THERE were some crucial English Premier League clashes during midweek so we will preview the intriguing German Bundesliga title race this weekend. Firstly, today (Friday) leaders Borussia Dortmund will travel to Bochum for a must-win match, then on Saturday top four side Union Berlin host the hottest team in Germany Bayer Leverkusen visits.

Event # 1 – GER – Bochum vs Dortmund– 1:30 pm

After Bayern Munich suffered a surprised defeat last week Borussia Dortmund’s impressive 4-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt saw them jump to the top of the league standings, and they will be aiming to remain at the top with five matches remaining in the season.

Host Bochum also have plenty to play for as they sit just two points above the relegation zone following their heavy 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Wolfsburg last weekend. Having enjoyed a five-match winning streak at home earlier in the season Bochum’s recent home form has been far from impressive, losing four of their last five while conceding twelve goals during this disastrous run, plus now facing a title-chasing Dortmund, they seem unlikely to reverse their recent poor form.

Dortmund have found some of their best form in recent times having won 11 of their last 12 league matches, suffering just one defeat during this impressive run.

Indeed, Dortmund have been given an opportunity to claim their first title in over 12 years, and things are looking good for them. Firstly, they have been in excellent form since the start of 2023, scoring an amazing 41 goals from just 14 games since January, and are the best attacking side in the league. Just for comparison, defending champions and their fiercest rivals Bayern Munich have scored 30 goals in 14 matches. Dortmund will enter this match high on confidence, having scored two or more goals in their last seven matches. However, surprisingly, they have failed to win any of their last three away games, drawing twice before losing against Bayern Munich.

KEY STATS

• Bochum – have lost four of their last five Bundesliga home games (W1) after previously winning their first five home matches under Thomas Letsch in the top flight. The 5-1 loss to Wolfsburg on match day 29 was Bochum’s heaviest Bundesliga home defeat.

• Dortmund – haven’t been top of the table this far into the season (match day 29 or later) since winning the title in 2011/12. The league leader has only changed across the final five match days once in the past 20 Bundesliga campaigns – VfB Stuttgart pipped FC Schalke 04 to the Meisterschale in 2006/07.

• Both sides – VfL Bochum have won just one of their last nine Bundesliga games against Borussia Dortmund (D3, L5) – 4-3 in Dortmund on April 2022. Bochum have failed to win any of their last four top flight meetings with BVB at home (D2, L2) since a 2-0 victory in March 2007.

The betting tip: Dortmund win.

Event # 2 Ger – Union Berlin vs Bayer Leverkusen – 8:30 am

Red-hot Leverkusen visit European hopefuls Union Berlin tomorrow, Saturday April 29, aiming to maintain their recent unbeaten run of form, and regardless of the outcome of this game and the others this weekend, Union Berlin will remain in their top four position.

Berlin can smell the Champions League football next season. Indeed, Union Berlin have been superb all season, especially at home where, amazingly, they are on an unbeaten home run of twenty-straight games dating back to last season. Union have won nine and drawn five of their last fourteen matches, allowing just nine goals during this run. Last weekend they won 1-0 away at Gladbach and will be aiming to maintain their impressive unbeaten run against an in- form Leverkusen side.

Meanwhile, it is amazing how Bayer Leverkusen turned their season around, coming from being relegation strugglers to Champions League challengers. Ahead of the game they are on a fantastic run of form, going unbeaten in their last 8 matches while winning six of their last seven. Last weekend they beat another European contender, RB Leipzig, 2-0 while coming to within six points from the fourth and final Champions League spot with five matches remaining in the season and not only have Leverkusen been winning matches, they have also been scoring goals. They have scored two or more in six of their last 7 matches and they now travel to Berlin unbeaten in five away matches, winning three times during this run.

This should be a great match for fans between two teams with high ambitions, Union Berlin are close to cementing their Champions League spot while Leverkusen have not given up on that dream.

KEY STATS

• Union Berlin are unbeaten in their last 20 Bundesliga home games (W13, D7) and they could now equal their top flight record of 21 consecutive home matches without defeat (October 2020 to October 2021). FC Bayern are the only side other than Union to still be unbeaten on home turf in the current Bundesliga campaign.

• Bayer Leverkusen are undefeated in 13 straight competitive fixtures (W10, D3), something the Werkself last managed between September and December 2017 (14 in a row under Heiko Herrlich). The only side on a longer unbeaten run in the Bundesliga than Leverkusen (8 games; W6, D2) is FSV Mainz 05 (10 games).

• Both sides – Union Berlin have won just one of their 10 competitive matches against Bayer Leverkusen in professional football (D3, L6) — 1-0 at home in January 2021. Union’s 5-0 loss in the reverse fixture was their joint-highest top flight defeat and the only time they have let in five goals in a half of Bundesliga football (0-0 at half-time).

The betting tip: Draw, with both teams scoring.