Wolves to bear their fangs
Wolfsburg v Union Berlin
Sunday 12 March, 18:30
Live on Sky Sports and Betfair Live Video
Union Berlin's incredible season continued on Thursday, as they came from behind to draw 3-3 with Union Saint-Gilloise in their Europa League last-16 tie. If they win in Belgium next week (something they have already done against the same opponents in the group stage), then they will make it through to the last eight of a major European trophy. That is a mind-blowing achievement for a club that had never even been in the Bundesliga before 2019.
However, there are some signs that the capital club is slowing down in the Bundesliga. Last weekend's 0-0 draw with Köln means Urs Fischer's men have won just five of their last 11 games in the Bundesliga, and on the road in the top flight they have lost four of their last seven. They have conceded at least twice in all four of those losses.
Wolfsburg have had a free week to prepare, and they are very much in the mix for European qualification. Die Wölfe have had a bit of a dip in form, with just one win in six, but it was a tough run of fixtures that included games against Bayern and RB Leipzig.
The interesting thing for our purposes is that Wolfsburg have scored twice or more in 11 of their last 14 league games. They have also found the net at least twice in eight of their last nine Bundesliga outings at the Volkswagen Arena, and I'm happy to back them to do it again on the Sportsbook at 7/5.
Red-hot Randal to strike again
Eintracht Frankfurt v Stuttgart
Saturday 11 March, 14:30
Live on Betfair Live Video
The Bundesliga is a league of young talents, and few have shone more brightly this season than Randal Kolo Muani. Not only has the French forward lit up the German top flight with 11 goals and 10 assists, but he also played for his country in the World Cup final. Not only that, but he nearly won the tournament, only to be denied by an Emi Martinez save that will go down as a legendary moment.
Kolo Muani helped Eintracht Frankfurt reach the last 16 of the Champions League, but he'll be suspended for the second leg against Napoli (he was harshly sent off during a 2-0 defeat), so he'll have no reason to be rested this weekend.
Stuttgart pushed Bayern hard in a 2-1 defeat last week, but it was another game in which Bruno Labbadia's team leaked multiple goals, and VfB are still deep in relegation danger. They have conceded 40 goals in 23 games, and they haven't won a road match in the league for over a year.
Kolo Muani is trading at a hefty 2.68/5 to score, and he has netted in six of his last nine games.
Bochum to be travel-sick again
Koln v Bochum
Friday March 10, 19:30
Live on Sky Sports and Betfair Live Video
The scrap for survival in the Bundesliga remains as fascinating as ever, and Bochum are one of four teams locked together on 19 points at the bottom. They have lost their last four league games with an aggregate score line of 0-10, including a painful loss last weekend against Schalke and former VFL boss Thomas Reis, who Bochum sacked in September.
Bochum keep making costly mistakes, they have leaked a league-high 56 goals, and their away form is utterly atrocious. They have lost 11 of their 12 away matches at this level, conceding an extraordinary 35 goals in the process at nearly three per game.
Köln have been struggling to score lately, but they played really well in a 0-0 draw at Union Berlin last week, and they have won five of their 11 home games in the league this term. With an evening game under the Friday night lights in store, I expect the crowd to play their part, and I'll happily back Köln -1 on the Asian Handicap at 2.186/5.