Before the Round – Trends on Germany Bundesliga (16-17/12)

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Four teams are separated at the bottom of the Bundesliga table by a mere one point.

The battle for Bundesliga survival is thick, as the German top flight heads toward the winter break.

1. FSV Mainz 05 - 1. FC Heidenheim

Mainz could emerge from the bottom three with a win over Heidenheim on Saturday. The 05ers and Heidenheim will meet for the first time in the Bundesliga in a massive six-pointer.

Heidenheim are 13th in the standings and four points above the bottom three. They managed a massive 3-2 win over fellow relegation battlers Darmstadt a week ago. The win ended a three-match winless streak.

Mainz went unbeaten in five of their last six Bundesliga matches. However, four of those five matches were draws. Mainz have been poor at home this season, posting a 1W-1D-4L record.

• Mainz have won just 2 of their last 21 matches in all competitions.
• Heidenheim are on a losing streak of 6 straight away matches in all competitions.
• Mainz haven't lost in 5 of their last 6 matches in Bundesliga.
• Heidenheim are on a poor run of just 1 wins in 9 away matches (all competitions).
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals

RB Leipzig - TSG Hoffenheim

RB Leipzig won their last four matches in all competitions versus Hoffenheim. Three of those four fixtures saw Leipzig score 3.0 goals or more.

Hoffenheim have rebounded this season after a poor campaign in 2022-23. The Hoff are sixth, with 23 points from 14 matches. However, the Blues failed to win four of their last five games, taking just four points from 15.

RB Leipzig are in the title race but sit seven points behind Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the round. Die Roten Bullen won their last two Bundesliga matches, defeating Heidenheim 2-1 and Borussia Dortmund 3-2.

• RB Leipzig are on an unbeaten run of 11 home games in their Bundesliga participation.
• Both teams scored in all of Hoffenheim's last 9 games in Bundesliga.
• RB Leipzig are unbeaten in 29 of their 32 most recent home matches (all competitions).
• Hoffenheim are unbeaten in 7 of their last 8 away matches in Bundesliga.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score

VfL Bochum 1848 - 1. FC Union Berlin

Bochum took four points from six from Union Berlin last season. A 2-1 home win was followed by a 1-1 draw away in the capital. Bochum’s win was just their first in the last six matches versus Union.

Union Berlin are out of the relegation zone thanks to a draw and a win in their last two games. The dismissal of long-time coach Urs Fischer may have done the trick. The Irons defeated Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend 3-1.

Bochum are just one place and three points above Union in the standings. VFL went unbeaten in five of their last six league games but lost 3-1 away to Hoffenheim a week ago. Neither of these teams scored many goals, and both tallied a mere 15 in the opening 14 games.

• In their last 6 home matches from all competitions, VfL Bochum have seen both teams score.
• We have seen 5 consecutive away defeats in the most recent games in Bundesliga of Union Berlin.
• VfL Bochum have won just 4 of their last 24 matches in all competitions.
• In their 18 most recent matches of all competitions, Union Berlin have achieved just 1 wins.
• Prediction: VfL Bochum 1848

SC Freiburg - 1. FC Koln

Freiburg are aiming for a third consecutive win in the Bundesliga on Sunday. They will welcome Koln, the league’s 16th-place team. Despite Koln’s position, they are improving, with back-to-back games without a loss.

The Billy Goats defeated Darmstadt 1-0 and drew nil-nil with Mainz in their last two Bundesliga fixtures. Koln are the lowest-scoring team in the Bundesliga, with a mere 10 goals from 14 matches.

Freiburg won four of their last six games versus the Billy Goats. Last season, Freiburg posted a 2-0 home win and 1-0 away win versus Koln in the Bundesliga.

• In their 3 most recent games of all competitions, SC Freiburg have succeeded in keeping a clean sheet.
• In their 18 most recent matches of all competitions, 1.FC Köln have achieved just 2 wins.
• In their 22 most recent home matches of Bundesliga, SC Freiburg have been undefeated 19 times.
• In 1.FC Köln's last 5 Bundesliga matches, there have been under 2.5 goals.
• Prediction: SC Freiburg