Wolfsburg’s 100 per cent record finally fell away last Sunday, but their come-from-behind draw with Eintracht Frankfurt saw them at least keep pace with leaders Bayern Munich – both clubs sitting on 13 points – while Dortmund and Leverkusen also strengthened their credentials with victory.
Eintracht on the Right Track?
A fifteenth-place stand after the opening five outings constitutes a far less respectable showing than what was initially expected of Oliver Glasner’s Frankfurt.
The Eagles, fifth last campaign and thus contesting the Europa League again after a one-year absence, have landed themselves in a peculiar situation.
Ready for tomorrow!
#SGEKOE #SGE pic.twitter.com/gjD6gx2F9F
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) September 24, 2021
With four points and no wins to their name, they hover just above the relegation playoff spot occupied by Monchengladbach, but find themselves coming into Saturday’s mid-afternoon visit of Koln on the back of a five-game unbeaten run – all draws – in all competitions.
A sixth successive stalemate comes in at 11/4.
The arrival of their opponents from Cologne, however, represents a prime opportunity to register a first win, with momentum now building following results against Wolfsburg and Fenerbahce – a home win is at 21/20, while a victory for the travelling side can be backed at 23/10.
In addition, Eintracht have scored in each of their last four fixtures, while Koln have hit nine league goals so far; a win for Glasner’s side, with both teams to find the net, is available at 5/2.
Hertha Hitting Form
Underway at the same time is RB Leipzig’s clash with Hertha Berlin. After a slow start, the club from the capital are hitting their stride at just the right time to pose problems for the stalling Jesse Marsch unit.
Three straight losses for Hertha have given way to positive displays, albeit against the bottom two – Bochum and Furth – and a third victory on the bounce on Saturday can be picked at 31/4.
Leipzig have tasted victory just once in the league this season and were on the end of a bruising 4-0 Champions League blow from Manchester City last midweek.
If they are to break the cycle, the Red Bulls will likely require midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai – with two goals to his name this season, but none since opening day – to be on his best form. A Leipzig win is available at 20/59, with the draw at 17/4.
No Fear for Freiburg
Sunday sees unbeaten Freiburg, sixth, host middling Augsburg, knowing that a positive result could propel them into the mix for the European berths.
In coming tenth last term, Christian Streich’s charges have the benefit of match-free midweeks while many of their top-half rivals jet across the continent; their 2-1 victory over Dortmund in August, too, suggests they have the class required to upset the established order.
Centre-half Nico Schlotterbeck has been on fine form so far this season – impressing enough to earn a first senior call-up for Germany’s World Cup qualifiers in September – in a defence that has shipped just four Bundesliga goals. A Freiburg victory can be backed at 10/11, with a win to nil at 47/20.
A draw is at 12/5, while a second league win of the season for Augsburg is available at 3/1.
*All odds correct at time of writing