Wolfsburg vs. Hertha Berlin (Saturday, 2.30pm)
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Wolfsburg will be desperate to halt their losing run when they host Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday.
The hosts are in freefall following their eight consecutive losses in all competitions, whilst the visitors will be looking to bounce back from their own defeat last weekend, when German football returned from the winter break.
We say: Wolfsburg 1-1 Hertha Berlin
This tie is a tough one to call considering how evenly matched the two sides appear heading into the encounter, as well as their similar lack of options due to various injuries and COVID-19 absences.
The hosts would usually be expected to win this tie, particularly with home advantage, but due to their serious struggles of late, we are predicting a tight game that will finish as a draw on Saturday.
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Union Berlin vs. Hoffenheim (Saturday, 2.30pm)
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Union Berlin's second-half of the season push for the European places will continue on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Hoffenheim to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
The hosts begin the weekend level on points with FC Koln in sixth, whilst the visitors will be keen to consolidate their position in the Champions League positions.
We say: Union Berlin 1-1 Hoffenheim
Two sides who enter the clash in strong form, while boasting respective European hopes.
Home advantage could be to Union's benefit, yet whether or not that is enough to secure all three points remains to be seen.
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Stuttgart vs. RB Leipzig (Saturday, 2.30pm)
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RB Leipzig will be out to cut the gap between themselves and the Champions League places when they take on relegation-threatened Stuttgart at the Mercedes Benz Arena on Saturday.
The hosts returned from the Bundesliga's winter break with a goalless draw in a huge relegation clash last weekend, whilst the visitors began 2022 brightly with a comprehensive victory on home soil.
We say: Stuttgart 1-2 RB Leipzig
We are going for Leipzig to pick up their first away win of the season in this one on Saturday.
The hosts are stronger at home but whilst they are likely to make it a tight encounter, the visitors should see them off in the end if they can replicate their strong showing against Mainz last weekend, in a true display of the quality that they possess.
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Mainz 05 vs. VfL Bochum (Saturday, 2.30pm)
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VFL Bochum's attempts to survive in the Bundesliga will continue on Saturday afternoon, when they travel to the Mewa Arena to face Mainz 05.
Just one point and one place separate the pair in the table, with the visitors able to leapfrog the hosts with a victory.
We say: Mainz 05 2-1 VfL Bochum
Two teams with almost identical records so far this season, Mainz will be hoping their superior record in recent clashes gives them the edge over Bochum.
Whilst the visitors have impressed this season, it has been at home where there points have come from, making a victory in Saturday's clash an unlikely prospect for Bochum.
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FC Koln vs. Bayern (Saturday, 2.30pm)
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Bayern Munich will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat last week when they visit FC Koln at the RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday.
The hosts continued their excellent start to the season by winning their opening game of 2022 last weekend, whilst the visitors' defeat means the Bundesliga title race has been resurrected.
We say: FC Koln 1-3 Bayern Munich
As mentioned above, Bayern tend to return to their best after a setback, so despite the hosts being in excellent form overall, particularly at home, we fully expect the champions to win on Saturday.
Koln will look to frustrate the visitors and will likely put in another hard-fought display, but Bayern should have far too much quality for them with many of their players returning.
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Borussia M'bach vs. B. Leverkusen (Saturday, 5.30pm)
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Borussia Monchengladbach will look to make it back-to-back wins at the start of 2022 when they welcome Rhine rivals Bayer Leverkusen to Borussia-Park on Saturday.
The hosts picked up a shock victory over Bayern Munich last Friday, whilst the visitors returned from the winter break with a draw against Union Berlin.
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
An entertaining encounter could be on show in this Rhine derby on Saturday, with both sides being creative and clinical in front of goal, whilst remaining leaky at the other end of the pitch as well.
There is little between these two sides when they are on form, and even more so when neither are at their best, so for this reason we are going for a score draw at Borussia-Park.
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Barney Corkhill
