Bayern Munich -260, Draw +420, Borussia Monchengladbach +600
Last Game: Borussia Monchengladbach 2 : 1 Bayern Munich
Watch: FS1
The last game of the day sees two of the most storied clubs in Germany face off in Munich. Hosts Bayern Munich come into this game on the heels of a 2-1 win over Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal in midweek and a 4-2 away win at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last weekend. Bayern remain in 1st place and have won twelve straight and are undefeated in their last seventeen in all competitions. Stars Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller will both sit this match out due to suspension, while Serge Gnabry’s status remains in doubt.
Borussia Monchengladbach enter this game following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Freiburg away last week. Thanks to Bayer’s win over Bayer Leverkusen, Monchengladbach were able to hold on to 4th place and the last Champions League spot. Given Leverkusen’s softer schedule down the stretch Die Fohlen will feel the pressure to get a result against a vulnerable Bayern side. Monchengladbach will be without the services of top scorer Alassane Pléa who is also suspended. Tobias Strobl is also expected to miss this match as he struggles to return from a hamstring injury.
Bayern have been flying since the Bundesliga restart, scoring seventeen goals and conceding only four in five games, and the Bundesliga title will almost certainly remain in Munich for the 8th consecutive year. While Bayern have been humming since the restart they will be without Lewandowski’s 30 goals and 3 assists and Müller’s 7 goals and 19 assists, a sizable hole in the lineup even for a team as strong as Bayern. Monchengladbach will also be shorthanded with the services of Alassane Pléa and his 10 goals and 10 assists. Monchengladbach will have the fresher legs and be the side more desperate for a result, as Bayern can drop points and still secure the title. Bayern are prolific at home and haven’t lost at the Allianz since November, so as attractive as the draw and Monchengladbach odds are bet against Bayern at your own risk. It’s also worth noting that Monchengladbach won the reverse fixture and Bayern rarely lose twice to the same team in a season.