Bundesliga Predictions - Round 8

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Struggling Schalke to go down to RB Leipzig.
Werder Bremen to be held to a draw by Hoffenheim.
Bayer Leverkusen looking strong to see off Stuttgart.
Bayern Munich to beat Dortmund but not without conceding to their title rivals.

Schalke have been struggling for goals and are backed to lose to RB Leipzig (Getty Images).

Schalke 04 vs RB Leipzig

Schalke are finding it difficult to sustain pressure in attack, with a goalless draw at Cologne following a 1-0 home defeat to Mainz and a 2-1 loss at Freiburg. Their last five league games include just one victory.

Leipzig crushed Elversberg 4-0 last weekend with Rômulo scoring twice and they have won three of their last five matches. Their vulnerability showed in a 6-1 defeat at Bayern but victories over Frankfurt and Hamburg highlight their attacking ceiling. Christopher Nkunku, Antonio Nusa and Rômulo give Leipzig several routes to goal. The visitors merit favouritism, although Schalke may still make them work.

Werder Bremen vs Hoffenheim

Werder Bremen have gone five league matches without defeat, most recently winning 3-2 at Mainz. Niclas Füllkrug converted two penalties in that game and lead the Bundesliga scoring chart with eight goals.

Bremen also drew with Borussia Dortmund and Paderborn, two results that strongly underline their resilience. Hoffenheim enter in buoyant mood after a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on the weekend followed by a 2-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach midweek. Andrej Kramaric was on target against Leverkusen and has scored twice in his last three matches.

Both attacks have the capacity to take control of passages of play but Hoffenheim have been more volatile away from home. A draw is a plausible outcome in what looks a high-quality, closely matched contest.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart

Leverkusen must respond to a chastening 3-0 loss at Hoffenheim a week ago. Before that defeat they had won three consecutive league matches, beating Freiburg, Mainz and RB Leipzig. Patrik Schick has scored six league goals and remains their most reliable threat in front of goal.

Stuttgart are enduring a particularly difficult spell: defeats to Borussia Munchengladbach and Hamburg tally up four losses from their last five matches. Ermedin Demirovic scored both Stuttgart goals in the 3-2 loss to 'Gladbach but the visitors have been too leaky at the back. Leverkusen should regain the initiative at the BayArena, although their standard home-win price falls below our value threshold.

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund

A genuine early-season heavyweight showdown pits two unbeaten clubs against one another. Both Bayern and Dortmund have 17 points after seven games, although Bayern lead on goal difference with 25 goals scored against Dortmund's 12. Bayern won 3-1 at Freiburg last weekend after thrashing Leipzig 6-1. Michael Olise has been in superb form on attack, with six league goals already under his belt (four in his last three matches), putting him just one behind the prolific Harry Kane.

Dortmund have been harder to break down and conceded just four times in their seven league matches, including a 1-0 win over Frankfurt 1-0 thanks to a late Maximilian Beier winner. The home side should create more chances but Dortmund's defensive record suggests a competitive Klassiker. A straight Bayern win is too short to qualify under our 1.80 rule.

Verdict

German Bundesliga

I'm back a win for RB Leipzig, a draw for Werder Bremen, while it's looking strong for a Both Teams To Score Win for Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

RB Leipzig Win

Result

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Bayern Munich Win

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Bayer Leverkusen Win

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Werder Bremen Draw

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.