Bundesliga Matchday 17 Odds & Picks: Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin & More

• It’s Matchday 17 in the German Bundesliga this week with games on Tuesday and Wednesday
• The table has a familiar look with Bayern leading the pack, which includes RB Leipzig, Leverkusen and BVB
• We list the odds for all nine games and preview three, offering our best picks

The Bundesliga table has a familiar look at the top ahead of Bundesliga Matchday 17, with Bayern Munich leading the way and with a chasing pack that includes RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen.  Bayern’s lead us now up to an ominous-looking four points.

We list all nine games, show the odds, preview three, and offer a pick for each below.

Bundesliga Matchday 17 Odds

All odds taken Jan 18 at DraftKings

Pick 1: Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund

Third meets fourth at the BayArena on Tuesday in Bundesliga Matchday 17, with both teams tied on 29 points but Leverkusen above BVB by virtue of a slightly superior goal difference. At the weekend, a much-changed Leverkusen team – weakened due to injuries and illness – lost 1-0 away at Union Berlin although it was still a dominant performance, albeit one spoiled by an inability to convert possession and pressure into goals.

Unfortunately for Die Werkself most of the absentees will still be absent against BVB – including Arias, Bellarabi, Bender, Palacios, Paulinho, and Weiser – and it is one where Peter Bosz’s men would be happy to come away with a point.

It will be impossible to match the emotion of last year's #B04BVB without fans, but the goal remains the same: another 🔝 performance and 3 points 💪 pic.twitter.com/kBxYwuMzlU

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 18, 2021

BVB also dropped points at the weekend when they drew 1-1 at home with Mainz, and were left to rue a missed Marco Reus penalty in the dying minutes of the game. Prior to the Mainz match, Edin Terzic’s men had been on a good run and worth noting is that they have won four of their last five away games in all competitions.  While they also have injury problems of their own – Hazard, Schmelzer, Witsel, and Zagadou are all out – their extra squad depth and good away form could be enough.

Pick: BVB to win (+110)

Pick 2: RB Leipzig vs 1. FC Union Berlin

A 2-2 draw away at Wolfsburg at the weekend was not ideal for the RBL as it led to a four-point gap opening up between themselves and Bayern. They know from bitter experience that the only way to keep the pressure on Bayern is by not dropping silly points in games they should win, which makes it doubly important that they bounce back strongly against Union on Bundesliga Matchday 17.

Oddly though, RBL has struggled a little at home of late – they have failed to win their last two home games – and there are signs of them feeling the pressure of their title challenge.

Good vibes! 😁✌️

🔜 #RBLFCU

🔴⚪ #RBLeipzig pic.twitter.com/CbZoHm0ps1

— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) January 18, 2021

Union, on the other hand, comes into this off the back of an outstanding 1-0 home win over Bayer Leverkusen and a win here – they are currently in fifth – would take them to within a single point of Leipzig. They have punched above their weight for most of the season and have given themselves a genuine chance of a European place. As a result, there is certainly value here in the +650 for the away win but maybe the safer bet, which still offers value, is with the draw.

Pick: RBL and Union Berlin to draw (+300)

Pick 3: Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Werder Bremen

Mönchengladbach is currently in eighth but only three points shy of a Europa League berth and so will be looking to push on in the second half of the season. A 2-2 draw at the weekend at least ensured they did not lose too much ground on those above them but they need to find some consistency at home if their European dream is to be realized. They are capable of big wins at home, as they proved with a massive win Bayern last time out at Borussia Park, but they also need not to slip up against teams in the bottom half, like Werder.

Getting ready for Werder ⚽💪#DieFohlen #BMGSVW pic.twitter.com/1BQVjXmPby

— Gladbach (@borussia_en) January 18, 2021

Werder comfortably dispatched mid-table opposition at the weekend in the form of Augsburg but will be tested here given they have only won four matches all season. But, they drew on their last road trip, away to Leverkusen, and will have taken great confidence from that. They have a chance of snatching a point here on Bundesliga Matchday 17 and at +310 that is where the value lies.

Pick: Mönchengladbach and Werder to draw (+310)