Bundesliga Match Day 12: Preview and Forecast
Is this the week that Bayern Munich finally starts to right itself? Given that Die Roten is facing off against the likes of lowly (and nearly last place) Fortuna Düsseldorf, it should be a good week for Bayern to gain a little confidence.
Given that the Bavarians are coming off of a heartbreaking collapse against Borussia Dortmund, it should be a great opportunity to get moving in the right direction. With serious injuries to Corentin Tolisso (done for the season), Thiago Alcantara, James Rodriguez, and Kinglsey Coman, Bayern's roster is a bit thin. Less serious ailments to Robert Lewandowski (knee) and Arjen Robben (knee) could also be a factor in how effective Niko Kovac's lineup will be.
The Polish Hitman is expected to play for Bayern, while Robben's status remains questionable. Regardless of who suits up for Bayern, however, this is a MUST WIN game for Die Roten. A loss or even a draw here would not only be a bit embarrassing, but also create substantially more drama around a team that is looking to pull away from off-the-field issues and get back to chasing the top spot in the table.
Prediction: Bayern Munch 4, Fortuna Düsseldorf 0
Bayer Leverkusen 3, VfB Stuttgart 1: Leverkusen's maddeningly inconsistent first half needs to settle at some point. The squad has too much talent to keep scuffling along. With Kai Havertz on the verge of being one of the league's breakout stars, the glow from Julian Brandt and Leon Bailey has dimmed a bit, but there is still plenty of time for one of the league's top trios to start pushing the pace at the rest of the league. With only one win in its last five league games, this fixture against a seemingly hapless VfB Stuttgart side should be a welcome sight for Die Werkself.
Eintracht Frankfurt 3, FC Augsburg 2: This match has a great potential to be a lot of fun. With two ultra-aggressive offenses at play, it really comes down to a matter of whether or not the trio of Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller, and Ante Rebic can outpace the likes the of Alfred Finnbogason, Philipp Max, and Michael Gregoritsch. If Finnbogason's groin injury is not healed in time for the game, Die Adler could have a bit of an easier time in holding off Die Fuggerstädter.
Augsburg has just one one win in its last five games, while Eintracht Frankfurt is undefeated in its last nine games across all competitions. Still, this is a very dangerous spot for Die Adler.
Hoffenheim 2, Hertha Berlin 1: Julian Nagelsmann has Hoffenheim rolling with four straight wins, while Die Alte Dame has come back down to Earth after a terrific start to the season. Hertha Berlin has not been consistent of late and has not won in five consecutive league matches. That trend will likely keep heading downward as Reiss Nelson and Andrej Kramaric will look to provide the offensive spark for Hoffenheim.
Borussia Dortmund 4, Mainz 1: The biggest question these days around BVB is how Lucien Favre will align his troops. Expect Dortmund to keep smashing its way through its Bundesliga competition. In addition, Paco Alcacer has made his transfer permanent and will be with Dortmund through 2023.
RB Leipzig 3, Wolfsburg 1: Another team who is peaking at the right time in the league is Die Roten Bullen. With Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen each having six league goals, Leipzig is getting the proper output from its scorers, while playing better-than-expected defense. Werner is one of the great stories of resurgence in the league this season. After a subpar (for his standards) 2017/2018, which included some uneven international performances, Werner looks dangerous and confident again. When on top of his game, he is an enigma that is hard to control. Unbeaten in its last five games, Leipzig should keep rolling.
Wolfsburg, meanwhile, has lost a bit of its bite as it has only won one game in its last five fixtures.
Schalke 2, FC Nürnberg 0: Schalke is still not playing at its best and there is a great cause for concern there. This match against Der Club, however, should be a nice way to build some confidence within the squad.
Werder Bremen 2, SC Freiburg 1: These have been two teams that have been fascinating to watch. Neither squad was expected to show as much fight as it has, particularly Werder Bremen which has had a tremendous start to its season despite some recent hiccups. Bremen has lost three in a row and been reeling a bit, while Breisgau-Brasilianer has only lost once (three draws) in its last five games. This should be a game where Werder Bremen can get back on the winning track, even on the road in a tough environment.
Borussia Monchengladbach 3, Hannover 96 1: In another game that could be fun, Die Fohlen will be looking to keep its impressive run going, while Hannover is desperate to get out of the dangerous throws of the bottom three spots in the table. M'Gladbach has been hot with four wins in its last five games and has been receiving terrific play from Thorgan Hazard and Alassane Plea, which will likely continue against the ever-scrappy Hannover side.
Last week's record: 2-7
Season record: 42-57
Note: Predicted ties count as a win if correct and as a loss if there is a winner; conversely if a game is predicted to have a winner but ends in a tie, it will count as a loss.
