The Bundesliga returns on Saturday, and the feature match of the weekend is Bayer Leverkusen traveling to Gelsenkirchen for a big match against Schalke. There are only eight matches this weekend due to Bayern Munich's participation in the UEFA Super Cup. Bayern and Freiburg played earlier this week.
Tuesday, August 27
Freiburg 1 - 1 Bayern Munich
Saturday, August 31
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Werder Bremen
After losing last week for the first time this season, Werder Bremen have another tough match ahead of them this weekend with a visit to Borussia Mönchengladbach. WIth their first two matches against the teams that I've slated for relegation, Werder jumped out to a quick six points. They put up a fight last weekend against Borussia Dortmund but eventually fell 1-0. Gladbach are coming off of a 4-2 shootout loss against Bayer Leverkusen but will be liking their chances against sorry Werder.
Time & Location: 15:30 Local / 9:30 AM Eastern; Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach
Prediction: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 - 0 Werder Bremen
Hannovervs. Mainz
Mainz will put their perfect record on the line when they travel to Hannover on Saturday afternoon. The positive "surprise" start to the season has Mainz looking like legitimate contenders for a place in Europe for next season. Nicolai Müller has really come into his own in the first three games and is playing some spectacular football at the moment. He's being helped by some quality play from summer signing Shinji Okazaki. Hannover beat Schalke last week in a red card riddled affair. Let's hope this one isn't marred by the cards.
Time & Location: 15:30 Local / 9:30 AM Eastern; HDI-Arena, Hannover
Prediction: Hannover 2 - 2 Mainz
Wolfsburg vs. Hertha Berlin
Wolfsburg was a team that I picked to do well this season and likely snag a spot in Europe when it's all said and done. With Luiz Gustavo being sent off last week and suspended for this match, I like Hertha Berlin's chances even more in this one. It's going to be interesting to see how Hertha's young centerback John Anthony Brooks deals with wingers such as Vieirinha and Ivan Perisic cutting in from the wide areas to attack the goal. Raise your hand if you had Hertha sitting on seven points after the first three games. Exactly. No hands. If they can snag points on the road here, it's a good omen for the rest of their season.
Time & Location: 15:30 Local / 9:30 AM Eastern; Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
Prediction: Wolfsburg 1 - 1 Hertha Berlin
Nürnberg vs. Augsburg
Augsburg grabbed their first points of the season last week with a win over hugely disappointing Stuttgart. Nürnberg's only loss on the season is to Bayern.
Time & Location: 15:30 Local / 9:30 AM Eastern; Grundig-Stadion, Nürnberg
Prediction: Nürnberg 2 - 1 Augsburg
Hamburg vs. Eintracht Braunschweig
Hamburg desperately need a win, and I believe that the clock is ticking away on Thorsten Fink's time as manager. With newly promoted Eintracht Braunschweig visiting the Imtech Arena, it's the perfect time for Hamburg to grab their first win of the season, right? Wrong.
Time & Location: 15:30 Local / 9:30 AM Eastern; Imtech Arena, Hamburg
Prediction: Hamburg 2 - 2 Eintracht Braunschweig
Schalkevs. Bayer Leverkusen
Schalke will probably be looking at only one point after their first four matches after they play Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. So far, it's been a disastrous start for Jens Keller and his team, and losing Klaas Jan Huntelaar to an injury a few weeks ago surely didn't help. Sami Hyypiä has his Leverkusen side playing well at the moment, and they should be sitting on twelve points after this one.
Time & Location: 18:30 Local / 12:30 PM Eastern; Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Prediction: Schalke 1 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen
Sunday, September 1
Stuttgart vs. Hoffenheim
Stuttgart get their first league match under new coach Thomas Schneider. It's against Hoffenheim, so I know one thing will happen. This will likely be a high scoring match. Both sides have already allowed six goals on the season. Yikes.
Time & Location: 15:30 Local / 9:30 AM Eastern; Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart
Prediction: Stuttgart 2 - 3 Hoffenheim
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have won their first three games to start the season, but they haven't been the prettiest affairs. Plus, BVB have played the top three relegation candidates. With a trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, it's going to be interesting to see how BVB deal with the best team they've played thus far. Against Werder, they had a lot of opportunities but were unable to score until the second half. Can Frankfurt pip one before BVB get theirs?
Time & Location: 17:30 Local / 11:30 AM Eastern; Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - 2 Borussia Dortmund
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