Borussia Monchengladbach vs VfL Wolfsburg
Time: 12:30 PM EST
Odds: Borussia Monchengladbach +125, Draw +250, VfL Wolfsburg +200
Last Game: Borussia Monchengladbach 2 : 1 VfL Wolfsburg
Watch: FS2
The Bundesliiga returns this week with a key matchup at the top of the table. Hosts Borussia Monchengladbach come into this game following a crushing 2-1 defeat in the final minutes to Bayern last week. Monchengladbach fell out of their Champions League spot to 5th, and with only 3 match weeks remaining will now need some help if they are to qualify for the Champions League. Ramy Bensebaini will miss this game due to suspension. Top scorer Alassane Pléa has served his suspension but will be unavailable due to injury, while co-top scorer Marcus Thuram will also be unavailable after picking up an injury against Bayern last week.
Wolfsburg come into this match following a 2-2 draw with Freiburg. Wolfsburg remain in 6th with a three point lead on 7th place Hoffenheim, and with a considerably more difficult schedule down the stretch Wolfsburg will also be hungry for a win here. Renato Steffen returns from suspension, while Jérôme Roussillon remains doubtful.
Borussia Monchengladbah have had the slight edge when hosting Wolfsburg, taking three of the last 6 games and drawing one. These teams are closely matched defensively, with Monchengladbach having the edge offensively. Monchengladbach’s offensive edge will be diminished however without the presence of their two top scorers Thuram and Pléa. Wolfsburg have been flying away from home lately and have notched six wins and one draw in their last seven away matches. This looks to be a tough matchup for a shorthanded Monchengladbach side, expect a low scoring affair with Wolfsburg looking like a good value at the price.
Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich
Time: 2:30 PM EST
Odds: Werder Bremen +1200, Draw +650, Bayern Munich -600
Last Game: Bayern Munich 6 : 1 Werder Bremen
Watch: FS2
League leaders Bayern Munich can secure their 8th consecutive Bundesliga title when they travel to Werder Bremen in this one. Host Werder Bremen come into this match following a resounding 5-1 win over fellow bottom feeder Paderborn. Bremen remain in 17th but are now level with Fortuna Düsseldorf on points and only 3 points from safety. Milos Veljkovic returns from suspension and veteran striker Claudio Pizarro’s status remains in doubt.
League leaders Bayern Munich enter this game following a dramatic 2-1 home win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Bayern remain in 1st place and could clinch their 8th straight Bundesliga title with a win in this one. Veterans Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller both return from suspension for this match.
Wolfsburg have not enjoyed seeing Bayern on the schedule, a team they haven’t beaten since 2008. Werder has managed to keep the recent matched played at the Weserstadion close, with an average goal differential of 1.33 in Bayern’s last 6 visits. While Bayern will almost certainly win this one, Werder will be fighting to keep it a close game as the difference between the relegation playoff and direct relegation may come down to goal differential between Werder Bremen and Fortuna Düssseldorf. Keeping this one close will require a reversal of Werder’s home fortunes of late, where they are winless in their last six and have only managed to score a single goal while allowing eleven against. Given that Lewandowski and Müller return for the visitors, Bremen would consider keeping this match within two goals a massive success.
FC Union Berlin vs Paderborn
Time: 2:30 PM EST
Odds: FC Union Berlin -115, Draw +270, Paderborn +310
Last Game: Paderborn 1 : 1 Union Berlin
This matchup of recently promoted sides sees Union Berlin host Paderborn with a chance to seal the visitors Bundesliga fate. Hosts 1. FC Union Berlin secured a massive 2-1 away win at Köln last weekend to snap their poor run of form. Union Berlin enter the matchweek in 14th, but being 7 points clear of the relegation playoff spot they are at little risk of being sucked back into the relegation battle. Midfield fixture Robert Andrich returns from suspension for this match, while Christopher Lenz’s status will be a game time decision.
Visitors Paderborn are all but assured of relegation after dropping 5-1 to Werder Bremen at home over the weekend. Paderborn remain in 18th and sitting right points from the relegation playoff spot with three games left it will take a miracle for them to enjoy another year of Bundesliga football. Sven Michel and Abdelhamid Sabiri will both sit this one out due to suspension while defender Uwe Hünemeier and striker Streli Mamba return from suspension.
These two sides will be familiar with one another from their 2. Bundesliga days. In fact this will be the first time they’ve met in the Stadion An Der Alten Forsteri in the top flight. Of the previous meetings in Berlin in the 2nd division Paderborn enjoyed their visits winning four and drawing one of their last six visits. Union will be looking to reverse this trend and collect their first win at home over Paderborn since 2011. Union have been a strong side at home ranking 10th in points at home, while Paderborn have the 2nd worst away record in the Bundesliga. To their credit Paderborn have fought hard to keep games close since the restart and they shouldn’t be expected to go down without a fight, especially given Unions shaky form of late. A low scoring draw looks likely in this one.
SC Freiburg vs Hertha Berlin
Time: 2:30 PM EST
Odds: SC Freiburg +160, Draw +250, Hertha Berlin +160
Last Game: Hertha Berlin 1 : 0 Freiburg
Hosts SC Freiburg enter this week following a 2-2 draw to Wolfsburg. Freiburg currently sit in 8th place, and are four points back from a Europa League bid. Manuel Gulde has been ruled out with an injury.
Visitors Hertha Berlin enter this week following a 4-1 loss at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, their second consecutive loss. Hertha sit firmly in 11th and a sitting 8 points back of 6th place a European bid looks unlikely. Dedryck Boyata will miss this one due to suspension, while Matheus Cunha and Marvin Plattenhardt will be game time decisions as they both recover from concussions.
A Freiburg side in need of a result will be happy to see Hertha Berlin come to town, as Freiburg have won two and drawn four of the last six meetings between these two sides at home. While recent losses have put a bit of a damper on Hertha’s form they still have the 4th best record in the Bundesliga since the restart, and have only lost one of their last six away matches. Freiburg meanwhile have been solid at home this year, collecting the 6th most points at home in the Bundesliga. These sides are evenly matched on paper, so the draw looks like a good bet given it has the longest odds.