The Bundesliga always produces excitement and goals are again expected as the German top-flight returns following the international break.
Round 12 kicks off with a Bavarian derby and that could set the tone for another thrilling three days of football.
Bayern to Return in Style
Any thoughts that Julian Nagelsmann may take time to settle in as Bayern Munich coach seem to have evaporated and his side already enjoy a four-point advantage at the top of the table.
Friday sees them head 40 or so minutes west to Augsburg, who in contrast to their neighbours, are struggling.
The Fuggerstadter currently occupy the relegation play-off spot, but are unbeaten in their last three at home, most recently smashing Stuttgart 4-1.
Defender Reece Oxford, a familiar name to West Ham fans, has netted in their last two at the WWK Arena and is 16/1 in the anytime market.
Augsburg should be good for a goal considering that Bayern have conceded in both of their games immediately after the other two international breaks this season. That said, they have also won in style, beating RB Leipzig 4-1 and then Bayer Leverkusen 5-1.
The away win and both teams to score looks the way to go at 6/5, while, as ever, keeping an eye on Robert Lewandowski could pay dividends.
The Pole already has 13 league goals for the campaign and has netted in three of the last four meetings.
With Lewandowski somewhat incredibly just 1/4 in the anytime market, taking him at 23/20 to score two or more may prove more fruitful.
Hertha’s Away Record to Hurt as they Head East
Take a quick look down Saturday’s fixture list and your attention will soon be drawn to the teatime game, which sees Hertha take a trip across Berlin to take on Union.
Global politics and differing fortunes mean meetings between these two sides have been a rarity over the years, but it is old underdogs Union who are currently enjoying the bragging rights.
After finishing seventh last term, a full seven places and 15 points above their neighbours, Die Eisernen again sit ahead of Hertha in the table, despite juggling playing in the UEFA Conference League.
They have lost their last two at home in competitions, but those defeats have come against Bayern and Feyenoord and they were previously unbeaten in 21 on their own patch in the Bundesliga.
In contrast, Hertha have lost two of their last three on the road in the Bundesliga and Die Alte Dame could be there for the taking, with the home win 1/1.
That looks a good price but when you consider that there were goals on both sides in each of the pair’s meetings last term, that result and BTTS could be worth exploring at a tempting 59/20.
Two Sides Tough to Split on Sunday
Finally to Sunday and the pick of the games is Eintracht Frankfurt’s trip to Freiburg.
Freiburg have been the surprise package this season, as, after finishing 10th last term, they have continued to progress, with Bayern Munich the only side to have beaten them.
Sunday’s visitors have had things tougher, with boss Oliver Glasner still adjusting to life in Frankfurt, but Die Adler are unbeaten in three in all competitions, most recently winning 2-1 at Greuther Furth ahead of the international break.
Frankfurt have also avoided defeat in the last three meetings, all of which have produced over 3.5 goals, with a repeat of that tally 7/4.
Despite the ten-point difference between the teams, on paper at least, these two appear tough to split.
Last term’s edition of this fixture was 2-2, a scoreline that weighs in at 17/2 and a repeat draw isn’t hard to imagine at 51/20.
*All odds correct at time of writing
