Bundesliga Preview: Dortmund face Leipzig in a thrilling opener
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Odds and tips ahead of the opening day
The Bundesliga returns this weekend as attention switches back to domestic football all across Europe.
There’s been a lot of change in the league, especially with managers. Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund have all got new men in charge.
Dortmund and Leipzig face off in a top-four tussle, the Coral News Team take a look at who might come out on top.
Borussia Dortmund v RB Leipzig (5.00pm, Saturday)
For many this is the game of the weekend. Both teams have had something of a make-over in the summer.
Lucien Favre has arrived in Dortmund in an attempt to lift them into title contention again.
Bayern are still the favourites to win the league but Dortmund sit comfortably as the 7/1 second pick.
Their opponents are East Germany’s sole Bundesliga representatives. RB Leipzig are in slight limbo as they wait to unveil Julian Nagelsmann as manager next summer.
At the helm will be sporting director Ralf Rangnick and they’re 16/5 to grab the victory.
RB won the reverse fixture 2-3 last season. A repeat of that scoreline is 28/1.
But it looks like Dortmund will be stronger with Favre in charge and they’re 3/4 to win the match.
Friday night lights
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Bayern Munich take on perennial underdogs Hoffenheim on Friday night.
The season curtain-raiser takes place under the lights at the Allianz Arena. The new Munich boss Niko Kovac is taking charge of his first Bundesliga game at Die Bayern.
The defending champions are 1/4 to start with a win here. Hoffenheim were one of only four teams to defeat Bayern last year.
Nagelsmann begins his final season in charge of Hoffenheim. His team are 11/1 to win away. The draw stands at 5/1.
Schalke to go again
Schalke shrugged off the shackles and the selling of some of their most-prized players in recent seasons to finish in second-place last season.
Domenico Tedesco re-invented the side and has seemingly signed well again.
Mark Uth was Hoffenheim’s top scorer last season and Suat Serdar was snared from Mainz as the future of the midfield.
Schalke are fourth-favourites at 33/1 to win the Bundesliga. But they travel to Wolfsburg on Saturday and are 7/5 to win.
Die Wolfe are out to re-discover their edge this season and are 21/10. A point apiece is 11/5.
Best of the rest
Borussia Monchengladbach face Bayer Leverkusen in the pick of the rest.
Leverkusen were desperately unfortunate to miss out on the Champions League last season.
Die Werkself missed out to Dortmund on goal-difference but are 11/8 to come out with an opening day win.
Gladbach finished a disappointing ninth-place last campaign. But the signing of Nice striker Alassane Plea could prove inspired.
Click here for the latest Bundesliga odds from Coral.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
