Bundesliga, the German top league starts again immediately after the midweek round: predictions on the 3:30pm matches.
One round has just finished, but another one starts straight away. The Bundesliga, after all, is the European league that took its time after the World Cup, stopping for two and a half months. Now, as it should, it has to make up for lost time. The first two days of 2023 meanwhile have reopened – albeit timidly – the games for the title, since the leading Bayern Munich did not go beyond two draws, first against Leipzig and then against Cologne. And it was the Roten Bullen who took advantage of this.
While waiting for the top-class challenge between the Bavarians and Entraicht Frankfurt, scheduled for Saturday at 18:30, the early afternoon matches offer several food for thought. Starting with the Berlin derby between Hertha and Union. Two teams that, contrary to what their history tells them, are experiencing diametrically opposite periods. Union has now overturned the city’s hierarchies and, on the strength of a serious and sustainable project, confirms itself as a fine reality in the Bundesliga. Before the World Cup it had gone on holiday with bated breath, perhaps because of the Europa League commitment, but in the first two league games Urs Fischer’s men beat Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen and took back the lone second place behind Bayern Munich. Hertha, on the other hand, are slipping further down the table, having lost in their league clash with Bochum and then collapsed at the Olympiastadion against Wolfsburg (0-5): we believe that Union can rub salt in their cousins’ wounds by giving them another knockout in a likely prolific game.
The predictions for the other matches
In the midweek round they both lost, so Mainz and Bochum go in search of redemption. Bo Svensson’s red-and-whites need to turn things around, and losing this match would mean being sucked into the relegation battle: we believe they can at least avoid defeat in a match that looks balanced.
Mainz players’ jubilation
Borussia Monchengladbach’s black moment continues, as after a crushing home defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, they lost 1-0 to Augsburg this week. For the Fohlens another tricky away match in Sinsheim against Hoffenheim, in which they will most likely score both goals. Wolfsburg, on the other hand, are flying on all cylinders: The green-and-white Wolves, not content with their 6-0 win over Freiburg, continue to score goals in buckets: On Wednesday it was Hertha Berlin’s turn, overwhelmed 5-0. It promises to be another resounding success against Werder Bremen, a team that is not very solid defensively. Vincenzo Grifo’s Freiburg finished sixth in the standings after a crushing defeat to Wolfsburg and a 1-1 draw with Eintracht, with Augsburg coming to Europa-Park, where they are less fearsome away from home and score in spades away from Bavaria.
Bundesliga: possible winners
- Mainz or draw (in Mainz-Bochum)
- Union Berlin (in Hertha Berlin-Union Berlin)
- Freiburg (in Freiburg-Augsburg)
- Wolfsburg (in Werder Bremen-Wolfsburg)
The matches with at least one goal per team
- Hertha Berlin-Union Berlin
- Werder Bremen-Wolfsburg
Bundesliga: matches with a total of at least three goals
- Hoffenheim-Borussia Monchengladbach
- Hertha Berlin-Union Berlin
