Bundesliga Predictions – Week 5

Enda McElhinney
Spotlight
Xabi Alonso takes champions Bayer Leverkusen to Munich to face the league leaders
Xabi Alonso takes champions Bayer Leverkusen to Munich to face the league leaders

- Bayer Leverkusen were unbeaten last season, ending Bayern Munich's run of 11 titles
- Bochum, Holstein Kiel and St. Pauli all picked up their first points last time out
- There were 37 goals in the first eight Bundesliga games last weekend

All eyes are fixed on the Allianz Arena in Munich as Bayern Munich welcome champions Bayer Leverkusen for a Saturday evening showdown.

The champions were unbeaten domestically last season but Xabi Alonso's side have already been toppled by Leipzig in week three this time.

Leverkusen have conceded nine times in only four games, while Bayern have scored 16 times in their four matches.

The bottom three all got their first points last week but face difficult assignments on paper this time as we preview every game from the Bundesliga this weekend.

Borussia Dortmund vs Bochum (Friday, 7.30pm)

Bochum got their first point last week but it came against another side that had lost all three games in Holstein Kiel. Since they came up in 2021, Bochum have only won eight of 53 away games.

Dortmund have scored three times in each of the last three renewals of this fixture here and Nuri Sahin's side should rebound from their humbling at Stuttgart.

Score prediction: Dortmund 3-0 Bochum

RB Leipzig vs Augsburg (Saturday, 2.30pm)

Leipzig were poor in their 0-0 draw at St. Pauli on Sunday, with the home side looking the more likely winners. There have only been six goals scored in Leipzig's four games so far.

Augsburg have shipped at least twice in three of their four games and are yet to land a clean sheet, while they have lost their last five away in the league.

Score prediction: Leipzig 2-0 Augsburg

Freiburg vs St. Pauli (Saturday, 2.30pm)

St. Pauli boss Alexander Blessin will seek to build after his side got their first point last weekend
St. Pauli boss Alexander Blessin will seek to build after his side got their first point last weekend

Promoted St. Pauli were impressive for long spells and a touch unfortunate not to collect all three points against Leipzig but they have only scored once in four games.

Outside of their week two loss at Bayern Munich, Freiburg have collected maximum points so far, scoring at least twice in those three wins.

Score prediction: Freiburg 2-0 St. Pauli

Wolfsburg vs Stuttgart (Saturday 2.30pm)

Wolfsburg have lost three of their first four games, making this their joint second-lowest points tally at this stage in 23 years.

Stuttgart produced the performance of the week in hammering Dortmund 5-1 last time but have only beaten Wolfsburg here twice in the last 15 visits.

Score prediction: Wolfsburg 2-2 Stuttgart

Mainz vs Heidenheim (Saturday, 2.30pm)

Just a point splits these team after four games. They have both scored eight times, with Mainz (eight) conceding one more than Heidenheim (seven).

Between them they only have four clean sheets in 22 competitive games. They drew 1-1 in May and something similar looks likely.

Score prediction: Mainz 1-1 Heidenheim

Borussia Monchengladbach vs Union Berlin (Saturday, 2.30pm)

After enduring some struggles last season, based on the high bar they set the year before, Union Berlin have made an unbeaten start this time with two wins from four.

Monchengladbach have lost three from four and are now seven without a win at home. Union have only conceded two goals so far and are unbeaten in the last eight meetings between these clubs.

Score prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach 0-1 Union Berlin

Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Vincent Kompany's time at Bayern has started well, but now they face the champions
Vincent Kompany's time at Bayern has started well, but now they face the champions

Vincent Kompany and his Bayern side have won all four games in the league, scoring 16 times, and now get a shot at the side that relieved them of the title.

Leverkusen have suffered a defeat already, something that did not happen last season domestically, but they are averaging over three goals per game and have hit at least two goals in nine of their last 11 away Bundesliga games.

Score prediction: Bayern Munich 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Holstein Kiel vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Sunday, 2.30pm)

Holstein Kiel got their first point last weekend with a 2-2 draw at the previously pointless Bochum but their defensive record of 13 conceded in four games was the worst entering this week.

Frankfurt lost their opening game but have since banked three successive wins and can ensure the hosts remain without a point at the Holstein-Stadion.

Score prediction: Holstein Kiel 0-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Hoffenheim vs Werder Bremen (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Between them, these sides have mustered just a couple of wins in eight games so far and just a lone clean sheet.

They've only drawn once in the last nine meetings but they could be hard to split on current form.

Score prediction: Hoffenheim 1-1 Werder Bremen

Tags

BundesligaBorussia DortmundBochumRB LeipzigAugsburgFreiburgSt. PauliVfL WolfsburgVfB StuttgartMainz 05FC HeidenheimBorussia MoenchengladbachUnion BerlinBayern MunichBayer LeverkusenHolstein KielEintracht FrankfurtHoffenheimWerder Bremen