Gladbach's revival to gather pace
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach
Saturday October 17, 17:30
Live on BT Sport Europe
When popular coach Lucien Favre resigned after losing the first five games of the Bundesliga campaign, Borussia Monchengladbach fans could be forgiven for despairing, but it appears the wily old campaigner was right to step aside. His replacement Andre Schubert has won all three of the league games he has overseen, and the Foals suddenly find themselves just five points off the top four.
Brazilian forward Raffael is the ultimate confidence player, and he has provided five assists and a goal since Schubert picked up the reins. While the defence still needs work, the attack has sparkled, with nine goals scored in the last three league matches.
After an encouraging start to the season, Eintracht Frankfurt are wobbling under returning coach Armin Veh. They have taken just two points from their last four league games, scoring just once in that sequence. They are now level on points with Gladbach.
Although Veh has tried to make Frankfurt more solid than they were under his swashbuckling predecessor Thomas Schaaf, I can't help feeling they are missing some of the unpredictability they once had. With strikers like Luc Castaignos, Haris Seferovic and last season's top scorer Alex Meier, Frankfurt should be more of an attacking threat than they currently are.
Momentum is a big factor in football, and while Gladbach have plenty of it, Frankfurt have lost theirs. I'm siding with the visitors.
Recommended Bet
Back Borussia Monchengladbach Draw No Bet at 2.16
Stuttgart woes to continue against dogged Ingolstadt
Stuttgart v Ingolstadt
Sunday October 18, 16:30
Live on BT Sport Europe
While under-fire Stuttgart coach Alexander Zorniger has increased the intensity of his training sessions since the international break, his Ingolstadt counterpart Ralph Hasenhuttl gave his players four days off. That encapsulates the differing starts to the campaign these sides have made.
Stuttgart have been playing better than their form suggests, but the bare facts show they are bottom of the table, and have won just one of their first eight games. The crisis has been deepened by news that talismanic striker Daniel Ginczek will be out until Christmas with a back injury.
The Swabians have leaked a league-high 19 goals, and although centre-backs Timo Baumgartl and Toni Sunjic are strong in the air and in the tackle, there were huge gaps at the back during the recent 2-2 draw at Hoffenheim. Whether it's poor communication, tactics or a lack of concentration, there are undoubtedly systemic problems in the Stuttgart team.
Ingolstadt are the complete opposite. They don't have many players who can win a game with individual brilliance, but they are superbly organised by Hasenhuttl. The top-flight new boys finally picked up their first home win a fortnight ago as they beat EIntracht Frankfurt, and that 2-0 success yielded their fifth clean sheet in eight Bundesliga games.
Ingolstadt are unbeaten on the road, while Stuttgart are still looking for their first home win. The hosts are without Ginczek, Filip Kostic and possibly skipper Christian Gentner, and I can find absolutely no reason for them to be trading at 1.84 for the win.
Recommended Bet
Lay Stuttgart at 1.84
Defences on top in Gelsenkirchen
Schalke v Hertha Berlin
Saturday October 17, 14:30
With Schalke third and Hertha fourth in the standings, both teams are exceeding expectations this term. Despite a jarring 3-0 home defeat to Cologne before the international break, Schalke have made encouraging progress under new coach Andre Breitenreiter, and for once the usual rumours of dressing-room unrest are nowhere to be found.
Hertha have built their strong start on solid defensive foundations. Pal Dardai's battlers have picked up where they left off last season - they have only leaked 25 Bundesliga goals in 2015, a record only bettered by the champions Bayern Munich. The problem Hertha have is scoring goals, although the arrival on loan of Stuttgart reject Vedad Ibisevic could help matters. The Bosnian scored twice in a 3-0 home win over Hamburg last time out.
Opta tell us that Hertha have lost on each of their last seven trips to the Veltins Arena, but I've been burned twice this season backing Schalke at home, and their price of 1.83 for the win is one I'll leave alone.
Of more interest is the 2.14 on offer for backing No in the Both Teams To Score market. Schalke and Hertha have racked up 11 clean sheets between them in league and cup this term, and both teams have found the net in just two of their last ten Bundesliga meetings.
Recommended Bet
Back No in the Both Teams To Score market at 2.14
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach
Saturday October 17, 17:30
Live on BT Sport Europe
When popular coach Lucien Favre resigned after losing the first five games of the Bundesliga campaign, Borussia Monchengladbach fans could be forgiven for despairing, but it appears the wily old campaigner was right to step aside. His replacement Andre Schubert has won all three of the league games he has overseen, and the Foals suddenly find themselves just five points off the top four.
Brazilian forward Raffael is the ultimate confidence player, and he has provided five assists and a goal since Schubert picked up the reins. While the defence still needs work, the attack has sparkled, with nine goals scored in the last three league matches.
After an encouraging start to the season, Eintracht Frankfurt are wobbling under returning coach Armin Veh. They have taken just two points from their last four league games, scoring just once in that sequence. They are now level on points with Gladbach.
Although Veh has tried to make Frankfurt more solid than they were under his swashbuckling predecessor Thomas Schaaf, I can't help feeling they are missing some of the unpredictability they once had. With strikers like Luc Castaignos, Haris Seferovic and last season's top scorer Alex Meier, Frankfurt should be more of an attacking threat than they currently are.
Momentum is a big factor in football, and while Gladbach have plenty of it, Frankfurt have lost theirs. I'm siding with the visitors.
Recommended Bet
Back Borussia Monchengladbach Draw No Bet at 2.16
Stuttgart woes to continue against dogged Ingolstadt
Stuttgart v Ingolstadt
Sunday October 18, 16:30
Live on BT Sport Europe
While under-fire Stuttgart coach Alexander Zorniger has increased the intensity of his training sessions since the international break, his Ingolstadt counterpart Ralph Hasenhuttl gave his players four days off. That encapsulates the differing starts to the campaign these sides have made.
Stuttgart have been playing better than their form suggests, but the bare facts show they are bottom of the table, and have won just one of their first eight games. The crisis has been deepened by news that talismanic striker Daniel Ginczek will be out until Christmas with a back injury.
The Swabians have leaked a league-high 19 goals, and although centre-backs Timo Baumgartl and Toni Sunjic are strong in the air and in the tackle, there were huge gaps at the back during the recent 2-2 draw at Hoffenheim. Whether it's poor communication, tactics or a lack of concentration, there are undoubtedly systemic problems in the Stuttgart team.
Ingolstadt are the complete opposite. They don't have many players who can win a game with individual brilliance, but they are superbly organised by Hasenhuttl. The top-flight new boys finally picked up their first home win a fortnight ago as they beat EIntracht Frankfurt, and that 2-0 success yielded their fifth clean sheet in eight Bundesliga games.
Ingolstadt are unbeaten on the road, while Stuttgart are still looking for their first home win. The hosts are without Ginczek, Filip Kostic and possibly skipper Christian Gentner, and I can find absolutely no reason for them to be trading at 1.84 for the win.
Recommended Bet
Lay Stuttgart at 1.84
Defences on top in Gelsenkirchen
Schalke v Hertha Berlin
Saturday October 17, 14:30
With Schalke third and Hertha fourth in the standings, both teams are exceeding expectations this term. Despite a jarring 3-0 home defeat to Cologne before the international break, Schalke have made encouraging progress under new coach Andre Breitenreiter, and for once the usual rumours of dressing-room unrest are nowhere to be found.
Hertha have built their strong start on solid defensive foundations. Pal Dardai's battlers have picked up where they left off last season - they have only leaked 25 Bundesliga goals in 2015, a record only bettered by the champions Bayern Munich. The problem Hertha have is scoring goals, although the arrival on loan of Stuttgart reject Vedad Ibisevic could help matters. The Bosnian scored twice in a 3-0 home win over Hamburg last time out.
Opta tell us that Hertha have lost on each of their last seven trips to the Veltins Arena, but I've been burned twice this season backing Schalke at home, and their price of 1.83 for the win is one I'll leave alone.
Of more interest is the 2.14 on offer for backing No in the Both Teams To Score market. Schalke and Hertha have racked up 11 clean sheets between them in league and cup this term, and both teams have found the net in just two of their last ten Bundesliga meetings.
Recommended Bet
Back No in the Both Teams To Score market at 2.14
