All season-long premium subscribers will receive exclusive previews for the upcoming round of Bundesliga fixtures. Today, game week 17 kicks off! There is a huge match in the relegation battle, a Bundesliga return for one of the league’s finest talents of recent years, and countless other exciting encounters to keep you entertained.

FC Bayern v TSG Hoffenheim

After an implausible 5:1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in early December, FC Bayern have returned to their imposing best with three consecutive victories over Manchester United (UEFA Champions League), VfB Stuttgart, and VfL Wolfsburg. 

The point outlay is particularly impressive given that neither Joshua Kimmich nor Leon Goretzka (both ill) featured in the final two league matches. In their place, a new Bayern ‘midfielder for the future’ emerged: Aleksandar Pavlović. The 2004-born German-Serbian has excelled at the core of Der Rekordmeister’s midfield, and his quality may potentially demand a rethink regarding the desire to strengthen the squad with an experienced holding midfielder this window. 

Unlike FC Bayern, TSG Hoffenheim could not go into Christmas with a bang. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side relinquished a lead on 3 separate occasions to only take a point from relegation-threatened SV Darmstadt. Die Kraichgauer are on-course for European qualification, but the last few matchdays have seen a negative spiral take over the club. 

Matarazzo’s side have won only one of their last 7 league matches, and their last, and only, cleansheet was recorded back in September against Union Berlin. This defensive track record is undoubtedly what is keeping Hoffenheim from pushing on further this campaign. Only 5 of the 18 Bundesliga outfits have conceded more often this campaign, and one fears this record won’t be getting any better when they journey to the Allianz Arena. Bayern have averaged 4.29 goals per Bundesliga home match this season, and in 16 previous attempts, Hoffenheim have never kept a cleansheet in Munich. 

Prediction: FC Bayern Win

RB Leipzig v Eintracht Frankfurt

A 1:1 draw with Werder Bremen was a bitter way to end an impressive 16-match stretch in the Bundesliga. Die Rotten Bullen entered Christmas in the Champions League spots, and they have not given up hope of a maiden league title just yet...