Friday, August 26, 2011

Bundesliga Matchday 4 predictions

Friday night

Hertha BSC v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 1-0

Babbel facing former team in what should be a cracking affair at the Olympic Stadium.

Saturday

SC Freiburg v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 1-2

The Wolves have had plenty of time to digest an embarrassing performance and Cisse's transfer request can't help the mood at the Badenova.

Hamburger SV v. 1. FC Koln
Prediction: 2-1

TBG have to believe that Hamburg get off the mark against the league's worst side.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Bayern München
Prediction: 1-3

Although K-Town won this fixture last season, it's difficult to see a repeat.

1. FC Nürnberg v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-2

This match has draw written all over it.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 3-1

Bremen's kamikaze style may not fit too well in a charged-up Rhein-Neckar.

Bayer Leverkusen v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 1-2

Second v. first from last season, and we believe the champions will once again rise to the occasion against a Leverkusen outfit (again) distracted by Michael Ballack.

Sunday

Hannover 96 v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-1

Hannover progressed in Europe in thrilling fashion and could be ripe for a letdown.

FC Schalke 04 v. Mönchengladbach

Prediction: 3-1
Although 'Gladbach look like world beaters, Huntelaar and company look very tough in Gelsenkirchen.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Bundesliga Matchday 3 review

Friday night

Mönchengladbach v. VfL Wolfsburg

Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 4-1

From 16th-place to top of the table! Getting rid of Michael Bradley and hiring former Hertha coach Favre have done wonders for Gladbach!

Saturday

Werder Bremen v. SC Freiburg

Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 5-3

Bremen could not stop Cisse, but they couldn't be stopped themselves, either.

Borussia Dortmund v. 1. FC Nürnberg

Prediction: 3-0
Actual result: 2-0

Klopp's men had to work for the result after a first-half stalemate in this scrappy affair.

Bayern München v. Hamburger SV

Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 5-0

Hamburg vowed they would not lose 6-0 in this fixture like last year. They were right, we suppose.

VfB Stuttgart v. Bayer Leverkusen

Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 0-1

Kiessling's first-half strike was the difference in this evenly-matched contest.

FC Augsburg v. 1899 Hoffenheim

Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 0-2

Hoffenheim are among a group on six points, and looking very good in the process.

1. FC Koln v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 1-1

The home side were unlucky not to take all three points after a dominant second-half display.

Sunday

FSV Mainz 05 v. FC Schalke 04

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-4

A stunning second-half turn of events displayed Schalke's class and punctured Mainz's early aura of invincibility.

Hannover 96 v. Hertha BSC

Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-1

A harsh result for a Hannover side that deserved all three points. Will it sap the energy of the 96ers for their important trip to Spain this week?

Friday, August 19, 2011

Bundesliga Matchday 3 predictions

Friday night

Mönchengladbach v. VfL Wolfsburg

Prediction: 1-1

Remarkably the winner will go top of the table but it's difficult to see the home side prevailing.

Saturday

Werder Bremen v. SC Freiburg

Prediction: 2-0

Bremen should recover nicely from a defeat at Leverkusen by outclassing Freiburg.

Borussia Dortmund v. 1. FC Nürnberg

Prediction: 3-0

Dortmund's Gundogan will score against his former team to get the champions back on track.

Bayern München v. Hamburger SV

Prediction: 3-1

Hamburg are in disarray and the Allianz is not the place to fix those type of woes.

VfB Stuttgart v. Bayer Leverkusen

Prediction: 2-0

This may be the featured matchup of the weekend, and Stuttgart should give the home fans plenty to cheer about.

FC Augsburg v. 1899 Hoffenheim

Prediction: 1-2

FCA has lasted unbeaten longer than champions Dortmund, but Sascha Molders and company could face a rude awakening against a revitalized Hoffenheim side.

1. FC Koln v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Prediction: 3-1

Solbakken should be able to save his job in what shapes up to be his side's easiest fixture of the season.

Sunday

FSV Mainz 05 v. FC Schalke 04

Prediction: 2-1

Lewis Holtby returns to the Coface Arena - his hard-to-figure side flopped in Europe and could face the same fate that Andre Schurrle did two weeks ago against the surprising table toppers.

Hannover 96 v. Hertha BSC

Prediction: 1-2

Hannover are flying with three wins in three games, but prioritizing next week's trip to Spain could be costly against a Hertha side brimming with confidence.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Bundesliga Matchday 2 review

Saturday

SC Freiburg v. FSV Mainz 05

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-2

Mainz are in the top spot and showing fight in the post-Holtby and Schurrle era.

Hamburger SV v. Hertha BSC

Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 2-2

Hamburg were outplayed badly by the unlucky capital city side, which hit the goalframe at least four times and probably deserved all three points.

FC Schalke 04 v. 1. FC Koln

Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 5-1

It may already be crisis time for Solbakken at the Rheinenergie.

VfL Wolfsburg v. Bayern München

Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 0-1

A harsh result for the home side as Gustavo rescued Bayern from a winless start.

1. FC Nürnberg v. Hannover 96

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-2

Abdellaoue strikes again as Hannover joins Mainz as the only clubs on six points.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Borussia Dortmund

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-0

TBG predicted a loss for the champions, and Salihovic's wonder strike made it a reality.

Mönchengladbach v. VfB Stuttgart

Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-1

Gladbach hold on after Brouwers' dismissal and Favre's men are off to a strong start.

Sunday

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. FC Augsburg

Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-1

If this was billed as a relegation six-pointer, this outcome means that both teams have plenty to worry about.

Bayer Leverkusen v. Werder Bremen

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-0

Leverkusen were well worth the three points as Kadlec was on target for the late winner.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Bundesliga Matchday 2 predictions

Saturday

SC Freiburg v. FSV Mainz 05

Prediction: 2-1

Tuchel used US basketball star Michael Jordan to inspire his team in a rousing opener, but Freiburg should be up for this challenge.

Hamburger SV v. Hertha BSC

Prediction: 2-0

Hamburg are injury-hit without Guerrero and former Hertha man Kacar, but the Berliners are simply too woeful to gain anything in this spot.

FC Schalke 04 v. 1. FC Koln

Prediction: 3-1

Schalke were a tad unlucky in their opener and should bounce back at home since the Goats haven't won in Gelsenkirchen since 1993.

VfL Wolfsburg v. Bayern München

Prediction: 1-1

No Robben for Bayern could mean no victories, and the Wolves will be ready to play in front of their supporters after a rousing away victory.

1. FC Nürnberg v. Hannover 96

Prediction: 2-1

Three points for either side would put the winner on six in a matchup of surprising sides from last season.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Borussia Dortmund

Prediction: 2-1

BVB usually struggle against Hoffenheim and may be caught reading their press clippings. Holger Stanislawski's men should be fired up after they feel they were wronged at Hannover last weekend.

Mönchengladbach v. VfB Stuttgart

Prediction: 1-2

Stuttgart are unbeaten in their last 10 against 'Gladbach and TBG likes them to smash-and-grab all the points.

Sunday

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. FC Augsburg

Prediction: 1-1

FCA are already referring to this as a relegation six-pointer on Matchday 2. They may be right, with Hertha looking equally woeful.

Bayer Leverkusen v. Werder Bremen

Prediction: 2-1

Although Leverkusen have major problems in goal, it's tough to believe that Bremen will have any success on their travels at this point.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Bundesliga at forefront of new technology

As regular followers of this blog know, the Bundesliga is the most exciting football league in the world with plenty of goals and terrific fan support that is unparalleled in nature.

Now the league is stepping up in terms of technology with some state-of-the-art new statistics. This impressive work is being done by Munich company Impire, which is implementing a tracking system to better analyze the game.

We at TBG give a salute to Impire and the Bundesliga for helping bring to light this new innovative system of looking at football. It's a terrific idea!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Bundesliga Matchday 1 review

Friday night

Borussia Dortmund v. Hamburger SV

Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 3-1

That's one exact final score.

Saturday

Werder Bremen v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 2-0

Make that two exact final scores.

1. FC Koln v. VfL Wolfsburg

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 0-3

Who knew the Wolves would bare their fangs?

VfB Stuttgart v. FC Schalke 04

Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 3-0

This was really a lot closer than the scoreline, although the Swabians were deserved winners.

Hannover 96 v. 1899 Hoffenheim

Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-1

Hannover get off to the winning start this blog predicted.

FC Augsburg v. SC Freiburg

Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 2-2

Augsburg get a solid result in their debut.

Hertha BSC v. 1. FC Nürnberg

Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 0-1

A woeful effort from Hertha, who look like they have no idea how to play football at all.

Sunday

FSV Mainz 05 v. Bayer Leverkusen

Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 2-0

A shock result at Coface Arena as Schurrle sees a Mainz win in his return.

Bayern München v. Mönchengladbach

Prediction: 3-0
Actual result: 0-1

Leave it to Bayern to make this blog look bad in the simplest of fixtures.


HERO OF THE WEEK: Augsburg hitman Sascha Molders gets a brace and becomes the first FCA player to strike in the top flight.

GOAT OF THE WEEK: Leverkusen goalkeeper Fabian Giefer's miscue put Mainz in front and made Robin Dutt look like a fool for taking American David Yelldell out of the 11 after a DFB-Pokal flameout.