It’s matchday 29 in the Bundesliga, which kicks off tomorrow when VfB Stuttgart host Borussia Dortmund who have fallen off the pace set by table-topping Bayern Munich once again, who themselves clash with an in-form FC Augsburg at the Allianz Arena. Elsewhere, SC Freiburg looks to remain in the top five when they travel on a tricky away fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt and could jump up to fourth in the table depending on the result of the key clash involving RB Leipzig and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Finally, the Berlin derby between Hertha and Union rounds out the top stories this coming weekend. Here is 101 Great Goals’ betting tips preview for matchday 29.
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VfB Stuttgart (15th) vs Borussia Dortmund (2nd)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena
Under normal circumstances, Stuttgart would probably struggle a great deal against visiting giants Borussia Dortmund tomorrow night as the relegation-threatened outfit is in a fight for their Bundesliga lives of late, but they have responded in decent fashion having picked up two wins and three draws in their last six fixtures. But history is not kind to Stuttgart, having lost five of their last six meetings with Dortmund who, while are favorites here, are coming off consecutive matches where they dropped points which included a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of RB Leipzig. Dortmund, though, should still come away here, especially with Erling Haaland expected to lead the line with highly capable options in support.
VfL Wolfsburg (14) vs Arminia Bielefeld (16th)
Venue: Volkswagen Arena
On paper, this would be a no-brainer, but Wolfsburg has been a shadow of themselves when compared to last season when they finished fourth in the table but currently sit just 5-points above the bottom three and Saturday’s opponent in Arminia Bielefeld. Bielefeld has been on a poor run of late (1-1-4), but Wolfsburg can hardly boast their own results in recent weeks and have registered the same record as Saturday’s visitors. But there could be an ace in the hole for the home side as Bielefeld has dropped their last-four away clashes and given their goal struggles this season (worst goal record in the Bundesliga), Wolfsburg has an avenue to secure a vital win and should be able to do just that.
Greuther Fürth (18th) vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (12th)
Venue: Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer
Greuther Fürth is just about nailed on to get relegated back to 2.Bundesliga next season and have yet to hit the 20-point mark in 2021-22, but could at least go down swinging after they have registered two highly credible 0-0 draws against both Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt in the past two weeks, so visiting Gladbach cannot come into a match that they should be favorites in and automatically expect the desired result. But Gladbach is in a solid run of form across the last few matchdays, posting a 2-1-0 record, and could make a late push for a top-half finish in the table, so nothing short of three points will do here and a cadre of players returning after testing positive for Covid should aid them in that pursuit.
1.FC Köln (8th) vs 1.FSV Mainz 05 (10th)
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion
Köln welcome traveling Mainz in a match with direct top-half implications on Saturday and the pair come into similar form across the last six match days, so it could be tough to separate the pair when they come to grips at the RheinEnergieStadion. Both have posted a 1-1-1 record in recent weeks, but the advantage on paper could be slightly in Mainz’s favor, however, with Die Nullfünfer taking points in five of the last six meetings between them (2-3-1). During the current 2021-22 Bundesliga campaign, Mainz has the data advantage over Köln as well, having scored more goals (41 to 38) while allowing fewer at the other end (33 to 41) but maintains one of the worst away records in the league. This could end in a draw.
Bayern Munich (1st) vs FC Augsburg (13th)
Venue: Allianz Arena
It could be a bit of one-way traffic at the Allianz Arena when table-topping Bayern Munich welcomes Augsburg to their neck of the woods in this clash of Bavarian clubs, as Bayern could inch one step closer to yet another Bundesliga title-winning campaign. Fuggerstädter surely comes into their away day with confidence, however, having won three of their last four in the league and with motivation to add to their 6-point cushion between them and the bottom three. But Bayern owns the recent head-to-head between the two sides (4-1-1) while boasting the best home record in the German top flight. Augsburg has historically been capable of killing a giant, but Bayern should really have too much on the day.
Hertha Berlin (17th) vs Union Berlin (7th)
Venue: Olympiastadion
It is shaping up to be a doom-and-gloom season for capital outfit Hertha Berlin as Die Alte Dame has embarked on a 2021-22 campaign that is in stark contrast to what current club owner Lars Windhorst had hardly envisioned when he bought majority ownership of the club in 2019, and the club has failed to finish in the top half since he took charge and now face the armageddon that is relegation. Berlin rivals Union would love to pile on the misery on Sunday and can count on a slightly better recent head-to-head record (3-1-2) between the pair as well as Hertha having the worst home form in the Bundesliga of late and the second-worst defensive record overall. Union should come away here and add what could be another nail in the relegation coffin.
VfL Bochum (11th) vs Bayer Leverkusen (3rd)
Venue: Vonovia Ruhrstadion
Bochum has proven themselves to be worthy of their status as a Bundesliga after their return to the German top flight this year and currently sit in mid-table on merit while posting credible results along the way, and despite the gap that exists between them and visiting Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, Die Unabsteigbaren will not go into proceedings fearful despite Die Werkself in pole position to finish third. Bochum’s win away at Hoffenheim last weekend proved their clout once again but while they boast a marginally better defensive record than the visitors (40 to 42 goals allowed), Bayer’s attacking ability (68-goals scored) – even without the injured Florian Wirtz – could very well prove decisive here.
Eintracht Frankfurt (9th) vs SC Freiburg (5th)
Venue: Deutsche Bank Park
One of the most intriguing fixtures this weekend surely comes down to what could unfold at Deutsche Bank Park when Eintracht Frankfurt welcomes high-flying Freiburg to the financial capital of Germany on Sunday, with the visiting Breisgau-Brasilianer looking to climb up to fourth spot in the Bundesliga table depending on results elsewhere. Unfortunately for Christian Streich’s men, they have only managed to pick up one win in their last six against Frankfurt, and with the home side undefeated in their last four (2-2-0) in the league, the home side could be guaranteed at least a point with Freiburg drawing their last two away from their home patch. Despite that, this could have draw written all over it.
RB Leipzig (4th) vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (6th)
Venue: Red Bull Arena
The match of the weekend takes place at Red Bull Arena as Bundesliga upstarts RB Leipzig look to keep hold of their top-four place when they welcome Hoffenheim to Saxony in a match that could see them lose their current position of strength for the final Champions League place. Leipzig is the joint-in form side in the German top-flight, however, along with Bayern, having won four of their last six while drawing the other two and scoring the most goals across that period with eighteen to their name. By comparison, Hoffenheim has dropped their last two which included a shock 3-0 drubbing by relegation-threatened Hertha Berlin, and the fact that RBL is comfortably ahead in recent head-to-head fixtures (3-2-1), it may take something special for Hoff to slow down the likes of Christopher Nkunku and André Silva in the curtain closer for matchday 29.
