The grounds may well have been devoid of fans, but the Bundesliga made a successful return to action last weekend with all nine games being played and the top six, in particular, enjoying a generally good return. Only Red Bull Leipzig, of the top six, failed to win their game, a result which saw them drop to fourth in the Bundesliga title, allowing fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen to close the gap on them.

This coming weekend, and the week after, sees not just one but two sets of games to be played. First up we have the weekend’s matches which features four of the top six facing off, as Borussia Moenchengladbach face Bayer Leverkusen and at the same time Wolfsburg will host Borussia Dortmund in what are two marquee games. Dortmund’s game in particular looks crucial ahead of Tuesday’s game in Dortmund when they will face league leaders Bayern Munich in what could be a potential title decider.

Plenty of betting sites are focusing on the Bundesliga at the moment with it being the first big European football league back in action, and there are some tasty starter bonuses around, but perhaps one of the best for long term value is the current bet365 New Customer Bonus. Once signed up, you will not only be able to access the offer, but also gain access to extensive betting, including Live In Play betting on the Bundesliga games this weekend.

Remember too that bet365 Sport also offers extensive Live Streaming of all Bundesliga games via the website. It is free to watch provided you live in an area which permits bet365 to show the streams and provided you have made a bet in the preceding 24 hours,or have a credit balance in your account.

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So with so many places to bet, you now need to know what to bet on for this coming weekend and to best do that, we should really take a look at how last weekend’s games in the Bundesliga panned out for the teams.

Bundesliga Matchday 26 Results & Analysis

  • Hoffenheim 0-3 Hertha Berlin
  • Augsburg 1-2 Wolfsburg
  • Dortmund 4-0 Schalke 04
  • Dusseldorf 0-0 Paderborn
  • Red Bull Leipzig 1-1 SC Freiburg
  • Frankfurt 1-3 Borussia Moenchengladbach
  • FC Cologne 2-2 Mainz
  • Union Berlin 0-2 Bayern Munich
  • Werder Bremen 1-4 Bayer Leverkusen

There was no change in the top two with Bayern and Dortmund both winning convincingly in their games, however Borussia Moenchengladbach moved third thanks to their win over Frankfurt and Red Bull Leipzig only managing a draw at home to Freiburg. Leverkusen moved within a point of Leipzig thanks to their thumping 4-1 win over Bremen on Monday night.

At the foot of the table it is very much a case of ‘as you were’ for the teams in the battle there. The big benefactors of the weekend were Hertha Berlin who moved up to 11th in the table on the back of a thumping 3-0 win away to Hoffenheim.

Let us now take a look at the big games taking place this weekend, starting with the two clashes between teams in the top six, before we give you a selection of quick tips for the remaining seven matches of the weekend.

Bundesliga Top Six Battles Preview

Borussia Moenchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen

Two sides that made scintillating retutns to action last weekend will lock horns in Borussia Park on Saturday afternoon. A win for Bayer Leverkusen would put them right in the thick of it at the top of the table and in with a chance of earning a Champions League spot at the bare minimum, a defeat could cost them both those chances.

Similarly, while a defeat would not be so calamitous for Borussia, a win would give them more breathing space in the race for a Champions League qualification spot next season, as well as keeping them hot on the heels of Bayern and Dortmund at the top of the table. This is going to be a very close game and it is hard to make the call here, so I am going to back the draw which is an 11/4 shot with bet365.

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund

Wolfsburg’s win at Augsburg last week was part luck and part dogged determination but it meant a seventh game without a defeat and sets them up nicely for the visit of Dortmund this weekend. The visitors got back to winning ways with an easy 4-0 home win over local rivals Schalke 04 in what was a very powerful and commanding display.

Dortmund were 3-0 winners when the teams met back in December and it is hard to suggest that Wolfsburg have made enough improvements to reduce that gap between the teams. Although they lie 6th, they are 11 points behind Leverkusen in fifth and in truth, well off the pace and quality being shown by the top six. As such, while I can see Wolfsburg scoring, I still feel Dortmund’s firepower in attack will be enough to lead them to a win, so my tip is back Dortmund to win but both teams to score which is an 11/5 shot at bet365.

This Weekend’s Other Bundesliga Tips

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin – Hertha produced a great win last weekend and this derby will be a chance for them to build on that. It will be close, but I am backing Hertha for the win at 13/10.

Paderborn v TSG Hoffenheim – Neither of these sides are in great form at the moment and I think a goal either way may win this and I can see Hoffenheim being the team to get it at 11/10.

SC Freiburg v Werder Bremen – It’s sad to see how far Bremen have fallen in the Bundesliga but after that defeat on Monday to Leverkusen, I don’t give them a chance here. Freiburg to win at 23/20.

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt – Bayern’s current run of form is excellent, Frankfurt’s is not and Bayern beat Frankfurt 5-1 away in the reverse fixture. Bayern should win this easily at 1/6.

Schalke 04 v Augsburg – Two teams who can’t seem to buy a win at the moment. Schalke have the better players but look out of sorts at the moment meaning I see this one ending in a draw at 5/2.

Mainz v Red Bull Leipzig – A good comeback last week in Cologne should give them confidence in this game. Red Bull have drawn five of their last seven, but I feel will get a win here at 4/9.

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf – Cologne were profligate in throwing away a 2-0 lead last weekend against Mainz, I can’t see them doing that against Dusseldorf here. Cologne to win at 4/5.