The Bundesliga ends its festive absence this weekend, as the battle to keep pace with Bayern Munich pits Borussia Dortmund against an in-form Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chasers Freiburg, who ended 2021 with a stellar victory over fellow European hopefuls Bayer Leverkusen, face a resurgent Arminia Bielefeld, against whom RB Leipzig came unstuck before Christmas.
With Bayern favoured to stretch their lead at the summit in Friday’s clash with Borussia Monchengladbach, we have taken a look at the three most eye-catching encounters on 2022’s opening weekend.
Three Could Be the Magic Number for Bielefeld
With five-point Greuther Furth now isolated at the foot of the table, seemingly beyond the help of all but a miracle, Arminia Bielefeld – entering mid-December with just one league win to their name – will be breathing an enormous sigh of relief, all the while keeping eyes firmly on the road ahead.
The Blues looked likely to begin the New Year similarly adrift, but back-to-back wins over Bochum and Leipzig have brought them into 2022 with renewed hope of survival. Granted, they meet sturdier opposition on Saturday in the form of third-placed Freiburg.
However, Frank Kramer’s side can take solace in the fact that their away form has seen them return one point per game this season – better figures than half their Bundesliga cohabitants. A third consecutive Bielefeld win can be backed at 19/4.
Former Germany U20 boss Kramer is, however, without the suspended duo of midfielder Fabian Kunze and striker Fabian Klos. If Bielefeld are to make it three wins on the trot, responsibility to deliver in front of goal falls predominantly on five-goal Masaya Okugawa, who is at 11/2 to net anytime.
Freiburg atoned for a disappointing November loss to Bochum with a win and a draw to close out the year, and a victory on Saturday would narrow the five-point gap between themselves and second-placed Dortmund, who play later in the day. A home victory is available at 5/8, with the draw at 59/20.
Eintracht on Track to Spoil Dortmund’s Chase
Kicking off the new season with eight winless games in all competitions, new boss Oliver Glasner has managed a full turnaround at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Eintracht’s end-of-year report card makes for impressive reading compared to how it looked at the end of October, as a run of one loss in 11 has turned their fortunes well and truly around.
Their loss at Hoffenheim in early December – by the odd goal in five, no less – remains their only mis-step since an underwhelming defeat to Bochum, way back on October 24th.
With leading light Bayern already three wins ahead – and counting – Dortmund can ill afford any slip-ups in the second half of their season.
Dan-Axel Zagadou, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, joins Manuel Akanki, Mateu Morey and Marcel Schmelzer on the sidelines, with first-choice goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and back-up stopper Roman Burki also in danger of missing out.
Dortmund’s lack of options could hand Frankfurt – just two points off third spot – the chance to firmly state their Champions League intent; an Eintracht win can be found at 5/2.
Can Wilting Wolfsburg Stop the Rot?
Our final game under the spotlight is 13th-placed Wolfsburg’s trip to a Bochum side they are level on points with in the standings.
The Wolves come into the affair on a torrid run of form, having lost all of their last seven matches in 2021.
Bochum’s own issues, particularly in front of goal, suggest a tight Sunday encounter. With just 33 goals scored between the two teams in the opening half of the season, 5/2 says the pair cancel each other out in a draw – and 37/4 is the price of a goalless stalemate.
A home win to go with Bochum’s December draw with Dortmund can be backed at 5/2, while a road success that could potentially reignite Wolfsburg’s season is at 23/20.
*All odds correct at time of writing