Bundesliga: Are Stuttgart on the Slide?

VfB Stuttgart vs RB Leipzig

Third plays fourth in the match of the weekend in Germany as Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart vs Red Bull Leipzig is the entertainment on offer at the AHP Arena on Saturday.

Stuttgart were the surprise package in the first half of the campaign and they sit in the Champions League places, sandwiched between the four giants, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich above, with Red Bull and Borussia Dortmund below. 

But recent results mean Stuttgart are looking over their shoulders. The hosts come into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss away to Bochum while Red Bull were beaten 3-2 at home by league leaders Leverkusen. BVB are closing in on the top four after a thumping 4-0 win over Koln last week and they are strongly fancied to finish in a Champions League place.

Which all means one of Stuttgart and Leipzig is likely to slip out.   

The latest VfB Stuttgart vs Red Bull Leipzig betting odds say this huge game is wide open; so let’s take a look at how the two teams are shaping up.

Talking Points

Can VfB cut it without Guirassy?

Stuttgart head coach Sebastien Hoeness has done a superb job to mould a team which has successfully gate-crashed the top table in the German league. This is by no means a one man team but the big VfB Stuttgart vs Red Bull Leipzig news concerns a key absentee which is giving the manager a serious headache.

Top scorer Serhou Guirassy is away at the African Cup of Nations with Guinea and, with 17 goals for the season, he has been one of the main reasons Stuttgart are doing so well. Guirassy’s strong running, clinical finishing and brilliant link-up play has been impressive week on week, and now his team-mates face a month without him. Last week they drew a blank against 14^th placed Bochum who registered only their fourth win of the season, and that can’t be a good sign.      

Hoeness has some fine players in creative roles including winger Chris Fuhrich who has scored five goals and made five assists, and Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Denis Undav, who has scored nine goals and is in the form of his life. They will stretch the Red Bull rearguard, but VfB’s own defence is sure to have a busy day. Stuttgart have just extended the contract of defender Pascal Stenzel until 2026, after he impressed in the three seasons since his transfer from SC Freiburg in 2020. He’s a technically excellent player and one of the club’s leaders on the pitch, and Hoeness may well line Stenzel up at the heart of defence alongside either Dan-Axel Zagadou or Josha Vagnoman.

This is a pivotal time in Stuttgart’s campaign. They finished 16^th last season and are already sure to do much better this time around; but if they slip out of the European places that would be a serious disappointment. 

Xavi and Openda have wings  

RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda celebrates scoring their second goal with Xavi Simons

While Stuttgart have a striking problem, Marco Rose’s front line are in good shape and have scored 40 goals so far this season, with only the top two clubs scoring more. The visit of leaders Leverkusen tested Die Roten Bullen to the full and they were unlucky to finish the game empty handed. Midfielder Xavi Simons showed off his quick footwork to score the opener, his fifth goal of the campaign to add to his seven assists. And after former Burnley striker Nathan Tella netted for Bayer, striker Lois Openda scored his 11^th of the campaign when he finished off a lighting counter attack. Jonathan Tah levelled again for Leverkusen and then the league leaders snatched an injury time winner through Piero Hincapie.  

As well as Openda and Xavi, Rose can call on 20-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko who has scored seven goals in his first season following his switch from Red Bull Salzburg. At 6ft 4in Sesko is an imposing presence in the air and skilful on the ground and he’s attracted attention from clubs around Europe, notably Premier League side Newcastle United.        

History

Stuttgart are yet to beat Red Bull in 11 meetings, losing nine and drawing just two and they took a serious slapping when the two teams met in August, losing 5-1 as Leipizig scored five goals in 25 minutes with both Openda and Xavi on target.  

Leipzig come into the game with three wins, one draw and two defeats from the last six games while VfB have won two, drawn one and lost three. But Stuttgart have been very strong at home this season, winning seven, drawing one and losing one.       

Betting Tip

VfB Stuttgart VS RB Leipzig

January 27, 22:30 (GMT+8)

1X2 RB Leipzig @ 2.37

VfB are at SBOTOP odds of 2.69 to win and the draw is at 3.34, but I have a feeling the hosts are about to lose their second home league game this season. They are missing Guirassy and Red Bull are in good nick and, for a correct score-line I don’t think 2-1 to Leipzig, at odds of 8.87, will be wide of the mark.

This message was edited by SBOTOP on 26-Jan-2024 at 1:21 PM

Bundesliga: Leverkusen Can’t Rest on Their Laurels Against Gladbach

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Monchengladbach

Bayer Leverkusen are still at the top of the Bundesliga table halfway through the 2023-24 season. But the job is far from over, so it’s imperative that they’ll be able to accumulate more positive Bundesliga 2024 results in the next few weeks.

After a five-goal thriller against RB Leipzig last Sunday, Borussia Monchengladbach are next up for Bayer Leverkusen, who just came off a loss against Augsburg on Monday.

Borussia Monchengladbach are currently 12^th in the German top-flight standings. However, a win here against the table leaders would instantly put them back inside the Top 10.

And another backdrop of this match is Gerardo Seoane’s return to BayArena, where he got his first big coaching break, although his sacking a few years ago still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

Talking Points

Injuries piling up for Bayer Leverkusen

Since the turn of the year, Bayer Leverkusen have had its share of absentees, which presents them with a huge challenge to their title hopes. If they’re able to weather the storm, there’s no doubt that they’ll deserve to be called champions, losing the “Neverkusen” tag in the process.

Top scorer Victor Boniface is already out until April due to a groin injury, and adding to their woes is their influential midfielder, Exequiel Palacios, who limped off against RB Leipzig and is listed day-to-day.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios in action during their Bundesliga match against Augsburg

Meanwhile, centre-back Jonathan Tah will be suspended for this weekend after getting another yellow card against the Red Bulls. Palacios and Tah’s absence means that Robert Andrich will likely take his place in centre-half, while Gustavo Puerta might get his chance to start in the middle.

It’s not all bad for Die Werkself, though, as Jeremie Frimpong has been back in training this week after he sustained a knock last time out. The Dutch wing-back is one of their most important players, having recorded six goals and six assists this season.

Pefok finding form at Borussia Monchengladbach

With Tomas Cvancara sidelined for a few weeks due to an ankle injury, Jordan Pefok has been given the chance to prove his worth since joining the Foals from Union Berlin via loan last summer.

And in his last two appearances (one off the bench and one as a starter), the American international has found the back of the net twice to take his season haul to four goals, which is already equal to his tally at Union Berlin last year.

Pefok should join Alassane Plea up front, and the latter currently leads the team in scoring with seven goals this season.

In other news, Julian Weigl is set to make his return in midfield after serving his suspension, replacing Rocco Reitz, while Maximilian Wober is fighting against time to be fully fit because he is dealing with an illness.

Should the Leeds United loanee make it, Marvin Friedrich might return to the bench as the backup centre-back.

History

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach have already met during the second matchday of the 2023-24 season. Die Werkself came away 3-0 winners in the said contest, as Victor Boniface (brace) and Jonathan Tah found the back of the net.

Die Werkself have won seven of their last eight Bundesliga matches against the Foals (D1), although their last encounter at the BayArena in May 2023 ended in a 2-2 draw.

Xabi Alonso’s men are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues that has yet to lose a single match in all competitions so far this term (W24, D3), already matching Werder Bremen’s record during the 2003-04 season. They only need five more to match Bayern Munich’s run of 32 straight games from December 2019 to September 2020.

Borussia Monchengladbach have won just one of their last 16 Bundesliga away matches, including a five-game winless run today (D1, L4).

Betting Tip

Leverkusen VS Mönchengladbach

January 28, 01:30 (GMT+8)

Leverkusen Asian Handicap -2.00 @2.21

The Bundesliga 2024 odds are lopsided towards Bayer Leverkusen, as the table leaders are priced at 1.26 to win, whereas Borussia Monchengladbach are 7.60 underdogs, and a draw is at 5.50 odds in the 1X2 market.

Other than going for another victory for Die Werkself, SBOTOP football fans can also expect another high-scoring performance from the second-best offence in the league, making bets such as Over 3.75 at 2.29 and Total Goal 4-6 at 2.27 viable alternatives.

Furthermore, a Correct Score of 3-0 in favour of Bayer Leverkusen – the result of their reverse fixture earlier this season – is being offered at 8.80. But if you fancy a smash-and-grab win for Borussia Monchengladbach, then take a look at Correct Score 1-0, which has a whopping price of 32.00.

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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 26-Jan-2024 at 1:37 PM

Bundesliga: Bayern to Keep Pace with a Win Against Augsburg

Augsburg vs Bayern Munich

The mighty Bavarians are persistent but can’t seem to catch up with Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, who have a great opportunity to lift their ‘Neverkusen’ curse after the Bundesliga season’s all said and done.

Bayern’s loss to Werder was an opportunity wasted for Thomas Tuchel and his outfit to narrow down Leverkusen’s lead. With a game in hand, Bayern already bagged three of the possible six points they can garner this week after beating Union Berlin 1-0.

To garner all six points, they would need to claim a win against a striving Augsburg, and If Bayern can collect all six eggs in their basket after Matchday 18, it’s possible that they would be trailing Leverkusen by just one point coming into Matchday 19.

Meanwhile, Augsburg finally got out of football purgatory by ending their winless streak after defeating Gladbach last week. That win came just in the nick of time, as they were slowly dipping down in the league table. But they have a tall order to keep the ball rolling as they face the defending Bundesliga champions in their next top-flight match.

Talking Points

Bayern aim for six points this week

Bayern’s recent upset against Werder really hurt their momentum in chasing down Leverkusen at the summit of the league table. After 18 matches, Bayern are second in the title race, trailing Xabi Alonso’s outfit by four points.

At this point of the season, it’s looking like the campaign will boil down to a two-horse race between Leverkusen and Bayern, who currently have double-digit leads over third-placed Stuttgart.

Bayern leaned on their resiliency and championship pedigree to pass their first hurdle this week, converting their game in hand to three points when they beat Union Berlin 1-0.

Now, they have a chance to cut Leverkusen’s lead to just one when they visit a sturdy Augsburg outfit at WWK Arena.

Losing pinnacle defender Kim Min-jae due to international duties evidently left a hole in their defence, but a collective effort from their back line has managed to keep Bayern’s defence intact, conceding just one goal since the absence of Kim thus far.

So it’ll be interesting to see if Augsburg’s ace, Ermedin Demirović, can penetrate the Bavarian’s intimidating defence.

Augsburg finally got one

Augsburg Ermedin Demirović reacts during their Bundesliga match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on January 13, 2024

After a forgettable stretch of football, Jess Thorup and his men finally managed to tally a win. Prior to Matchday 18, Augsburg’s last win was against Frankfurt back in December 4, where they defeated the Eagles with a 2-1 score line.

That was the last three points they’ve garnered for over a month of football, but with their backs against the wall, Thorup and his troupe tallied a win against Die Fohlen, thanks to rapid-fire goals from Philip Tietz and Arne Engels.

Better late than never, as they say. Their win against Gladbach possibly saved their season altogether, as they were slowly becoming a sinking ship coming into Matchday 18, slipping all the way down to the 12th spot in the league table.

It’s definitely a breath of fresh air for Augsburg, but they can’t afford to get stuck on cloud 9, as they’ll need to face the defending league champions in their next bout. Chances are thin, but not impossible.

Werder proved that Bayern can bleed, and Augsburg’s win against Die Fohlen could jumpstart an inspiring run for brighter Bundesliga 2024 results in the second half of the season.

History

Both Augsburg and Bayern Munich have been staples in the top flight since time immemorial, which is why they’ve tallied a total of 31 games since 2008. It’s safe to say that the Bavarians have Augsburg’s number, given that they’ve won 24 matches in their last 31 against Augsburg.

Meanwhile, Fuggerstädter have had a couple of fond memories when facing Bayern, winning five times and tallying two draws since 2008.

In their most recent head-to-head, Bayern cruised past Augsburg thanks to a Harry Kane brace and a first-half goal from Uduokhai. Augsburg didn’t go down without a fight, though, as they were able to get one goal back in the last few minutes of the match, courtesy of Dion Drena Beljo.

Betting Tip

FC Augsburg VS Bayern Munich

January 27, 22:30 (GMT+8)

Under 3.50 @ 1.90

Despite boasting the most potent offence in the German top flight, Bayern’s goal-getting abilities have been rather tepid for the past Bundesliga matchdays. Bayern were only able to score just one goal in their last two top-flight bouts.

Also, the last match where the Bavarians and their opponents totaled more than three goals was way back in their December 9 clash with Frankfurt, where the Eagles thrashed the reigning champions with a score line of 5-1.

With that, my betting tip is total goals under 3.5 at 1.90. Bayern’s tepid goal-scoring stretch, coupled with Augsburg’s struggles in the scoring department this season, makes the price of 1.90 for goals under 3.5 a glaring value for punters to definitely consider.

Their 1X2 lines rightfully have Bayern as the heavy favourites to win at 1.26, which doesn’t hold enough excitement given the disparity of the contestants’ form this season.

If you’re hoping for an unlikely upset, the Bundesliga 2024 odds have Augsburg at 7.60 with a 5.60 price to draw, and after Bayern’s fumble against Weder a few weeks back, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there are punters who would consider these offers.

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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 26-Jan-2024 at 2:05 PM

Bundesliga: Now Can the Foals do Leverkusen a Favour?

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Monchengladbach

FC Bayern aim to keep their Bundesliga title charge on track on Saturday when Borussia Monchengladbach are the visitors to the Munich Allianz Arena.

This is a second versus 12^th clash and the SBOTOP odds point to a comfortable home win for Thomas Tuchel’s team, but Gerardo Seoane’s Foals held leaders Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw last weekend and now Die Werkeslf will be hoping for the favour to be returned. 

Bayern come into the game on the back of two league wins, after they handed the initiative to Leverkusen when they lost to Werder Bremen recently, and now they sit two points behind Xabi Alonso’s leaders. Leverkusen are away to bottom club SV Darmstadt on Saturday so a slip up from Bayern will very likely see the gap grow.        

Talking Points

Tuchel’s injury worries are piling up

Harry Kane in action during Bayern Munich’s match against Augsburg

The FC Bayern treatment room has been the busiest place at the Allianz Arena recently and head coach Tuchel was already short of some key players when he took his team to meet Augsburg. The injury hit side fought hard for a 3-2 win as 19 year old Aleksandar Palovic, Alphonso Davies and Harry Kane all hit the target. But the win came at a cost as striker Kingsley Coman picked up an injury to join fellow striker Serge Gnabry among the walking wounded. The injury to Koman has left Bayern short in attack and they were already stretched at the back following a sequence of injuries the week before.

In a 1-0 win over Union Berlin, the Bavarians lost centre back Dayot Upamecano, full back Konrad Laimer and midfield ace Joshua Kimmich. Upamecano’s thigh injury looked serious enough but the loss of Kimmich is arguably more costly to Die Bayern. He fell awkwardly on his shoulder and missed the Augsburg game and the German star is unlikely to appear this weekend.

Kimmich has been such a key player for Bayern and rarely of form or injured. The latest Bundesliga 2024 betting odds rate Tuchel’s team as favourites for the title and with Kane and Leroy Sane in such good form they are still the team to beat…but they could do with a few players back before long…particularly Kimmich.

Monchengladbach can play without fear

After a mixed set of Bundesliga 2024 results, Die Fohlen are on 21 points, ten points adrift of the European places and ten above the automatic relegation places. So they are in a comfortable position, but one without much hope of a big finish to the campaign.

They do have a chance of silverware though, in the quarter finals of the DFB Pokal Cup and with a great draw against giant-killers Saarbrucken, while Bayern Munich are one of the big guns who have fallen by the wayside.

And Monchengladbach have shown in recent weeks that they can stand up against the best. As well as holding the league leaders to a draw, the Foals beat high flying VfB Stuttgart 3-1 just two weeks ago as attacking midfielder Robin Hack scored a brace. They are happy to sit deep and concede possession, with less than 30 per cent possession against Stuttgart but four shots to two on target. Against Leverkusen Borussia withstood an avalanche of attacks and they will be hard to break down again with the confidence of a clean sheet for their defence.

The visitors will be up against it again on Saturday and they will play on the break; and top scorer Allasane Plea, with seven goals and four assists, will be the main threat while his French compatriot Franck Honorat is a man to watch; he has made six assists and can find the killer ball to open up a defence.    

History

With 29 wins to 19 the Bavarians have had the better of the head to heads against Monchengladbach and they won an early season clash 2-1 as Mathys Tel completed a comeback after the Foals had taken an early lead.

And with four wins, one draw and one defeat Bayern are in better form than their visitors who have won two, drawn two and lost two.

Betting Tip

Bayern Munich VS Borussia Mönchengladbach

February 3, 22:30 (GMT+8)

Under 3.50 @2.29

At 1.12 to win this game Bayern are hot favourites, with Monchengladbach at 11.08 and the draw is at 7.34. Tuchel’s team should pass this test and keep the pressure up on Leverkusen; but the Foals have picked up two impressive results recently and can play without the pressure of a relegation battle or a rush for the top six.

For an alternative bet Borussia +2.50 will pay a price of 1.86 but I think the better value is in a game with three goals or fewer.

This message was edited by SBOTOP on 01-Feb-2024 at 1:49 PM

Bundesliga: RB Leipzig Must End Their Skid Against Union Berlin

RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin

RB Leipzig are off to a horrific start this 2024, as they have lost three in a row here in the Bundesliga. As a result, the Red Bulls have fallen out of the top four, sitting in fifth place with 33 points.

Needless to say, they must get back on track as soon as possible, and their upcoming game against Union Berlin presents their best chance of doing so, especially with the match happening at Red Bull Arena.

Union Berlin are currently 15^th in the German top-flight table, but they have one foot in the relegation zone, which is a huge downgrade from their fourth place finish last term.

But unlike RB Leipzig, Die Eisernen are not on a three-game losing streak and are fresh from a 1-0 victory against Darmstadt.

Talking Points

Rose makes key goalkeeper decision for RB Leipzig

In their ongoing three-game skid, RB Leipzig have conceded an alarming total of nine goals against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, and VfB Stuttgart, which is why head coach Marco Rose decided to make one key change in his starting XI.

During their pre-match press conference on Friday, the 47-year-old manager revealed that Peter Gulacsi will replace Janis Blaswich in goal in an attempt to mix things up at the back.

RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is pictured prior to the Champions League against the Young Boys in Leipzig

Gulacsi has been RB Leipzig’s main man between the sticks in the last few years but was displaced by Blaswich this season. Gulacsi last started in goal for the Red Bulls during their 2-1 win over Young Boys in their Champions League group stage match in December.

Prior to their slump, Janis Blaswich had been in fine form, as he even earned a call-up from the Germany national team during their November exhibition matches.

In other team news, Xavi Simons is going to make his comeback after he served his mandatory one-game ban against VfB Stuttgart. The PSG loanee is the team’s best playmaker this season with nine assists, and he also has seven goals under his belt.

Union Berlin introduce their new hit man

It’s no secret that Union Berlin are in dire need of a spark, and they’re hoping to get that from their latest acquisition, Chris Bedia.

With Sheraldo Becker and David Datro Fofana joining Real Sociedad and Burnley, respectively, during the winter transfer window, the addition of Chris Bedia could surely make up for Die Eisernen’s losses.

Bedia joins Union Berlin in red-hot form because he was the Swiss Super League Golden Boot frontrunner at the midway point of the season.

In his 17 league appearances for Servette, the Ivorian striker registered 10 goals, and he even managed to score against Sheriff Tiraspol and AS Roma in the Europa League.

Head coach Danijel Jumic likes to play a 3-5-2 formation, so Chris Bedia will likely join Kevin Volland, who has recovered from a concussion, up front on his Bundesliga debut.

History

Union Berlin were off to a flying start this 2023-24 campaign when they demolished Mainz and Darmstadt with back-to-back 4-1 results.

However, things started to go downhill from there, starting with their 3-0 loss against RB Leipzig at home in September, as they’ve never won a single game up until their 3-1 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in December.

In their reverse fixture, Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko (brace) found the back of the net for RB Leipzig, while Union Berlin were reduced to 10 men when Kevin Volland was sent off in the second half.

Before Sunday, the Red Bulls had lost five of their last six Bundesliga matches against Die Eisernen (W1), and they are the only Bundesliga club that has yet to claim a point this calendar year, given their lacklustre run of Bundesliga 2024 results.

RB Leipzig have never lost four consecutive Bundesliga matches.

Betting Tip

RB Leipzig VS Union Berlin

February 5, 00:30 (GMT+8)

RB Leipzig Asian Handicap -1.50 @2.08

The SBOTOP Bundesliga 2024 odds like RB Leipzig’s chances to end their skid, as they are installed as 1.34 favourites, whereas Union Berlin are 7.20 underdogs, and a draw is at 4.62 in the 1X2 market.

And RB Leipzig are going to win by scoring a bunch of goals, hence our recommended bet. However, don’t expect them to come away with a clean sheet on this one.

For alternatives, Total Goal 2-3 at 2.02 sounds viable, while Total Goal 4-6 at 2.71 is another bet to consider.

If you’re looking for another blowout victory for the hosts, then check out Correct Score 3-0 in favour of RB Leipzig, the same exact result in their reverse fixture, because it is on offer at 9.20.

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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 03-Feb-2024 at 8:53 PM

Bundesliga: Dortmund Heating Up in the Right Time

Borussia Dortmund vs SC Freiburg

The resuscitated Dortmund will play host to a determined Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park for a pivotal Bundesliga bout.

Dortmund are without their recently acquired loanee, Jadon Sancho, who is out indefinitely due to an adductor injury. But the resurgence of Niclas Füllkrug could be more than enough to fill the void that Sancho left.

Füllkrug has emerged as one of the hottest commodities in the German top flight in recent weeks, and he will have an opportunity to pounce on his recent success against a head-scratching Freiburg outfit.

Christian Streich, on the other hand, is keen on keeping their European qualifications alive. His side had multiple opportunities to join the upper echelon of the Bundesliga table but have fallen short each time. They hope to turn things around against Dortmund.

Talking Points

Niclas Füllkrug spearheads the charge

BVB have been able to fend off a convincing charge by Leipzig and keep their Champions League dreams for next year alive by staying unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga matches.

Also, a win in their upcoming bout against Freiburg could tie them with Stuttgart in third place in the standings with 40 points.

The main catalyst for Dortmund’s resurgence is the potent goal-scoring abilities of their forward, Germany’s No. 9, Niclas Füllkrug.

After a tepid start to the season, Füllkrug recently started ramping it up and blasted his way up the leaderboards with strong Bundesliga 2024 results.

The 30-year-old came up big for Dortmund during their clash with Bochum two weeks ago, where he single handedly carried his side to a 3-1 victory by scoring his first Black and Yellow hat-trick.

Füllkrug’s hot streak didn’t start there, though, as he netted a penalty against their 4-0 thrashing of Köln. His grace under pressure when delivering his spot-kicks is simply world-class. The German striker is nearly perfect with his penalty attempts in the German top flight, successfully converting 14 out of 15 penalties in the Bundesliga.

In just two matches, Füllkrug skyrocketed in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race, almost doubling his production for the whole season. He is now tied with Jonas Wind and Marvin Ducksch with nine goals this season, who are all just one goal away from overtaking Leverkusen’s Boniface in the sixth spot.

Füllkrug’s resurgence came at the most opportune time for Dortmund, as they’ll have to brave time without their prodigal son, Jadon Sancho, after he suffered a problem with his adductor muscle.

Can SC Freiburg clinch European competition?

SC Freiburg’s Lucas Hoeler celebrates during their Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim

Freiburg had two opportunities to reach European football qualifications, and two times they failed. Sitting just three points outside of the sixth spot in the league table, Christian Streich and his men can’t seem to get over the hump and overtake Frankfurt in the standings.

They had the opportunity to put themselves in a convincing position to put themselves in a position to qualify for the Europa Conference League qualifiers next year with a win against Werder, but unfortunately, they lost to Werder 3-1, but they had a chance for redemption when they faced Stuttgart, but again they fell 3-1.

Maybe a third time’s the charm for Freiburg? But they picked the wrong time to get back to their winning ways, as they’ll go up against a surging Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

Their winger, Vincenzo Grifo, has been shouldering the offencive responsibilities, but it just hasn’t been enough to garner Freiburg consistent winning results. Grifo has tallied just five Bundesliga goals in the season thus far, and it’s a glaring hole Christian Streich has to address if he plans to get over the hump.

Freiburg as a whole have only managed to score 26 goals this season, which is the lowest goal tally among the top 10 clubs in the German league thus far, and conceding 34 goals doesn’t help their cause as well.

History

It’s fair to say that these clubs are very well acquainted, having fought a total of 32 bouts in the last decade. Among those matches, BVB have won the majority with 23 wins, while Freiburg have only managed to win four times but were able to tally a draw five times.

Dortmund won four of their last five contests against Freiburg, but they weren’t a walk in the park whatsoever. Freiburg, despite falling, have been able to score at least one goal against Dortmund in their last six matches, which is something to consider when looking at the betting lines for this match.

In terms of goal scoring, these clubs have managed to rack up a total of 109 goals in their last 32 matches, where BVB scored 82 times and Freiburg scored a respectable amount with 27.

Their most recent match was also their clash with the highest aggregate, boasting a score line of 2-4. Freiburg were leading 2-1 entering halftime, but Malen, Hummels, and Reus turned the boosters on in the second half with one goal apiece.

Betting Tip 

Borussia Dortmund VS SC Freiburg

February 10, 03:30 (GMT+8)

Over 3.00 @1.82

Historically, these clubs turn up the heat offencively whenever they face each other, scoring a total of 25 goals in their last five matches, which is why my betting tip is Total Goals Over 3.00 at 1.82. Where the price is right now holds enough value, in my opinion, to garner attention and excitement for punters to consider.

As for their main lines, the SBOTOP Bundesliga 2024 betting odds unsurprisingly have Dortmund as the favourites at 1.47, which holds enough value for some punters to bet on, while the visiting Freiburg are the underdogs at 5.20 with a draw price of 4.27.

This message was edited by SBOTOP on 07-Feb-2024 at 4:07 PM

Bundesliga: Die Werkself are Working Well

Bayer Leverkusen’s 2024 title bid is well on track after Xabi Alonso’s team picked up three more points with a 2-1 win away to FC Heidenheim 1846.

By Saturday tea-time Die Werkself were eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table and when FC Bayern lost 3-2 away to Bochum on Sunday the celebrations in Leverkusen could be heard in Bavaria.   

Leverkusen scored a goal in each half as they made it 32 matches unbeaten in all competitions, equalling FC Bayern’s top flight record. Against a well organised Heidenheim defence Jeremie Frimpong eventually broke the deadlock, just before half time, with the help of a slight deflection. The league leaders dominated the game and attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz was inches away as his shot cannoned away off the crossbar.  

It was Wirtz who finished the game though when he delivered a brilliant ball for Amine Adli to score a late second and, even though Tim Kleindienst halved the deficit on 87 minutes, there was never a real prospect of the hosts getting a result.  

Bayer Leverkusen have never won a league title, last finishing runners up in 2011, and they haven’t picked up any silverware since they won the DFB Pokal in 1993; but that 30 year wait could be coming to an end. This could well be a big moment in the campaign as Heidemheim were no pushover. The hosts came into the game on an eight match unbeaten run and the defeat sees them settle in tenth place.   

The latest Bundesliga 2024 betting odds make Die Werkself odds on favourites to win the title and they are also the team to beat in the DFB Pokal…could this be a double year for Alonso’s men? 

Brilliant Bochum bash Bayern

Kevin Stoger in action during VfL Bochum’s match against Bayern Munich

The Bavarians were at SBOTOP odds of 1.34 to win away to Bochum on Sunday afternoon but they had a torrid first half which saw them go in with a 2-1 deficit at the break. Bayern laid siege to the Bochum goal in the opening quarter of an hour and they were rewarded when Jamal Musiala smashed his shot high into the net. Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane had a great chance to double the lead, but when he was clean through on goal he blasted his shot over. And the England man paid for his miss when Asano beat Manuel Neuer with a brilliant finish into the far corner and then, just before the break, Keven Schlotterbeck headed Bochum into the lead.

On 78 minute s Bayern’s bad night got worse when Dayot Upamecano was red carded for an elbow on Schlotterbeck and Kevin Stoger fired home the penalty to make it 3-1. When Leroy Sane was clean through on goal Manuel Riemann made a brilliant save though Bayern did pull a goal back when Kane had an 86^th minute tap-in. But that was it –wild celebrations in the Ruhrstadion and dismay for Thomas Tuchel’s team.           

Bayern’s nightmare week is finally over. After losing 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen and 1-0 to Lazio in the Champions League; this was another hefty blow. But while the Bavarians lick their wounds, Bochum move up to 11^th and away from the danger zone.   

Wolves give BVB a bite

BVB have been on the charge in recent weeks and they have taken up residence in the top four, but they had a frustrating afternoon in Wolfsburg where they had to settle for a share of the points. Dortmund scored a scrappy opener when a Marco Reus shot caused chaos in the Wolves’ defence and keeper Koen Casteels eventually parried the ball into the path of Niclas Fullkrug and the striker prodded the ball home.

The mid table hosts were up for the fight though, and they came close to equalising when Kevin Behrens hit the woodwork, but they levelled, midway through the second half, when Yannick Gerhardt headed home.      

In other Bundesliga 2024 news on Saturday, third placed VfB Stuttgart won 1-2 away to Darmstadt as Serous Cuirass made a scoring return from the African Cup of Nations, and that win gives Stuttgart a five point lead over Dortmund.

Tragedy in Leipzig

Red Bull Leipzig desperately needed a win against Borussia Monchengladbach and they delivered with a 2-0 victory, as Lois Openda struck again to make it 16 goals for the campaign. But it was a terribly sad day in Leipzig as the crowd fell silent with the news that a supporter had tragically died during the match. Following news there was a medical emergency in the stands the game was stopped but attempts to resuscitate the Red Bulls fan were tragically unsuccessful.  

Because Dortmund were held by Wolfsburg this victory pulled Leipzig up to within a point of Die Schwarzgelben and so the top four race is certainly hotting up, but our thoughts tonight are with the family and friends.        

This message was edited by SBOTOP on 20-Feb-2024 at 3:10 PM

Bundesliga: Leverkusen Will Not Let Up Against Mainz

Bayer Leverkusen vs Mainz

Bayer Leverkusen can easily rest on their laurels after coming off an eventful week here in the Bundesliga, but Xabi Alonso and co. are doing just the opposite when they host Mainz at the BayArena on Friday.

Die Werkself extended their table lead to eight points when they secured one of the best Bundesliga 2024 results this season, a 3-0 win against the defending champions Bayern Munich, followed by a 2-1 win over Heidenheim.

Mainz, on the other hand, are fighting for their lives here in the German top-flight. The 05ers are fresh from a rare victory last time out, a 1-0 result over Augsburg, so they’re currently in seventh place with 15 points, and an improbable road victory against Die Werkself would surely boost their confidence.

Talking Points

Bayer Leverkusen on the verge of setting new record

Jeremie Frimpong nets Bayer Leverkusen’s opening goal against Heidenheim

With the wins against Bayern Munich and Heidenheim last week, Bayer Leverkusen are now undefeated in 32 competitive games this season, equaling the record set by the Bayern Munich squad of Hansi Flick across 2019-20 and 2020-21.

And with 58 points after 22 matchdays, Bayer Leverkusen have made the third-best start to a season of any Bundesliga club in history. In fact, they already have more points than they had at the end of last term (50).

Bayer Leverkusen have depth all over the pitch, which is why they’re in this position. Even if they had games where they didn’t have a full squad, the others have stepped up well when called upon.

One example of this is when Patrik Schick and Amine Adli have filled in for the injured Victor Boniface, who is, by the way, their top scorer with 14 goals across all competitions. And adding someone like Borja Iglesias via loan during the winter transfer window certainly helps too, even if he has yet to open his account.

Their speedy wing-backs have chipped in goals as well, as Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong have combined for 18 goals and 15 assists this season. Frimpong has scored two goals in his last two appearances.

And then there’s Florian Wirtz, who is having a resurgent campaign after dealing with injuries last season. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is the team’s best playmaker, with seven goals and 13 assists this term.

Mainz got the new manager bounce

Bo Henriksen’s Mainz stint is off to a winning start, and the hope is that he’ll be the guy to save them from relegation at the end of this season.

The 49-year-old Dane, who previously managed Brønshøj, Horsens, Midtjylland, and FC Zurich, replaced Jan Siewert, who won just one of his 12 matches at the helm.

Since the start of 2024, Mainz have only scored four goals in six games while conceding eight on the other end, and that has to change soon for them to keep their top-flight status.

Ludovic Ajorque, Lee Jae-Sung, Leandro Barreiro, Anthony Caci, and Sepp van den Berg are the team’s joint-leading scorers, with two goals each, and we’re particularly looking at Ajorque and Lee to look to assert themselves in the final third this weekend.

History

Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz already faced off last September, with the former winning via a 3-0 scoreline, as they benefited from the scores of Sepp van den Berg (own goal), Alex Grimaldo, and Jonas Hofmann.

However, Mainz won their last Bundesliga away match against Bayer Leverkusen prior to that (3-2 in February 2023), which was one of only three home defeats for Die Werkself in the league under Xabi Alonso and one of only two away wins for the 05ers in the league since the end of October 2022.

With the victory against Augsburg last week, Mainz finally ended their 11-game winless run in the Bundesliga. However, Bo Henriksen’s men are still winless away from home this season (D8, L7).

Betting Tip

Bayer Leverkusen VS Mainz

February 24, 03:30 (GMT+8)

Bayer Leverkusen Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.16

The SBOTOP Bundesliga 2024 odds are favouring Bayer Leverkusen to extend their unbeaten run, thus setting a new record on Friday. Die Werkself are priced at 1.20 to win, whereas Mainz are 10.00 underdogs, and a draw is at 5.80 in the 1X2 market.

Because Bayer Leverkusen have been prolific in the final third, alternative bets like Over 3.25 at 2.21 and Total Goals 4-6 at 2.61 are worth considering too, with the table leaders scoring the majority of the goals.

Meanwhile, a Correct Score of 3-0 in favour of Bayer Leverkusen – the result of their reverse fixture – is being offered at a decent amount of 6.80.

This message was edited by SBOTOP on 21-Feb-2024 at 4:07 PM

All Hail Bayer Leverkusen, the Kings of Bundesliga!

It seemed that “Neverkusen” was already etched in football lore, a club that had five runners-up finishes, six third places, some highs, and a lot of lows cramped in between. It almost seemed like the football gods were casually playing games, each of them taking turns deciding the fate of Bayer Leverkusen every Bundesliga season.

But on a brisk spring night, a special group of men, led by a living icon, decided to test these gods, test their fate, and decide to rewrite their destiny in football history.

They courteously welcomed Werder Bremen to their humble abode and, with an unbashful demeanour, proceeded to thump and thrash their esteemed guests.

Rolling like a Spielberg film, it was the tip of their spear, Victor Boniface, who led the charge, taking the first step towards glory with an occurrence Bundesliga fans have gotten accustomed to this season: A Victor Boniface opening goal.

Then, his running mate Granit Xhaka showed his new home just why he excelled as a Gunner and struck a follow-up goal with marksman-like precision to give a not-so-slight nudge towards football glory.

Alas, Florian Wirtz clinched the summit of the Bundesliga mountain in the most flamboyant way possible and proceeded to secure the win with not one, not two, but three goals!

Florian Wirtz in action playing for Bayer Leverkusen

What better way to clinch the league title than with a hat-trick?

The stadium was already filled with a mist of red even before the final whistle was blown, but when it did, BayArena, which has a capacity of just 22,500, roared in unison. There was a cheer that was heard all over the football world. A celebration to the highest of superlatives.

Bayer Leverkusen are the champions of the Bundesliga.

This team, these men, and this manager ended 120 years of hurt and torment. This special group clinched Leverkusen’s first ever Bundesliga title and ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year dominance in German football.

“This is a very special moment for the club,’ Alonso said. ‘After 120 years, to win the Bundesliga for the first time is something extraordinary. The players really performed; they were a top team together. I am so proud of all of them.”

Bayern Munich were the overwhelming SBOTOP Bundesliga 2024 odds favourites in the start of the season, but Die Werkself are living testaments that even if the odds are against you, that’s where it’s most imperative to push and bet on yourselves.

“This trophy belongs to a lot of people, and we have to enjoy it.” Leverkusen’s win broke an 11-year run of Bayern dominance. “It’s perhaps healthy for the Bundesliga and German football that other teams win, and it’s a great pleasure that it’s us.”

Bring out the beer and the cigar, boys. Hats off to you!

Now that Leverkusen is on the front page of the Bundesliga 2024 news stories all over the globe, one must not forget that the job’s not done for Alonso and his men.

Drenched after Alonso’s players surprised him with a beer shower during the press conference after winning the Bundesliga, the 42-year-old quickly reminded the press that the job’s not done.

“It’s not over yet.” “We’ll see how far we can go. I have a good feeling about it,” he stated.

They are now just four games away from winning the Europa League, and they are currently tussling with Premier League side West Ham. Leverkusen are up two goals on aggregate, but West Ham have a home advantage in the return leg, so the German side can expect nothing but hostility at London Stadium.

Alonso and his men are also a final game away from clinching the DFB-Pokal. They’ve basically cruised through the tournament, having no convincing threat en route to their final bout against Kaiserslautern.

If Die Werkself manage to continue their 43-game unbeaten streak and triumph in the Europa League and DFB-Pokal, we could see one of the relegation candidates in the Bundesliga win a treble.

As the football gods scratch their heads, they too cannot fathom the sight of Xabi Alonso and the rest of Leverkusen lifting the Meisterschale in front of 22,000 strong. But it was probable for quite some time now. They are ready. It is officially their time.

The history books will forever have a corner of their page folded slightly, so the football world can pass this Cinderella story down to the younger generations and say, “During the 2023–24 season, Bayer Leverkusen ended their curse and became the kings of German football.” It’s done, Neverkusen no more! Bayer Leverkusen are the champions of Bundesliga

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This message was edited by SBOTOP on 16-Apr-2024 at 3:20 PM

Bundesliga: The Treble is on for Brilliant Bayer

2024 Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen are already history makers but it seems that the sky is the limit for Xabi Alonso’s record-breaking team.

When Werkself fans look at the season’s Bundesliga 2024 highlights, they will surely have to pinch themselves having watched their team totally dominate the big guns of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Red Bull Leipzig, leaving all three way, way behind. 

Leverkusen have gone the whole season unbeaten, though it looked like that record was about to end on Sunday when Borussia Dortmund took an 81^st-minute lead at a packed Signal Iduna Park to send the Yellow Wall into raptures.

But this Werkself side simply can’t be beaten, and when Josip Stanisic rose to head a 97^th-minute leveller from a Florian Wirtz corner, nobody should have been surprised.

The Leverkusen players celebrated like they had won the league again, such is their determination to keep breaking records, even though their lead at the top of the table is a whopping 17 points.

So the Treble is on. 

How the League was won

Bayer Leverkusen celebrates after winning against Werder Bremen

Alonso’s heroes were crowned German champions last week when Werder Bremen visited the BayArena and it was an incredible moment for the Leverkusen fans who witnessed their team winning the Bundesliga for the first time in their 120 year history.

Bayer battered Werder 5-0 to confirm their title and that was an incredible achievement for Alonso who took over as head coach in 2022 with Die Werkself second bottom of the table.

With a sometimes swashbuckling style of attack, pressing intensity and a brilliantly organised defence, supported by rock solid defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka, this was a team with an answer to every question they were asked. They have won 38 games and drawn six, scoring 124 goals and conceding just 31.

Bayer’s unbeaten run now stands at 44 games in all competitions, the last defeat coming in May 2023 and, if they make it to the end of the season they will break a record set by the great Benfica side way back in 1960. They have already set a new record for unbeaten starts in the Bundesliga, taking another title off Bayern Munich. 

This team is a phenomenon and could become one of the greats.

But there is work still to be done this season…with one trophy won and two to go.  

DFB Pokal

After walloping Fortuna Dusseldorf 4-0 in the semi-final of the DFB POKAL Cup die Werkself booked their final place against second tier Kaiserslautern who saw off the arch giant-killers Saarbrucken.

Die Roten Teufel, managed by Friedhelm Funkel, were founder members of the Bundesliga and played in the top division until 1996, winning four league championships and two DFB Pokals.

They last appeared in the Bundesliga 1 in 2005 and they spent their first four seasons in the third tier before promotion back to Bundesliga 2 in 2022.

This season Kaiserslautern are in serious peril again, sitting in 17^th, two points from safety and with just four games left. The underdogs totally deserve their final place and their day in the sun; but it will be one of the shocks of the season if they can beat by far the best team in Germany.       

Europa League

Following the exit of Alonso’s old team Liverpool, the Europa League 2024 betting odds have taken Leverkusen to be the most likely winners. They have waltzed through this tournament and, in beating West Ham over two legs, Bayer remained unbeaten in all competitions as well as making it to the last four.

A semi-final clash with Serie A’s Roma is another good test and if Die Werkself pass that one they will meet the winners of the other semi-final tie between Atalanta, conquerors of Liverpool, and Olympique Marseilles. 

So which team is the biggest threat to Alonso’s men?

Atalanta were sensational when they beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield and La Dea are always a joy to watch. But, that great night on Merseyside apart, they haven’t been in the best form and before this weekend’s action they had won just one of the last six Serie A games.

OM beat Benfica to reach the semi-final but they too have been in poor form in their domestic league, recently losing three on the bounce and sitting tenth in Ligue 1.

So I’d say if they beat the in-form Roma in the semi-final then Leverkusen will have one hand on the third part of this treble.

It’s going to be a fascinating few weeks for Alonso’s Leverkusen; so whether you are a Bundesliga fan or just an admirer of the best teams in Europe, keep it here at SBOTOP to see how this amazing team closes out the season.

I reckon they will do it.  

This message was edited by SBOTOP on 22-Apr-2024 at 5:52 PM