RB Leipzig face Hoffenheim in this week's Bundesliga’s Friday night fixture in what could be a crucial juncture in the race for a top-four finish.
Fresh from their midweek Champions League success over Atalanta, Bayern Munich are heavy favourites to ease to victory at home to Union Berlin on Saturday.
Wolfsburg take on Werder Bremen in a relegation six-pointer at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Game week 27 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign commences on Friday evening at the Red Bull Arena when RB Leipzig collide with top-four rivals Hoffenheim.
On Saturday, there are five more fixtures from Germany’s top tier on the agenda, including Bayern Munich’s clash with Union Berlin and a televised clash between Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg at tea time.
Sunday’s card features three more live matches, with Mainz vs Eintracht Frankfurt, St. Pauli vs Freiburg and FC Augsburg vs Stuttgart on the programme.
As per the usual routine, we’ve got free predictions and Bundesliga tips for all nine contests from week 27 of the German season, starting with Friday evening’s tussle in Leipzig.
RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim (Friday, 7:30 pm)
Margins were tight, but RB Leipzig still slipped to a 1-0 loss at top-four rivals Stuttgart last weekend and Die Roten Bullen have now dropped points in five of their last eight Bundesliga assignments overall. Stand-in keeper Maarten Vandevoordt’s error led to the game’s only goal and the 24-year-old is likely to feature again on Friday in the continued absence of Péter Gulácsi.
Hoffenheim (3rd) are two places and three points ahead of Leipzig in the table, though they were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at home by Wolfsburg last time out. Hoffenheim mustered 21 attempts and really should have prevailed, however. They were more clinical when they coasted to a 3-1 victory over Leipzig in November, and should be tough to beat again in Friday’s rematch.
Score prediction: RB Leipzig 2-2 Hoffenheim
Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin (Saturday, 2:30 pm)
As expected, Bayern Munich made light work of Atalanta (4-1) in the Champions League in midweek and the runaway Bundesliga leaders should be just as dominant when they return to domestic responsibilities on Saturday. Bayern have won each of their last four home meetings with Union Berlin without conceding a single goal and similar is anticipated here.
Union dug deep and rode their luck at times to snatch a late victory at Freiburg (1-0) last time out, with keeper Matheo Raab their star performer on his first-ever Bundesliga start. The 27-year-old is likely to miss out with an injured hand at the Allianz Arena, Union would need to field two goalkeepers to avoid defeat in this one.
Score prediction: Bayern Munich 3-0 Union Berlin
FC Koln vs Borussia Monchengladbach (Saturday, 2:30 pm)
FC Koln’s winless run now stands at six games following last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Hamburg, though they did show decent mettle in that tie in the absence of some key defenders. Centre-half Jahmai Simpson-Pusey returns from suspension this weekend to bolster their options there, however.
A stunning first-half free kick from Kevin Stöger put Gladbach on the road to victory against St. Pauli (2-0) last weekend to ease their relegation fears. Die Fohlen have now won twice in their last three attempts and with their confidence on the up, they should be competitive at the RheinEnergieStadion.
Score prediction: FC Koln 2-2 Borussia Monchengladbach
FC Heidenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen (Saturday, 2:30 pm)
Despite playing the final 20 minutes with a one-man advantage, Heidenheim couldn’t manufacture anything of note in the final third in their 1-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt last time out and remain firmly rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga table.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League adventure ended at Arsenal in midweek (0-2), however, they have lost only once in nine Bundesliga fixtures and should be too strong for their hosts on Saturday. Bayer hammered Heidenheim 6-0 in November’s reverse fixture. That was the minnow’s heaviest loss of the campaign, so expect them to struggle again.
Score prediction: FC Heidenheim 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Wolfsburg vs Werder Bremen (Saturday, 2:30 pm)
Two of the division’s bottom four sides face off at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday when Wolfsburg (17th) take on Werder Bremen (15th) in what looks like a pivotal relegation six-pointer. Die Wolfe, who have lost six and drawn two of their last eight matches in the Bundesliga, remain troubled by injuries and could be the team to oppose.
Werder Bremen lost at home to in-form Mainz (0-2) in their last outing, but managed back-to-back wins over FC Heidenheim (2-0) and Union Berlin (4-1) before that, so they should still have some momentum in the tank. Werder have also won two of their last three encounters with Wolfsburg and they could snatch some crucial points here.
Score prediction: Wolfsburg 1-2 Werder Bremen
Borussia Dortmund vs Hamburg (Saturday, 5:30 pm)
Borussia Dortmund have responded well to their Der Klassiker defeat to Bayern Munich on February 28th, posting wins over FC Koln (2-1) and Augsburg (2-0) since to tighten their grip on second spot in the Bundesliga standings.
Nico Kovac’s charges were in cruise control against Augsburg following goals in the 13th (Adeyemi) and 59th (Reggiani) minutes, and Dortmund should be similarly comfortable against Hamburg. The visitors have failed to win four of their last five assignments, with their only win during that period coming at ten-man Wolfsburg (2-1). Expect Dortmund’s superior class to shine through.
Score prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Hamburg
Mainz vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Sunday, 2:30 pm)
Mainz snapped a run of three successive draws with a timely 2-0 win at Werder Bremen last weekend to move three points clear of the drop zone, and though Frankfurt should provide a stiffer test, the improving Die Nullfünfer will fancy their chances of passing it.
Eintracht Frankfurt squeezed past FC Heidenheim (1-0) last time out, though they are still lacking in imagination in the final third under new boss, Albert Riera. Die Adler failed to score in their last away game at St. Pauli (0-0) and their lack of punch in attack could hold them back again at Mainz.
Score prediction: Mainz 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
St. Pauli vs Freiburg (Sunday, 4:30 pm)
St. Pauli dominated 60% of the ball at Gladbach (0-2) last weekend but created little and were eventually ousted. However, back at the Millerntor-Stadion, where the relegation candidates are unbeaten in six games, a better result could be in the offing.
Freiburg have one of the best home records in the Bundesliga this term, however, on the road, they are a different beast entirely. Die Breisgau-Brasilianer have lost eight times in 13 fixtures on their travels since August and only two teams have collected fewer points away from home. St. Pauli could take advantage.
Score prediction: St. Pauli 2-1 Freiburg
FC Augsburg vs VfB Stuttgart (Sunday, 6:30 pm)
Augsburg returned from their recent double away trip with nothing, though fixtures at Dortmund (0-2) and RB Leipzig (1-2) were always likely to be tricky. However, at the WWK Arena, Augsburg have been formidable for months, and they will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run at that venue to nine games on Sunday.
Visiting Stuttgart could be hampered by fatigue, having navigated a taxing fixture at FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday evening, and that could open the door for their fresher hosts. Stuttgart have also dropped points in each of their last three Bundesliga away matches, and they might slip up again here.
Score prediction: FC Augsburg 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
