Bundesliga Matchday 16 predictions
The Bundesliga makes an appearance mid-week for MD 16, as German football leads up to its traditional winter break. DW sports editor Stefan Nestler predicts how the action will go on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hamburg vs. Stuttgart
Both of these teams will urgently need points when they meet on Tuesday night. You don't have to be a soothsayer to guess that this is going to be a close one. It should be lots of work for the referee, but in the end it will just be a draw. Our tip: 1-1.
Hannover vs. Augsburg
Don't expect the 4-0 loss against Bayern to do the Augsburg team any permanent damage - they should be back to their fighting best against Hannover. Markus Weinzierl's team will play that strong, robust form of football for which they are quickly developing a name, and will manage to grab a point away from home. Our tip: 1-1.
Dam set to break in Munich
In their last home game before Christmas, Bayern Munich will start handing out presents: not to their opponents, but to their own fans! Their guests on Tuesday, Freiburg, will defend well at the start but eventually, after a while, the dam will break. Our prediction: 5-0 to Bayern Munich.
Alaaf beats Helau
Cologne's team have been poor at home recently. But, against Mainz they should manage a win and the fans can break into a few traditional Cologne carnival songs, just like they love to do at this time of year. Our tip: 2-1 to Cologne.
Oh Meier!
Hertha Berlin may have just beaten Borussia Dortmund. But away from home in Frankfurt, they won't be able to stop the in-form Alexander Meier. The beefy Frankfurt player is now the league's top goalscorer with 10 goals. Our tip: 2-0 to Frankfurt.
In the home straight
Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo will have warned his players about Paderborn's fighting qualities ahead of this game. But still, we predict that his team will let down their guard right at the end of the match and lose this one narrowly. Our tip: 2-1 to Paderborn.
Goalfest: Hoffenheim vs. Leverkusen
If there was a special jersey in the Bundesliga (Tour de France style) for the most determined performers, then Hoffenheim would win it - week after week. Every game they score heaps of goals and they put on an entertaining show. It will be the same story this Wednesday against Leverkusen too. Our tip: 3-3.
Gladbach a different class
Werder Bremen have been getting better under their new coach Viktor Skripnik, but they still won't be able to match Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday. Expect the Foals to get an easy three points to help guarantee them a Champions League position at the end of the season. Our tip: 3-0 to Gladbach.
A hardfought win
If Borussia Dortmund are going to get any points at the moment, then it's at home, with the backing of their passionate supporters. Fired on by the club's crazy fans in the southern stand, the team should manage a "dirty" win against Wolfsburg. Just like coach Jürgen Klopp demanded. Our tip: 1-0 to Dortmund.
Better than expected
DW's sports editor André Leslie got us another five points in the Kick off! prediction game last week. Not bad for an Australian! We've now moved up some 54 positions on the table, to position number 908. How are you going? Don't forget to get your predictions in: http://kickoff.dw.de/index.xhtml