All season long premium subscribers will receive exclusive previews for the upcoming round of Bundesliga fixtures. Today, game week 6 kicks off! There’s an early title 6-pointer in Leipzig, a former Köln striker returning to the RheinEnergieStadion, and countless other exciting encounters to keep you entertained.

TSG Hoffenheim v Borussia Dortmund

What has historically proven to be a very even fixture shouldn’t look any different this season, with both sides vying to end Friday night on top of the Bundesliga table. 

Hoffenheim, in particular, look in astonishingly good form. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side have won 4 consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time in over 18 months. Die Kraichgauer have already shown impressive come-back qualities to turn two games heading for defeat into victories, and in 20-year-old Maximilian Beier, they potentially have an upcoming German international who is leading the charge for becoming this season’s break-out star. After a 2-year loan in Hannover, Beier returned to Hoffenheim to start the season as the club’s 4th choice striker. However, he quickly developed into an irreplaceable performer with goals in each of the last 4 Bundesliga matches.

For Dortmund, it isn’t necessarily a new face leading the attacking charge, but carrying the load is nevertheless a name that few really counted upon ahead of the campaign. Stripped of the captaincy and relegated to the bench, few foresaw Marco Reus playing a fundamental role for Dortmund this season, but the 34-year-old club legend has turned back the years with stellar performances over the past two weeks. 

His introduction off the bench helped spark Dortmund’s come-from-behind victory in Freiburg, and last weekend Edin Terzic was vindicated for giving him the start, with Reus scoring the only goal in Dortmund’s 1:0 triumph over VfL Wolfsburg. As Julian Brandt struggles for form, and Niclas Füllkrug and Sébastien Haller battle for fitness, this is an ideal moment for Marco Reus to burst into the limelight again and prove he still has game-changing qualities in his final season in Dortmund. 

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund Win

VfL Bochum v Borussia M’gladbach

With both sides still winless after 5 matchdays, VfL Bochum vs. Borussia M’gladbach promises to be one of the most cagey fixtures on this weekend. 

Following a 7:0 thrashing in the Allianz Arena there are very few positives for Bochum to take into this weekend, but the visitors from Gladbach can at least build upon last weekend’s strong performance and returning personnel.

. Despite losing 1:0, Gladbach were compact and held their own against RB Leipzig on Saturday, and for the first time this season, Gerardo Seoane was able to call upon the talented Kouadio Koné to pull the strings in central midfield. The French youth international is undoubtedly Gladbach’s most talented player, and when fit, his qualities offer Die Fohlen a significant boost as they fight to stay in the league this year. 

Prediction: Borussia M’gladbach Win

FC Köln v VfB Stuttgart...