Sebastian Sternik

Eintracht Braunschweig host Union Berlin in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Braunschweig began the 2. Bundesliga season with a 6-1 win over Magdeburg but then lost to Bochum and have several injury absences. Union enter their first competitive match under new manager Mauro Lustrinelli after a difficult previous campaign, with new signings Michel Aebischer and Emmanuel Latte Lath expected to strengthen the squad. Despite Braunschweig’s home advantage, Union are tipped to win 2-1 and advance.

Luneburger SK Hansa return to the DFB-Pokal first round for the first time in nine years to face Bundesliga side Werder Bremen. LSK Hansa have started their Oberliga Niedersachsen campaign poorly, while Werder are seeking a stronger season after narrowly avoiding relegation last year under Daniel Thioune. Bremen have reshaped their squad but will be without Oskar Wójcik, Karl Hein, Felix Agu, Eren Dinkci and Niklas Stark because of injuries. Despite the hosts’ underdog status, the preview predicts that Werder’s four-division advantage will prove decisive in a 3-0 victory.

Union Berlin and Ipswich Town meet in their final pre-season friendly before the competitive season begins. Union are adapting to new manager Mauro Lustrinelli after a turbulent campaign and inconsistent preparation, while Ipswich enter a new era under Gary O’Neil following Kieran McKenna’s departure and have strengthened their squad substantially after promotion to the Premier League. Both teams have important selection decisions to make, but Ipswich have no major injury concerns and Union are expected to rely on Frederik Rønnow in goal. The preview predicts a competitive 1-1 draw.

Fulham and VfB Stuttgart meet at Craven Cottage in their final pre-season test before the new Premier League and Bundesliga campaigns. Fulham are beginning a new era under Alvaro Arbeloa after Marco Silva's departure and have reshaped their squad, but their preparation has produced mixed results. Stuttgart have won four of five friendlies, including a 3-1 victory over Everton, and have strengthened ahead of a season that includes Champions League football. Fulham are expected to give new signings such as Gonzalo Garcia, Cesar Palacios and Shea Charles further opportunities, while Stuttgart may be without injured goalkeeper Dennis Seimen and defender Dan-Axel Zagadou. The predicted result is a competitive 1-1 draw.

Predictions are provided for three Bundesliga matches: Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt are tipped to draw 1-1 in a relegation and European qualification clash; St Pauli are backed to beat Freiburg 2-1 as they fight to avoid the bottom three; and Augsburg are forecast to draw 2-2 with Stuttgart, whose Champions League ambitions and five-match unbeaten league run face a test after a demanding European fixture.

St Pauli host Freiburg in a Bundesliga match with major implications for St Pauli’s relegation fight. St Pauli have improved recently but remain in the bottom three, while Freiburg’s domestic form has declined despite progress in the Europa League and an upcoming DFB-Pokal semi-final. St Pauli are expected to make a political statement against Nazism on their shirts. Both teams have injury and suspension concerns, and St Pauli are predicted to win 2-1.

The article predicts five Saturday Bundesliga matches. Bayern Munich are tipped to beat Union Berlin 3–1, while FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach are expected to draw 1–1 in the Rhine derby. Bayer Leverkusen are forecast to win 2–0 at bottom-side Heidenheim, and Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen are predicted to share a 1–1 draw in a relegation battle. Borussia Dortmund are favoured to defeat Hamburger SV 2–1 at Signal Iduna Park, helped by their strong home form and superior attacking threat.

Wolfsburg host Werder Bremen in a crucial Bundesliga relegation battle, with Wolfsburg four points from safety and Bremen four points above the automatic relegation places. Wolfsburg have undergone major internal changes and brought back Dieter Hecking, who began with a draw against Hoffenheim, while Volkswagen's economic crisis creates additional uncertainty around the club. Werder replaced Horst Steffen with Daniel Thioune and briefly improved with wins over Heidenheim and Union Berlin before losing to Mainz. Both teams have significant injury and suspension concerns, although Wolfsburg expect several players, including Maximilian Arnold, Patrick Wimmer, Jonas Wind and Joakim Maehle, to be available. The preview predicts a 1-1 draw.

The Bundesliga predictions back Werder Bremen to beat Mainz 05 2-1 in a key relegation clash, Freiburg to defeat Union Berlin 2-1, and RB Leipzig to edge Stuttgart 2-1 in a top-four battle. Werder’s recent improvement under Daniel Thioune and Mainz’s scoring problems are highlighted, while Freiburg’s strong home record is expected to overcome Union’s determination to avoid relegation trouble. Stuttgart and Leipzig are level on 47 points, but Leipzig’s recent form is favored to prevail despite the demands of European competition.

Crystal Palace host Leeds United at Selhurst Park on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with kickoff at 2pm GMT. The match will be shown in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket and streamed through Sky Go, the Sky Sports app and NOW TV. Palace are seeking revenge after a 4-1 defeat to Leeds in December, while Leeds need a result to ease relegation concerns after four consecutive Premier League matches without a win. Highlights will be available through Sky Sports and BBC's Match of the Day.

Sports Mole previews and predicts five Saturday Bundesliga fixtures. Borussia Dortmund are tipped to beat Augsburg, while Eintracht Frankfurt are expected to defeat bottom club Heidenheim and Hoffenheim to overcome struggling Wolfsburg. Bayern Munich are predicted to beat Bayer Leverkusen in the weekend's headline match, and Hamburger SV and FC Koln are forecast to draw as both continue fighting to avoid the relegation zone.

Stuttgart and RB Leipzig, both on 47 points, meet at the MHP Arena in a key Bundesliga match in the race for Champions League qualification. Stuttgart are unbeaten in four league matches and have an excellent home record, but their Europa League defeat to FC Porto may force rotation and affect their freshness. Leipzig are also unbeaten in five league games and have won their last two, although defensive lapses and inconsistent away form remain concerns. Several players are unavailable or doubtful through injury, and Stuttgart have multiple players one booking from suspension. Sports Mole predicts a 2-1 away win for Leipzig.

Hoffenheim host Wolfsburg with Champions League qualification and Bundesliga survival at stake. Hoffenheim sit third after building the league’s second-best attack, although their recent form has dipped. Wolfsburg are 17th, four points from safety, have lost six of their last seven league matches and recently replaced Daniel Bauer with returning manager Dieter Hecking. Both teams have significant injury lists, but Wolfsburg regain Patrick Wimmer, Jonas Wind and Joakim Maehle. Hoffenheim are backed to exploit Wolfsburg’s defensive weaknesses and win 3-1.

Eintracht Frankfurt host bottom side Heidenheim in the Bundesliga with nine matches remaining, seeking to close a nine-point gap to the European places. Frankfurt have made a promising start under new coach Albert Riera but remain inconsistent and have several injuries, while Heidenheim are on a 12-match winless run, sit 10 points from safety, and have both the league’s worst defensive and scoring records. Frankfurt are expected to have the quality to win 3-1, although Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt is urging his players to continue fighting for survival.

Sigma Olomouc host Mainz 05 in the first leg of a historic Europa Conference League last-16 tie. Sigma reached the knockout phase after finishing 24th in the league phase and eliminating Lausanne, while Mainz qualified directly after winning four of six league-phase matches. Sigma are unbeaten in their last five games, whereas Mainz have improved markedly under Urs Fischer but enter the match after three consecutive draws. Both teams have several absentees, including Sigma's suspended Abdoulaye Sylla and Mainz's injured Nadiem Amiri. The preview predicts a 1-1 draw with both sides scoring.

St Pauli host Eintracht Frankfurt at Millerntor-Stadion with both clubs pursuing important objectives. St Pauli have climbed out of the relegation zone after winning three of their last four Bundesliga matches, with captain Jackson Irvine’s return credited as a major factor. Frankfurt have also improved under new head coach Albert Riera, taking seven points from his first four games, but remain well outside the race for the top six. Both teams have several injured players, and the preview predicts a 2-2 draw.

Relegation-threatened FC Koln host Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, with both clubs seeking a turnaround. Koln have taken only one point since the start of February, conceded nine goals in their last four league matches and remain without several injured players, although their home form offers some hope. Dortmund have gone three Bundesliga matches without a win, exited the Champions League playoff stage against Atalanta and seen their title hopes fade after losing to Bayern Munich. With Champions League qualification now their main objective, Dortmund are predicted to prevail 2-1 despite injury concerns in defense and midfield.

Freiburg host Bayer Leverkusen in a high-stakes Bundesliga fixture, with Freiburg relying on a 15-match unbeaten home run to revive their top-six hopes after inconsistent results. Leverkusen are only three points from the top four and have lost once in their last 11 matches, but their focus may be divided by upcoming Champions League meetings with Arsenal and a major Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich. Both sides have defensive concerns, while Leverkusen face a longer injury list. Freiburg are tipped to win 2-1.

Leeds United host Sunderland at Elland Road on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with kickoff at 7:30pm UK time. UK viewers can watch the Premier League match on TNT Sports 2 or stream it via Discovery+, while highlights will be available through TNT Sports and Match of the Day on BBC One. Leeds are six points above the relegation zone and have lost only three of their last 15 league matches, although frequent draws have kept them in danger. Sunderland are enduring a four-match winless run, including three defeats, and have won only twice in their last 12 league outings.

Eintracht Frankfurt host Freiburg in a key Bundesliga match for the race for European qualification. Frankfurt have won only once in their last nine league games and are hampered by a lengthy injury list, while Freiburg have won three of their last five league matches but have only two victories in their last ten away games. Freiburg also face several absences, including two suspensions. Frankfurt’s recent performance against Bayern Munich and Freiburg’s poor away form lead to a predicted 3-2 home win.

Borussia Mönchengladbach host Union Berlin in a Bundesliga fixture with Gladbach only two points above the relegation zone after a seven-match winless run. Union arrive after ending their own seven-match winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and sit ninth, eight points clear of the bottom three. Both teams have several injury and suspension concerns, while Union are also dealing with fan opposition to a possible temporary move to Berlin's Olympic Stadium during redevelopment of the Alte Försterei. The preview predicts a 1-1 draw.

Werder Bremen and Heidenheim meet in a crucial Bundesliga relegation battle, with Bremen 17th and one point from safety while Heidenheim sit bottom, six points from safety. Bremen are unbeaten in 13 league matches and struggling for goals, whereas Heidenheim have won only three games, conceded a league-high 51 goals and gone 10 matches without a victory. Both sides face significant squad concerns, including injuries and doubts over several players. Given the teams' poor form and the high stakes, the predicted result is a 0-0 draw.

Augsburg host FC Koln in a Bundesliga game between two teams with contrasting trajectories. Augsburg have surged from relegation danger into mid-table under interim-turned-permanent coach Manuel Baum, including a notable win over Bayern Munich and a strong home record. Koln ended a run of defeats with a draw against Hoffenheim but remain close to the relegation zone and face a lengthy injury list. Augsburg are also missing Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Chrislain Matsima, while Alexis Claude-Maurice is in excellent form. The preview predicts a 2-1 Augsburg victory.

Groin injuries in football can involve strains, partial tears, complete tears, tendon problems or chronic overuse issues. Recovery depends on severity: grade-one injuries generally take one to two weeks, grade-two injuries three to six weeks, and grade-three injuries two to three months or longer, especially when surgery is needed. Returning too early increases the risk of a more serious re-injury, so rehabilitation should address strength, mobility, core stability and biomechanical weaknesses before players resume competition. Lionel Messi and Jack Grealish are cited as high-profile examples.

St Pauli host Werder Bremen in a crucial Bundesliga relegation battle, with both clubs occupying the bottom three. St Pauli are three points from safety but have gone unbeaten in their last four home matches, while Werder have lost four of their last five league games, failed to score in seven of their last nine competitive matches and suffered three consecutive away defeats. St Pauli have some returning players but remain without several injured forwards, while Werder are dealing with multiple injuries and may leave Samuel Mbangula on the bench. St Pauli are predicted to win 1-0.

Freiburg welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to the Europa-Park Stadion with an outstanding 14-match unbeaten home run across all competitions and strong hopes of challenging for European qualification. Gladbach have won only once in their last nine matches, sit three points above the relegation zone and are dealing with significant scoring and defensive problems. Freiburg have several defensive injury concerns but may be boosted by Daniel-Kofi Kyereh's return to training, while Gladbach remain without Giovanni Reyna, Robin Hack, Tim Kleindienst and Nathan Ngoumou, with Rocco Reitz suspended. Freiburg are predicted to win 2-1.

RB Leipzig host Borussia Dortmund in a Bundesliga heavyweight clash. Leipzig have slipped from early-season title contention after taking only three league wins from nine and recording a poor recent home run, although they have won four of their last six meetings with Dortmund. Dortmund arrive in much stronger form after four consecutive wins, a six-match Bundesliga winning streak and a 2-0 Champions League victory over Atalanta, keeping them within six points of leaders Bayern Munich. Leipzig will be without Peter Gulacsi and several other players, while Dortmund are missing Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, Filippo Mane and Niklas Süle. The preview predicts a 2-2 draw.

Union Berlin host Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga with the hosts winless in seven league matches and only six points above the relegation zone. Leverkusen have recovered from a three-match losing run to go unbeaten in seven games, including six wins, while also progressing in the Champions League knockout phase and reaching the DFB-Pokal semi-final. Both teams have injury concerns, but Leverkusen’s stronger form and defensive record lead to a prediction of a 3-1 away win.

Aston Villa host Leeds United at Villa Park at 3pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026, with Villa seeking points in the Premier League top-four race and Leeds aiming to extend their strong recent form. The match will not be televised or streamed live in the UK because of the 3pm blackout. Highlights will be available on the clubs’ and Premier League’s official YouTube channels, with Match of the Day airing analysis on BBC One later that evening.

Sigma Olomouc host Lausanne Sport in the opening leg of a UEFA Conference League knockout playoff. Sigma qualified narrowly after finishing 24th in the league phase and have lost seven of their last eight competitive matches, although their home record offers some encouragement. Lausanne finished ninth, missing automatic qualification for the round of 16 by one point, but are also winless in their last five matches and have won only twice in their last 11 away games. Both sides have several injured players, and Sports Mole predicts a cautious 1-1 draw.

Crystal Palace will visit Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, February 19, 2026, for the first leg of their Europa Conference League knockout-phase playoff. The match begins at 5:45pm UK time at the 9,000-capacity Bijeli Brijeg Stadium. UK viewers can watch on TNT Sports 1, stream via Discovery+ with the TNT Sports package, or use Amazon Prime Video through an eligible subscription. Crystal Palace reached the playoff after finishing outside the league phase’s automatic top eight, while Zrinjski secured a top-24 place with a draw against Rapid Wien.

Heerenveen host PEC Zwolle in an Eredivisie match with both clubs still pursuing a top-eight finish. Heerenveen ended a four-match winless league run by beating Go Ahead Eagles 3-1, but defensive problems and a poor home record remain concerns. Zwolle are seeking a season double after winning the reverse fixture, although inconsistent results and just one away league victory this season weaken their prospects. Heerenveen may welcome back Dylan Vente, while Zwolle regain Zico Buurmeester but remain without several injured players. The preview predicts a 2-1 Heerenveen victory.

Augsburg host bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim at the WWK Arena with a chance to move closer to Bundesliga survival. Manuel Baum has helped Augsburg recover from a poor start and climb to 13th, although a controversial defeat by Mainz ended a four-match unbeaten run. Heidenheim have collected only two points from their last eight matches, are six points from safety and have lost three consecutive league games. Both teams have injury concerns, but Augsburg are backed to use their strong home form to win 2-0.

Stuttgart host FC Koln in the Bundesliga looking to recover from a 2-1 defeat by St. Pauli and strengthen their Champions League qualification push. Stuttgart have won seven of their 10 home matches and are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Koln, while Koln have won only twice in their last 12 league games and have a poor away record. Stuttgart are missing Dan-Axel Zagadou and Lazar Jovanovic, while Koln have a significantly longer injury list. Stuttgart are tipped to win 2-1.

Bayer Leverkusen host St Pauli in a Bundesliga match with contrasting objectives: Leverkusen are pursuing a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, while St Pauli are attempting to build on a win over Stuttgart and escape relegation. Leverkusen have taken seven points from their last three league matches, won four of their last five at the BayArena and recently beat St Pauli 3-0 in the DFB-Pokal. St Pauli have improved their survival position but have only one away win in 11 league matches and a poor recent record against Leverkusen. Both sides face significant injury absences. The preview predicts a 2-1 home victory for Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern Munich host RB Leipzig in a DFB-Pokal quarter-final, seeking to end a six-year drought in the competition. Bayern enter after a 5-1 win over Hoffenheim and have recently dominated Leipzig, while Leipzig have suffered inconsistent Bundesliga form despite a 2-1 victory over FC Köln and generally strong away performances. Bayern have a fully fit squad, with Harry Kane and Luis Díaz expected to start; Leipzig are missing several injured players, including Castello Lukeba and Assan Ouedraogo. Bayern are predicted to win 3-1 and advance to the semi-finals.

Hertha Berlin host Freiburg in a DFB-Pokal quarter-final, with Hertha seeking a return to the semi-finals while prioritising promotion back to the Bundesliga. Hertha have scored freely in recent matches but are winless at home in four games and face injuries to Kennet Eichhorn, Diego Demme and Maurice Krattenmacher. Freiburg, who reached the 2022 final and the 2023 semi-finals, arrive after a 1-0 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen and are missing several defenders. Sports Mole expects Freiburg's top-flight quality to prevail in a 2-1 victory.

Chelsea host Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, with kickoff at 7:30pm GMT. The match will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 4 and streamed on Discovery+, including through the Amazon Prime Video app for eligible subscribers; highlights will air on BBC One's Match of the Day. Chelsea are pursuing a fifth consecutive Premier League win and pushing toward the top four under Liam Rosenior, while Leeds are building momentum in their fight for survival after beating Nottingham Forest and losing only two of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

Gaziantep host Kasimpasa in a Turkish Super Lig match with both teams on seven-game league winless runs. Gaziantep have fallen away from the European qualification places but retain confidence from an unbeaten record in their last four meetings with Kasimpasa. Kasimpasa are two points from safety and face serious relegation concerns because of their poor attacking record. Gaziantep will be without Salem M'Bakata, Ali Ablak and Badou N'Diaye, while Kasimpasa are missing Haris Hajradinovic and may have doubts over Irfan Can Kahveci. The preview predicts a 2-0 Gaziantep victory.

FC Koln have recovered from an eight-match Bundesliga winless run with victories over Mainz and Wolfsburg, moving five points clear of the relegation zone. Strong home form is expected to help them against an RB Leipzig side that has won only twice in its last seven league matches and fallen out of the top four. Koln will start Said El Mala after rejecting Brighton's £30 million offer, while both teams have several absentees. The preview predicts a 1-1 draw.

St Pauli host Champions League contenders VfB Stuttgart while trying to halt a winless run and move away from Bundesliga danger. St Pauli are without the injured Ricky-Jade Jones, Hauke Wahl and several other players, while Stuttgart have concerns over Lazar Jovanovic, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey and Tiago Tomas. Stuttgart have won their last four matches, lost only once in their last 11 across all competitions and moved into the Bundesliga top four. The preview predicts a 3-1 Stuttgart victory, although St Pauli's unbeaten home run since November offers the hosts some hope.

Bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim host Hamburger SV in a crucial Bundesliga relegation clash. Heidenheim are six points from safety after 13 defeats in 20 matches, although their recent home form offers some encouragement. Hamburg remain without an away win this season but earned a shock draw against Bayern Munich; their hopes are complicated by the absence of Jean-Luc Dompe, Nicolas Capaldo, Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit and Yussuf Poulsen. The preview predicts a 2-1 Hamburger SV victory, which would end the club’s long wait for an away Bundesliga win.

Arsenal host Sunderland at Emirates Stadium in a 3pm Premier League match on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Arsenal are six points clear at the top despite winning only one of their last four league games, while Sunderland are exceeding expectations and sit close to the top-four places. The match will not be broadcast or streamed live in the UK because of the 3pm blackout; highlights will be available on BBC One's Match of the Day and through Sky Sports' digital channels.

Leeds United host Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Friday, February 6, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. UK time. Both sides are six points above the relegation zone, with Leeds 16th and Forest 17th in the Premier League. UK viewers can watch on Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League, with streaming available through Sky Go, the Sky Sports app, and NOW TV. Leeds won the teams' previous meeting at Elland Road in April 2023, while Forest won 3-1 in the reverse fixture last November.