Will there be a new league leader?
The top match in the Bundesliga between Leverkusen and Bayern was eagerly awaited last weekend. In the end, however, it did not even take 45 minutes before it was clear who would leave the pitch as the winner. The record champions put on a real show of strength, leading 5-0 at the break and never leaving any doubt as to who would continue to lead the standings in the German top flight after matchday eight.
In the context of the ninth matchday next weekend, the Munich side are now desperate not to jeopardise a series that has lasted around 20 years. Since 2001, the FCB has not lost two home games in a row in the Bundesliga. After the 1:2 defeat against Frankfurt before the international break, the next three points are to be bagged against TSG Hoffenheim.
Nevertheless, the focus of interest is primarily on the Rhineland derby between 1. FC Köln and Bayer Leverkusen. Not only the Werkself, but also the Domstadter had to cope with a heavy defeat in the previous week and are now aiming to make amends. Other exciting duels are between Wolfsburg and Freiburg, Hertha and Gladbach and Stuttgart against Union Berlin. In the other matches there is usually a clear favourite.
Mainz vs. Augsburg – 22 October, 20:30
With only one point from the last three games, FC Augsburg have failed to free themselves somewhat in the bottom of the table. Especially the unnecessary 1-1 draw at home against Arminia Bielefeld last Sunday must be seen as a “missed opportunity”. But perhaps Markus Weinzierl’s men will now be able to break free at FSV Mainz 05.
Statistically speaking, there is reason for hope, as FCA have won their last five direct duels against the zero-fives and have also not won more often against any other club in the Bundesliga than against FSV (ten times).
The fact that none of the past ten away games in the Bundesliga has been won speaks against the Fuggerstädter. In addition, the Rheinhessen side has been very stable at home so far. The Svensson team has only conceded two goals at home. This is one of the reasons why we believe in a low-scoring match on Friday evening and can well imagine betting on one of the two teams scoring the maximum number of goals in the Bundesliga opener on matchday 9.
Bielefeld vs. Dortmund – 23 October, 3:30 pm
Pretty much all Dortmund fans must have suffered a real shock in front of the TV on Tuesday night. Their BVB didn’t stand a chance in the CL away match against Ajax Amsterdam and in the end even had to be happy to have lost “only” 0:4. Emotionless, passionless and headless are only three characteristics that applied to Borussia’s performance.
It will be all the more interesting to see how the Black and Yellows put the humiliation behind them and how they react on Saturday afternoon in the small derby with Arminia Bielefeld. The East Westphalians may come at just the right time, as they are still waiting for their first win in the current Bundesliga season. In their four most recent direct encounters against Dortmund, Arminia have not only failed to win, but also failed to score.
Next Haaland brace on the Alm?
Even though coach Marco Rose’s side have lost two of their three away games so far this season at national level, we are in good spirits that the current runners-up in the table will return to winning ways and even celebrate a commanding success.
Erling Haaland, who has always scored at least a brace in his past three Bundesliga games, will be unstoppable by the DSC defence. Therefore, we put our money on the favourite laying the foundation for the victory already in the first half. The double HT2/FT2 result would be the logical consequence.
Bayern vs. Hoffenheim – 23 October, 15:30
Did you know that since the beginning of 2017, there are only two Bundesliga teams that have managed to defeat FC Bayern more than three times? Besides Borussia Mönchengladbach, this is also TSG Hoffenheim, of all teams, whose statistics against the record champions otherwise read disastrous. A 15% win rate, an average of 0.65 points per game and an average of 2.38 goals conceded underline this impressively.
This is one of the reasons why there can only be one winner between FC Bayern and Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon. The in-form leaders will once again do everything they can to put in a convincing first half, just as they did at Bayer Leverkusen the previous week. In four of the last six Bundesliga games, Nagelsmann’s team led by at least two goals at the break. It is quite possible that this will also be the case against the Kraichgauer.
If you also consider that the FCB scored 16 of its 29 goals in the first 45 minutes, while the visitors from Sinsheim scored far less often in the first half than after the break, there is much to suggest that Lewandowski and Co. will take an early and decisive lead. In the Bundesliga, the betting odds on half-time bets in favour of the league leader are definitely worth considering on matchday 9.
RB Leipzig vs. Fürth – 23 October, 15:30
While Stefan Leitl was not a serious candidate for the first coaching sacking in the Bundesliga before the start of the season due to the promotion, the 44-year-old now has to fear a little more for his job. At the moment, the bookmakers are even treating the Munich-born coach as the hottest candidate for the first dismissal – even ahead of Pal Dardai.
This development is, of course, primarily due to his cloverleaf’s very poor start to the season. With only one point and a goal difference of -15, no club has ever started a Bundesliga season so badly. In the previous week, even the basement duel against VfL Bochum was lost 0:1 at home. Hopes of an imminent improvement are sinking with each passing matchday.
Does RBL need patience against the bottom team?
This weekend, betting on Spielvereinigung is once again not an option in the Bundesliga on Matchday 9. At RB Leipzig, the underdog role could hardly be bigger. Although not everything is going according to plan for the Saxons either, they have never lost to a promoted team in their history (18 wins, three draws) and have also shown an upward form curve at national level recently. Anything other than a clear home victory would already be a surprise.
But since all the odds offer little value in connection with a clear RB victory, we opt for a maximum of one goal in the first half. Only in one of the last five Bundesliga games were the Franconians down by more than one goal at the break (0:2 against Bayern). In addition, RB has failed to score in the first 45 minutes of five of its eight games this season. Added to this is the loss of substance from last week’s Champions League match against Paris St. Germain, which was unluckily lost 3-2.
Wolfsburg vs. Freiburg – 23 October, 15:30
At the moment, VfL Wolfsburg are in the doldrums. After a perfect start to the season with four wins on the first four matchdays, the Lower Saxons have failed to win four matches in a row. The last three matches in the Bundesliga were all lost. Even the 3-1 defeat at RB Salzburg in the Champions League last week is unlikely to have given coach Mark van Bommel’s charges any additional self-confidence.
Now, Sport-Club Freiburg is the only team that is still unbeaten and has the best defence in the Bundesliga. Because the Wolves have only won one of the last six direct duels against the Breisgauer, it may be an option to take the double chance X/2 into the field of view. Nevertheless, we expect rather few goals in this match on Saturday afternoon.
Wolfsburg have not scored more than two goals at all this season. Five of their eight games have ended with a score of 2.5. Freiburg, meanwhile, have already scored twice away from home and have conceded just three goals in the last five match days. No wonder, then, that the betting odds on a maximum of two goals in the course of the game are literally smiling at you in this interesting match in the Bundesliga on matchday 9.
Hertha vs Gladbach – 23 October, 18:30
Hertha from Berlin remain a real surprise package this season. Hardly anyone would have expected the capital club to take all three points from Frankfurt in the previous week. Thanks to a concentrated performance, however, the “old lady” won 2-1 in the end. The upward trend is to be confirmed against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening.
From a purely statistical point of view, this endeavour seems anything but hopeless, as Hertha have only lost one of their last six encounters against the Foals. BUT: Since 2011, four of nine home games at the Olympiastadion have been lost to the team from the Lower Rhine.
The momentum is also likely to be on the side of the visitors, who have taken seven points from their last three games and also fired 31 shots towards the opposition’s goal in the previous week’s 1-1 draw against Stuttgart. Against a Berlin backline that, with 21 goals conceded, has the most vulnerable defensive line of all 18 first division teams, it could ring a bell time and again.
We therefore opt for the odds on a Gladbach away win in Saturday’s Bundesliga matchday 9. The home side lacks consistency, while the Foals are getting better and better into their stride. Qualitatively, we also see the advantages for Hütter’s eleven, who could ensure that Hertha’s still tenuous relegation worries remain present for the time being in the event of a win.
Cologne vs. Leverkusen – October 24, 15:30
The Rhineland derby on Sunday afternoon is dominated by the impressions of the last matchday. Cologne suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim, while Bayer Leverkusen went down 5-1 to FC Bayern. Both teams are eager to make amends and want to show the right reaction in the direct duel. The Werkself could land their fourth win in a row against the Geißböcke in the Bundesliga.
Will Seoane’s record against Stuttgart remain unblemished?
This mission does not seem unrealistic, after all, Leverkusen have won seven of their last 14 away games in Müngersdorf. Moreover, the Seoane team is still unbeaten away from home this season. However, the same applies to the “Effzeh”, who have not yet lost at home. Consequently, it is difficult to give betting tips on the outcome of this top match in the Bundesliga on matchday 9. However, we tend not to expect Bayer to lose out for the second time in a row.
We combine the resulting odds for the double chance X/2 with the addition that both teams will score. Leverkusen have already scored 21 goals after eight matchdays; Cologne have scored in seven of eight games. Add to that the always attacking approach of both coaches, which suggest that we will see a goal or two on Sunday.
VfB Stuttgart vs. Union Berlin – 24 October, 17:30
Union Berlin is on everyone’s lips again this season. The Köpenicker are currently in fifth place in the Bundesliga and have recently celebrated three wins in a row. In fact, they have only lost one match so far, a 4-2 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. The great form curve should now be confirmed in Stuttgart. Since only one of six direct encounters against VfB has been lost so far, coach Urs Fischer’s hopes are justified.
For the home side, however, the tight personnel situation with numerous injuries continues to cause problems for coach Matarazzo. Against this background, the 1-1 draw in Mönchengladbach the previous week was a respectable success. Nevertheless, nine points after eight matchdays is certainly not what the Swabians had in mind.
Fourth Union win in a row?
The clash late on Sunday afternoon promises to be an exciting affair in any case. We wouldn’t rule out a draw. However, in the penultimate match of the weekend in the Bundesliga on Matchday 9, the tips on an away win for the Eisern are possibly even more interesting. Even for the secured guest triple (DNB 2) we get an attractive 2.07 in the top, which we would prefer to play on.
Bochum vs. Frankfurt – 24 October, 19:30
For VfL Bochum, last weekend’s 1-0 away win at SpVgg Greuther Fürth was of immense importance. The promoted team moved up to 15th place in the standings and is thus still in touch with the midfield places. Just one place and one point further ahead is Eintracht Frankfurt, who are anything but satisfied with their performance. Their only win in eight attempts came against record champions Bayern Munich.
For the upcoming clash on Sunday evening, we can well imagine that not many goals will be scored. Bochum have only scored a total of five goals so far this season. In addition, in games involving VfL, only two out of eight goals have been scored in excess of three. The situation is similar for the SGE: five out of eight games even ended with the 2.5.
underdog.
In view of the fact that the Hessians are currently stronger away than at home and the Eagles should also have a qualitative advantage, we combine the double chance X2 with the under 3.5. In other words: Eintracht will pick up at least one point in the Ruhr and a maximum of three goals will be scored during the match.
