We provide our best soccer bets for the weekend as Europe’s first major soccer league returns to action on Saturday.
Much to the excitement of sports fans around the world, the German Bundesliga is Europe’s first major soccer league to resume playing during the coronavirus pandemic, with matches taking place on Saturday.
The league has nine matchdays remaining, with the German Football League committed to finishing the season by the end of June. Fans will not be allowed into stadiums due to the continued ban of mass gatherings, but of course anyone can still bet on the matches!
The current Bundesliga standings
Bayern Munich are currently the team to beat at the top of the league, four points clear with nine games to go. They hope to finish the season strong and win the Bundesliga for an eighth consecutive season.
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund sit in second, third and fourth place. All three teams have the potential to upset Bayern Munich and will treat all of their remaining nine games like it’s their last. According to data company Gracenote, Bayern Munich have an 84% chance of winning the league and will require a major slip-up not to become Bundesliga champions.
At the bottom of the table, 17th and 18th place will be relegated at the end of the season, while 16th place will play a playoff match against third place in Germany’s second division. 17th place Werder Bremen have spent a record 56 seasons in the Bundesliga but their status is under major threat as they sit eight points off safety.
With one point in their last six games, Paderborn have accumulated just 16 points so far this season and look certain to be relegated. Gracenote give Paderborn a 97% chance of automatic relegation, Werder Bremen 49% and Dusseldorf 40% chance.
This weekend’s Bundesliga TV schedule
FOX Sports has the exclusive TV and streaming rights to the Bundesliga in the United States for the rest of the 2019-2020 season. All Bundesliga matches are available to view this weekend (all times EST):
Saturday, May 16
- Dortmund vs. Schalke, 9:30am, FS1, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial)
- RB Leipzig vs. Freiburg, 9:30am, FS2, TUDN, Sling Blue + World Sports, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial)
- Augsburg vs. Wolfsburg, 9:30am, FOX Soccer Plus and fuboTV (free trial)
- Dusseldorf vs. Paderborn, 9:30am, FOX Soccer Match Pass
- Hoffenheim vs. Hertha Berlin, 9:30am, FOX Soccer Match Pass
- Frankfurt vs. Monchengladbach, 12:30pm, FS1, TUDN, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial)
Sunday, May 17
- Cologne vs. Mainz, 9:30am, FS1, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial)
- Union Berlin vs. Bayern Munich, Noon, FS1, UniMas, TUDN, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial)
Monday, May 18
- Werder Bremen vs. Bayer Leverkusen, 2:30pm, FS2, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue + World Sports, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial)
Our best Bundesliga bets
Here are our three best soccer bets ahead of the return of the German Bundesliga this weekend.
RB Leipzig to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 (+175 at FOX bet)
RB Leipzig go into their game against Freiburg sitting in 3rd place, five points behind Bayern Munich and on the back of a seven-game unbeaten streak in all competitions before the season was suspended. Leipzig have conceded just 1 goal in their previous five league matches and we expect them to achieve another shutout on Saturday.
On the other hand, Freiburg have lost six of their last 11 Bundesliga matches and have won just one of their last 10 games on the road. They are expected to struggle against a well-organised Leipzig team and will have to keep prolific striker Timo Werner quiet if they are to have any chance.
Erling Braut Haaland first goal scorer (+230 at DraftKings)
When Borussia Dortmund face Schalke on Saturday, all eyes will be on Norwegian wonderkid Erling Braut Haaland. Since the 19-year-old striker signed for Dortmund in January from RB Leipzig, Haaland has scored nine goals in five Bundesliga starts and three substitute appearances. That equates to a goal every 57 minutes!
Dortmund are heavy favorites for Saturday’s game at odds of -200 to win. If anyone is going to score first, it’s expected to be Haaland.
Under 2.5 goals scored in Fortuna Dusseldorf vs. Paderborn (+106 at FanDuel)
Both teams come into this game desperately looking to pick up any points they can. The home side are currently in the relegation play-off spot and six points ahead of Paderborn, but have won just two of their last 15 matches in the Bundesliga.
Paderborn have a terrible away record and have conceded at least two goals in all of their last four Bundesliga matches. However, there will be a lot of rustiness to shake off after an extended break and neither team boasts any real attacking threat. We think this game will be a low-scoring one.
