THIS week, in the Bundesliga, we have already seen Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund away from home, Bayer Leverkusen staggeringly fall to a 4-1 home defeat against Wolfsburg, and Schalke's dreadful post-winter break record continue, and we still have a whole set of fixtures to enjoy between Friday and Sunday.
Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen | Friday May 29, 19:30 GMT
Freiburg are without a win since the Bundesliga restarted but they could have had two. Late concessions away to RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt turned a possible six points into two, a poor defeat at home to struggling Werder Bremen punctured optimism.
Having fought their way to within touching distance of the top three with 28 points from 33 available, Bayer prompty lost 4-1 to mid-table Wolfsburg. To maintain their credible chances of qualifying for the Champions League, Leverkusen need to bounce back. To that end, all eyes turn to Kai Havertz, arguably the Bundesliga's top performer this month. The precocious youngster has nine goals and five assists in his last 11 games – having missed out last week, back him to return to scoring form this time around.
Match Odds: Freiburg (18/5) Draw (3/1) Bayer Leverkusen (7/10)
Tip: Kai Havertz to score any time (27/25)
Correct score: Freiburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen (7/1)
Wolfsburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt | Saturday May 30, 14:30 GMT
After falling too a meek 2-0 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg bounced back with their best win of the season away at Bayer Leverkusen (1-4). Standing between The Wolves and so momentum is an Eintracht Frankfurt side who fought back from 3-1 down last week to claim a draw. Encouraging as that was, it was the only time Eintracht have managed to avoid defeat in their last six Bundesliga outings having conceded 20 goals and scored just seven in that run.
Frankfurt's blistering attack defined Adi Hütter's early days at the Commerzbank Arena, however their threadbare defence has become more symbolic this season. There will be goals in this clash,
Match Odds: Wolfsburg (11/10) Draw (5/2) Eintracht Frankfurt (49/20)
Tip: HT Wolfsburg, FT Wolfsburg (41/20)
Correct score: Wolfsburg 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt (12/1)
Schalke vs Werder Bremen | Saturday May 30, 14:30 GMT
Schalke began the Rückrunde (second half of the Bundesliga season) in fine style with a 2-0 win of league rivals Borussia Monchengladbach, but since then, they've been nothing short of appalling: 10 games, six defeats, four draws, three scored, 24 conceded. The optimism David Wagner harnessed at the start of his reign has gone, now he's fighting for his job.
After losing their first game back 4-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen, relegation-threatened Werder found some resilience with two clean sheets and four points in their last four games. Bremen have won four of their last five clashes with Schalke, and with confidence currently shot at the Veltins Arena with Wagner's side notching up a combined xG of just over 1.0 in their last two games, Bremen can take advantage.
Match Odds: Schalke (31/20) Draw (47/20) Werder Bremen (37/20)
Tip: Werder Bremen Draw No Bet (26/25)
Correct score: Schalke 0-1 Werder Bremen (17/2)
This Joshua Kimmich goal…
Did it decide the Bundesliga title? pic.twitter.com/WdCiAHpU7S
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) May 28, 2020
Bayern Munich vs Fortuna Dusseldorf | Saturday May 30, 17:30 GMT
Is this Bundesliga title done and dusted? Probably, but at least this season it last until the end of May! In all fairness, Bayern have done exceptionally well to recover from the decline under Nico Kovac and regain their status the league's strongest and most clinical side under Hansi Flick. Last week, the champions in waiting held their closest challengers at arm's length with ease which meant Bayern have now taken 40 points from the last 42 avaiable.
As for Fortuna, they really ought to have claimed wins in their firs two games back against Paderborn and FC Koln, however a much-needed turnaround to come from behind and see off Schalke last week has the third-bottom club within striking distance of their league rivals. Climbing the table is a plan for another week however – this week the focus is firmly on keeping the score down. Against this attack in this form, that looks unlikely.
Match Odds: Bayern Munich (1/18) Draw (12/1) Fortuna Dusseldorf (34/1)
Tip: Handicap: Bayern -3 (11/8)
Correct score: Bayern Munich 4-0 Fortuna Dusseldorf (7/1)
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Union Berlin | Sunday May 31, 14:30 GMT
Gladbach's dominant win at Eintracht on their first game back appeared to be the perfect launchpad for a charge at the title, just six points behind Bayern as they were at that point. But one point from the next has recalibrated focus, and in all fairness, Champions League qualification in Marco Rose's first season at the club would be an excellent achievement. That is firmly with in Borussia's grasp, but they need to cut out slip-ups like the last two weeks.
On that front, Union Berlin at home should be a decent way to bounce back, with the Bundesliga debutants winless in five. Union are by no means disgracing themselves at present, sitting in 13th as they are, but nine defeats in their 14 away games this season suggests Borussia might be preparing for this game with some relish.
Match Odds: Borussia Monchengladbach (13/25) Draw (16/5) Union Berlin (11/2)
Tip: Marcuc Thuram to score any time (5/4)
Correct score: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 Union Berlin (7/1)
Paderborn vs Borussia Dortmund | Sunday May 31, 17:00 GMT
Had Dortmund beaten Bayern last week, the Bundesliga title race would have been wide open. Alas, as Roman Bürki's goalkeeping howler condemned them to a 1-0 defeat, the life is likely to have been knocked out of Lucien Favre's side now. All Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and co can do now is seek to apply pressure and hope for the best – a tactic likely to pay off in the immediate short-term agains Paderborn.
Positive results for relegation rivals have left the Bundesliga's bottom side nine points from safety, although both teams having scored in the last nine matches involving Paderorn suggest Dortmund won't have things entirelty their own way. With the pressure off following last week's defeat, and with some of the best attacking options in Europe, you've got to fancy Dortmund to bounce straight back with a win.
Match Odds: Paderborn (15/2) Draw (17/4) Borussia Dortmund (7/20)
Tip: Both teams to score (4/6)
Correct score: Paderborn 1-3 Borussia Dortmund (17/2)
