Bundesliga Matchday Forecast – Matchday 17, 2025/26

VfB Stuttgart sent out a real statement with their clear victory against Leverkusen and once again underlined how stable and mature Sebastian Hoeneß’s team have become. Pace, clarity in positional play and enormous finishing strength in the final third currently make VfB one of the most unpleasant opponents in the league. Players such as Undav and Leweling are working excellently together, complemented by an aggressive, well-coordinated defence. Stuttgart not only look strong in form, but also structurally solid – an important factor, especially during the midweek round.

Eintracht Frankfurt travel with renewed attacking momentum. Their winter signings made an immediate impression in the spectacular 3:3 draw against Dortmund. In particular, Younes Ebnoutalib, who scored the temporary 3:2, instantly demonstrated his potential. What stood out was not just a single moment, but the natural way in which he integrated himself into the new processes. Alongside the established core around players such as Knauff, Larsson and Uzun, an additional attacking option is emerging. The key question now is whether these new impulses will take effect sustainably or whether it will still take time for the automatisms to fully develop.

Prediction: Overall, a very well-rehearsed VfB side face a Frankfurt team undergoing offensive changes. Stuttgart go into the match with slight advantages, but if Frankfurt’s new attacking options click again, an open exchange of blows is on the cards.

For Borussia Dortmund, this clash marks the transition from spectacle to obligation. After the turbulent 3:3 draw in Frankfurt, it is now less about character and late goals, and simply about the three points. Especially at home, expectations are that dominant phases not only look good but are also reflected early on in the scoreline. A particularly interesting aspect will be the personnel decision in central attack. Serhou Guirassy has looked out of form for weeks and is currently falling short of expectations. This raises the question of whether Niko Kovač will persist with him or have the courage to start him on the bench. Fabio Silva has regularly provided fresh impetus as a substitute, so a start for the Portuguese forward would be a clear signal and could give Dortmund’s attack a different dynamic.

Werder Bremen arrive under special circumstances. While the weather-related postponement ensures fresh legs, it also deprives the team of some match rhythm. Added to this is the fact that it will be their first game without Boniface, whose departure has now been officially confirmed. Although his influence on Bremen’s game had recently been limited, his absence nevertheless affects the attacking options and squad depth. Bremen’s approach is likely to be clear: remain compact, disrupt Dortmund’s rhythm and look to create danger through counter-attacks. If they manage to keep the match open for a long time, it could develop into a game of patience – precisely the scenario in which BVB have shown vulnerability this season.

Prediction: Dortmund are clearly favourites. But as so often, the decisive factor will be whether the Black and Yellows can translate their superiority consistently onto the pitch.

The circumstances could hardly be more contrasting. While FC Bayern travel to Cologne as dominant league leaders with an 11-point advantage over second place, 1. FC Köln remain stuck in a difficult phase both sporting and emotionally. The recent 2:2 draw in Heidenheim brought a point, but did little to address the underlying issues: Cologne are still waiting for a real sense of achievement, and patience among supporters is wearing thin. Under Lukas Kwasniok, a certain willingness and higher intensity are visible, but results continue to elude them. The draw in Heidenheim ultimately extended the negative run rather than ending it. Early signs of discontent are already emerging in the stands – not only due to the lack of results, but also with regard to some of the coach’s personnel decisions. In isolated cases, even the coaching position is being questioned. A delicate moment in the season, especially with FC Bayern, arguably the toughest opponent possible, coming to town.

FC Bayern, by contrast, arrive full of confidence. The 8:1 win against Wolfsburg was another statement and underlined the immense attacking power of the Munich side. Luis Díaz and Olise were in outstanding form, while the pace and variability in the final third are currently unmatched in the league. Even minor tactical adjustments or squad rotations seem to have little impact on fluency. For Bayern, the question is less about “if” and more about “how”. During the midweek round, Vincent Kompany will need to rotate, but the squad remains clearly superior in quality. If Bayern manage to take control early on, Cologne could be facing a match that quickly tilts in a one-sided direction.

Prediction: After the dominant performance against Wolfsburg, anything other than a clear Bayern victory in Cologne would be a genuine surprise.