Before the Round – Trends on the Germany Bundesliga (29-30/04)

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The hiring of Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich has not gone to plan. Bayern lost in a shock result to Mainz a week ago, giving Borussia Dortmund the top spot in the Bundesliga with five matches left to play.

The race for survival is just as intense, as three points separate 16th-place Stuttgart and last-place Hertha Berlin. Can the Berliners catch Stuttgart this weekend?

VfB Stuttgart - Borussia M'gladbach

Stuttgart will host Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday. The Swabians are in the relegation-playoff place and two points off 15th-place Bochum. Gladbach are 10th and in no danger of relegation. The Foals won the reverse fixture 3-1 earlier this season at Borussia Park.

Borussia Monchengladbach won two, drew two, and lost two matches against Stuttgart in their last six encounters. Gladbach are not in great form, as they took six points from the last six matches. The Foals are winless in five straight away fixtures.

Stuttgart are unbeaten in three straight matches, as the won once and drew twice in the trio of games. The Swabians are not a good home team. They failed to win each of their last three matches at the Mercedes Benz Arena. Stuttgart took 16 points from 15 road matches.

• VfB Stuttgart are in an unfortunate period, having won just 8 of their last 48 matches in Bundesliga.
• Mönchengladbach are on a poor run of just 3 wins in 21 away matches (Bundesliga).
• VfB Stuttgart are undefeated in 5 of their last 6 games against Mönchengladbach in Bundesliga.
• Mönchengladbach are on a poor run of just 1 wins in 15 away matches (all competitions).
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score

FC Schalke 04 - SV Werder Bremen

Schalke failed to win any of their last six head-to-head matches versus Werder Bremen in all competitions. The Blues lost the reverse fixture against Bremen 2-1 away from home.

Werder Bremen are 12th in the standings and 10 points clear of the bottom three. The Green and White are coming off a 4-2 win at Hertha Berlin, which ended a five-match winless streak.

Schalke are 17th but could still rescue their season. They are just one point off Stuttgart and the relegation-playoff position. The Blues are the Bundesliga’s worst home team, with 16 points from 15 matches.

• Schalke 04 have achieved just 5 wins in their 30 most recent games in all competitions
• There have been goals scored by both teams in Werder Bremen's last 7 matches in Bundesliga.
• Schalke 04 are undefeated in 5 of their last 6 home Bundesliga games.
• Werder Bremen are undefeated in 10 of their last 11 games against Schalke 04 in all competitions.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Bayern Munich - Hertha Berlin

Tuchel must turn Bayern Munich around to avoid his hiring being considered a disaster. There are already regrets in Bayern’s hierarchy over the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann and Tuchel’s hiring. On Sunday, Die Roten will play the league’s worst team, Hertha Berlin, at home.

Hertha are on a six-match losing streak against Bayern Munich in all competitions. The reverse fixture saw Bayern win in the capital 3-2. The Berliners are on a three-match Bundesliga losing streak, as they look set to return to Bundesliga 2.

Bayern Munich are winless in back-to-back Bundesliga matches. One point separates Die Roten from first-place Borussia Dortmund. Knowing the inconsistencies of Dortmund, there is a strong possibility Bayern will still win the Bundesliga title.

• Bayern München are on a run of 21 consecutive home undefeated matches in their domestic league.
• In their last 30 games in all competitions, Hertha BSC have recorded only 5 wins.
• Bayern München haven't lost in 40 of their last 46 matches in all competitions.
• Hertha BSC have conceded at least one goal in their last 11 away league games.
• Prediction: Bayern Munich

VfL Wolfsburg - 1. FSV Mainz 05

Mainz are flying high in the Bundesliga and head to Wolfsburg on Sunday. The 05ers are seventh in the league and two points off the final Europa League qualification place. Depending on the cup winner, Mainz could qualify for the Conference League for next season.

Wolfsburg are one of the teams battling Mainz for a European place. The Wolves are eighth in the league. They are two points behind Mainz and four points off sixth-place Bayer Leverkusen. Wolfsburg took nine points from the last six matches, but they have been very inconsistent.

Mainz picked up 10 points from the last six matches. They went unbeaten in all six of those fixtures. The 05ers outscored their last six opponents 11-6.

• In VfL Wolfsburg's record there are 4 home matches of all competitions that finished in draws.
• Mainz are undefeated in their last 10 Bundesliga games in a row.
• VfL Wolfsburg are unbeaten in 14 of their last 17 home Bundesliga games.
• Mainz are undefeated in their last 10 Bundesliga games in a row.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score