It’s time to make some money-winning analysis of the German Bundesliga Round 28 that’s on schedule this weekend. Teams are ready to make their cases in order to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves and we are getting ready to exploit this period enriched in matchups. This weekend of the German Bundesliga Round 28 is featuring some very interesting games. Our focus will be on the RB Leipzig FC who will host the Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburger SV who will square off with the surging Hoffenheim at Volksparkstadion. The final game of our Three Match Preview is the clash between the FC Schalke 04 and the VfL Wolfsburg at the Veltins Arena.
RB LEIPZIG vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN
3-Way: 1: RB Leipzig +106; X: +277 Draw; 2: Bayer Leverkusen +309
Spread -0.5: Leipzig +104; Leverkusen -105
Total -2.5: Over -123; Under +119
FC RED BULL LEIPZIG
The Red Bull Leipzig FC continued with great performance in the last round when they managed to defeat FSV Mainz 05 on the road, 2:3. They rank second in the league table currently with 55 points in 27 games, 10 points behind the leader, Bayern Munich. They will have a chance to further improve their stat when they host Bayer Leverkuse in the German Bundesliga Round 28 this Saturday.
They have four points advantage over the third placed Hoffenheim and five point advantage over the fourth ranked Borussia Dortmund. These three teams will battle for two remaining places that lead to Champions League next year. Leipzig is 4-1-3 in the last eight games and 2-0-2 in the last four home games.
They are 10-1-2 at home this season with 26-11 goal difference (50-30 overall) and they rank fourth in the home league table with 31 of 39 possible points earned. 69% of RB Leipzig’s home games are over 2.5 goals and 31% of their home matches are over 3.5 goals in total.
Most common results at home are 3:1 and 2:1 wins (both occurred three times). Timo Werner leads the team in scoring this season with 15 goals while Emil Forsberg and Naby Keita have eight and seven in their accounts. Forsber tops the Bundesliga and the team in assists so far with 14 while Keita has seven.
Marius Muller (Elbow injury) has unspecified date of return while Lukas Klostermann (Cruciate ligament injury) is day to day and both are unavailable for the German Bundesliga Round 28.
FC BAYER LEVERKUSEN 04
The Bayer Leverkusen FC is constantly mediocre this year and that is enough only for the middle of the league table, position that many Leverkusen fans consider as an underachievement given the fact that the team had much success in Bundesliga and in European Competitions in recent years.
Currently they rank 10th in the league with 35 points in 27 matches. They’re coming off from a road win over the worst team in the league, Darmstadt, 0:2 and they are 3-2-3 in the last eight games including 2-0-2 record in the last four away games.
Leverkusen is 5-1-7 on the road this season with 18-21 goal difference (42-43 overall) and they rank 5th in the away league table with 16 of 39 possible points earned. 62% of Leverkusen’s road matches are over 2.5 goals but only 23% of their away games are over 3.5 goals in total. Most common result on the road is a 2:1 loss (occurred four times).
Chicharito Hernandez leads the team in scoring this season with 10 goals while Hakan Calhanoglu and Kevin Volland have six and five in their accounts. Julian Brandt tops the team in assists with six while Calhanoglu and Karim Bellarabi have five each.
Hakan Calhanoglu (Suspended for 7 matches) is out for this game while Lars Bender (Ankle injury) is out for the season. Leon Bailey (Cold) and Jonathan Tah (Thigh injury) are bot doubtful while Chicharito Hernandez (Thigh injury) is day to day.
One of the derbies of the German Bundesliga Round 28. My safe bet here would be over 2.5 goals as 67% of RB Leipzig’s matches had over 2.5 goals scored in total and Leverkusen have scored in 85% of their away matches so far.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-123)
HAMBURGER SV vs. TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM
3-Way: 1: Hamburger SV +266; X: +262 Draw; 2: TSV 1899 Hoffenheim +129
Spread +0.5: Hamburger SV -122; Hoffenheim +120
Total -2.5: Over -111; Under +108
HAMBURGER SV
The Hamburger SV started this season very poorly with the first win coming in Round 13 after eight defeats, four draws and three months of play. This was the worst start of the season for the team in the last couple of decades.
It was clear from the beginning that Hamburger SV will fight for the survival in the Bundesliga this season and that assumption proved to be correct as they currently rank 14th in the league table with 30 points in 27 games. They have only one point advantage over the FC Augsburg that ranks above the relegation line and every game will be very important until the end of the season, especially in front of their home crowd.
HSV is 4-2-2 in the last eight games and they are 3-1-0 in the last four home games. They are 6-3-4 at home this season with 16-21 goal difference (26-50 overall) and they rank 11th in the home league table with 21 of 39 possible points earned. 62% of HSV’s home games are over 2.5 goals and 31% of their home matches are over 3.5 goals in total.
Most common results at home are 2:1 and 1:0 wins (Both occurred three times). Nicolai Muller and Bobby Wood top the team in scoring this season with five goals each while Michael Gregoritsch has four goals in his account. Muller leads the team in assists with six while Lewis Holtby collected four assists so far.
The Bayer Leverkusen is dealing with the injury bug going into the German Bundesliga Round 28. Rene Adler (Chest injury) is set to be back in mid April while Nicolai Muller (Knee injury) and Albin Ekdal (Thigh injury) are both expected to be available in mid May. Mats Kohlert (Muscle injury) should be back in couple of days as he is expected to be ready in early April. Johan Djorou (Muscle injury), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Thigh injury), Gideon Jung (Thigh injury), Bakery Jatta (Illness) and Andreas Hirzel (Shoulder injury, Muscle injury) all have minor injuries with unspecified dates of return. Nabil Bahoui (Shoulder injury) is back in training.
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM
The TSG 1899 Hoffenheim took scalp of the defending champion and current leader of the German Bundesliga Bayern Munich on Wednesday with a 1:0 win and they continue to grind everything that comes in their way lately.
We covered this game and were on point with our prediction, picking the Under and stating that Hoffenheim could be the only team to slow down the Bayern Munich. They are undefeated in their last seven games and they’ve scored in each of their last 13 matches. Currently, they rank third in the league table with 51 points in 27 games, one more point than Borussia Dortmund.
They are 5-2-1 in the last eight games and they are 1-2-1 in the last four away games. Hoffenheim is 4-7-2 on the road with 21-15 goal difference (50-26 overall) and they rank third in the road league table with 19 of 39 possible points earned. They have scored in 92% of their away games and they’ve also scored in each of their last six road games.
54% of their away matches are under 2.5 goals and 85% of their road games are under 3.5 goals in total. Most common result on the road is a 1:1 draw (occurred five times). Andrej Kramaric and Sandro Wagner top the team in scoring this season with 11 goals each while Mark Uth has six in his account. Kramaric and Kerem Demirbay are the team’s leaders in assists with seven each.
Fabian Schar (Suspension) will not be available for Saturdays German Bundesliga Round 28 matchup.
Hoffenheim is currently in a much better form. All three points for the guests from Sinsheim is my bet, considering that they have not lost a game in Hamburg since 2012. A possibility of an Under is also something to consider.
MY PICK: TSV 1899 Hoffenheim (+129)
Additional Pick: Under 2.5 goals (+108)
FC SCHALKE 04 vs. VfL WOLFSBURG
3-Way: 1: Schalke +110; X: +264 Draw; 2: Wolfsburg +300
Spread -0.5: Schalke +110; Wolfsburg -112
Total +2.5: Over -109; Under +110
FC SCHALKE 04
The battle and the excitement for the Bundesliga status will continue over the weekend when the FC Schalke 04 hosts the VfL Wolfsburg at the Veltins Arena on Saturday in the German Bundesliga Round 28. The Royal Blues are currently ranked at the 12th spot on the table with a total of 34 points won in 27 matches.
It comes a little bit as a surprise to see Schalke 04 ranked so low considering their potential and their results from the previous season, but it also shows that the Bundesliga is getting stronger and that the other teams are playing much better. Most recently, the Royal Blues have recorded 2 wins and a draw prior to their last rounds 0:3 loss against the SV Werder Bremen away.
The Schalke 04 manager Markus Weinzierl decided to use a different lineup in that match leaving Huntelaar, Di Santo and Konoplyanka at the bench, but was forced to send them on the pitch after it was noticeable that the starting unit was unable to score. However, despite making the substitutions, the home team scored two more goals for the final 3:0 score. With the loss the Royal Blues chances of reaching the Europa League next season are fading away.
However, they could still be in the European competition if they manage to win the Europa league this season, which could be one of the reason coach Weinzierl is resting some of his best players recently, considering that his team is playing the first leg of the quarter-finals against Ajax next week.
At home the Schalke 04 has been playing decently, recording 7 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, going undefeated over the last four games (2 W, 2D). At home they have scored a total of 23 goals and conceded only 12 goals. Overall, the Schalke 04 has not been too efficient upfront scoring only 33 goals while allowing 31 goals. None of the Schalke players has scored more than 5 goals.
Baba, Naldo, Uchida, Aogo and Embolo will most likely all miss the German Bundesliga Round 28 matchup against the Wolfsburg as they are still dealing with different injuries.
VfL WOLFSBURG
Similar to the FC Schalke 04 is the form of the Vfl Wolfsburg, who are currently sitting one spot below their next opponent, having won “only” 30 points in total and only 1 point clear of the danger zone. The Wolves are also coming into this game after unexpectedly suffering a 0:1 loss to SC Freiburg at home.
The loss in the Round 27 ended the Wolves 4 game undefeated streak in the Bundesliga (2W, 2D) and it was also the first game over the stretch that the Wolves failed to score a goal. However, the Wolves are optimistic as their road play has been decent most recently having recorded 1 win and 2 draws. Overall, on the road, the Wolves hold a 4W, 4D and 5L in their 13 away games, during which they have scored 15 goals and conceded 20 goals.
Mario Gomez who shined over the past several rounds, and who is the Wolves scoring leader with 12 goals, has never scored against Schalke, even when he was playing for Bayern Munich and Stuttgart. It will be interesting to see how the Wolves come into this game especially knowing that they suffered a loss to the Royal Blues in their last two meetings. In the first matchup of the season, Schalke celebrated a 1:0 win at the Volkswagen Arena.
The Wolves are dealing with injuries as well with Ntep, Bruma, R. Rodriguez, Azzaoui, Dejagah and Osimhen all expected to miss the German Bundesliga Round 28.
Both teams need points in order to stay out of the relegation zone. The home team is in a somewhat better position and could afford a slip here, but considering that their focus is most likely turned to the Europa League next week, I expect a tough defensive formation of the Royal Blues. The Wolves will be cautious as well, which is why I don’t expect them to open up too much as they cannot afford to give away more points. The most likely outcome is a draw, but I am tipping more on the Under 2.5 goals!
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (+110)
Additional Pick: Draw (+264)
