It is a big weekend for football fans and punters coming up as the first major league in Europe gets back underway with all nine fixtures in the Bundesliga set to take place behind closed doors this weekend. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Leipzig will be amongst the 18 teams battling it out over the nine remaining full game weeks of the season and it promises to be a very exciting finish to the competition.

The competition features a number of household names including Germany stars Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Timo Werner and Serge Gnabry. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski leads the way in the goalscorers chart, while Dortmund winger, Jadon Sancho, much in demand around Europe this summer, will be one of their main threats over the remainder of the season.

Not surprisingly, the return of a top quality European league has meant punters are very excited about this coming weekend. If you are one of them and are looking for somewhere to bet that offers a good value starter bonus for new players, plus a wide range of bets on the Bundesliga, then the place to head first is the latest bet365 New Player Bonus page. Once signed up you can enjoy a wealth of betting on this weekend’s matches including In Play betting and in some parts of the world, if you have a credit balance in your account or have placed any bet in the preceding 24 hours, you could tune in to watch the games on bet365’s Live Streaming service.

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Let’s first begin with a recap of how the season has gone so far in the Bundesliga, looking at which teams are battling for the title and the Champions League or European places as well as taking a look at the teams battling it out to avoid relegation, or the relegation playoff spot in the table.

How Bundesliga 2019/20 Has Panned Out So Far

The way the Bundesliga season has panned out this year means that when we resume games at the weekend, we effectively have three distinct competitions running, involving pretty much all the teams in the division.

At the top of the table there are five teams in with a realistic chance of winning the league title, or claiming one of the four Champions League qualification places available in the division. At the moment, Bayern Munich hold a four point lead over Dortmund in second which puts the Bavarian side in pole position at the moment. Behind Dortmund Red Bull Leipzig are just one point behind with Borussia Moenchengladbach a further point back. Rounding out the top five are Bayer Leverkusen who are eight points adrift of Bayern at the top of the table but just two off Borussia Moenchengladbach in fourth.

Then we have the teams from 6^th in the table (Schalke 04) down to Union Berlin in 11^th in the table who are all involved in a battle to pinch one of the Europa League qualification places available in the league by finishing sixth. As well as the two teams mentioned above the likes of Cologne, Hoffenheim, Freiburg and Wolfsburg are in this sub-group.

Lastly, bottom two Paderborn and Werder Bremen will be desperate to try and win enough games to move them out of the drop zone but they face an uphill task being ten and eight points from true safety respectively. Fortuna Dusseldorf are 16^th in the relegation playoff spot, while Mainz, Augsburg, Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt will all still be anxiously looking over their shoulders at the teams below them hoping that they don’t become embroiled in the relegation battle over the remaining nine weeks of the season.

Outlined below are the first set of nine games played this weekend, with our quick tip for each one.

Bundesliga I – Matchday 26 Preview and Tips

FC Augsburg v Vfl Wolfsburg – Wolfsburg to win and both teams to score – 10/3

Although nine points separate these teams, they are at contrasting ends of the table. Of the two, Wolfsburg were in the best form of the two, while Augsburg defensive issues remain a real concern. I can see both teams scoring, but only Wolfsburg winning this game.

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04 – Dortmund to win and both teams to score – 21/10

The Rhine derby is always one of the big fixtures of the Bundesliga season. Schalke have been a thorn in the side of Dortmund over recent times, especially in Dortmund, but I feel with Haaland leading the attack, the home side will have too much firepower.

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn – Dusseldorf to win – 11/10

A real relegation clash and a must win game for both these teams. Dusseldorf had hit some good form ahead of the break and I think that will stand them in good stead here against a Paderborn side that have really struggled throughout this season.

Red Bull Leipzig v SC Freiburg – Red Bull Leipzig to win to nil – 11/10

After a rocky spell just before the break, I am expecting Red Bull Leipzig to be raring to go in this game. Timo Werner is a key man for them but they have strength in depth in all areas and although Freiburg are a top half side, I think they’ll struggle here.

TSG Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin – Hoffenheim to win – 11/10

I’ve gone with another near even money selection here. Two well matched teams in a game that is quite tough to call but the deciding factor for me is home advantage here and with Hoffenheim being in the slightly better form of the two, I fancy them just to edge to a win.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach – Borussia to win – 5/4

Few teams lost as many key men last summer as Frankfurt and their form has suffered as a result. Borussia have had another fine season this time around and they will be keen to keep up the pressure at the top of the table and I am backing them to pick up the win here.

FC Cologne v FSV Mainz – Cologne to win to nil – 11/4

Mainz have endured a rough season this time around and they will be worried about Dusseldorf catching them in the table. I can’t see their chances improving any on the road in Cologne where the home side have been impressive since returning to the top flight last season.

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich – Bayern Munich to win to nil – 10/11

Bayern Munich are the team that most would like to have avoided on the first week back, so Union Berlin will be cursing their luck. The promoted team have done well on their first season in the top flight for a while but I can’t see them getting anything from this one.

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen – Leverkusen to win and both teams to score – 12/5

Bremen are struggling in the Bundesliga, with the worst form heading into the break and in the drop zone, it looks bleak for a team that were champions in the 80s and 90s. Leverkusen are looking in good shape and while they do concede goals, that should not stop them winning here.

*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 10.35am on Wednesday 13^th May 2020.