Bundesliga Matchday 17 predictions

Considering Mainz's awful run of seven games without a win, there can't be much doubt over whether Bayern Munich will win this game or not. They're simply too good for this league right now. Arjen Robben will probably rack up a hat trick. Prediction: 4-0 to Bayern.

Stuttgart have the worst home record in the Bundesliga. Think back to the game against Eintracht Braunschweig last season, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Saturday's duel with Paderborn, the least-fancied team in the division, has the hallmarks of something similar. Prediction: 2-2 draw.

Gladbach have come out of what the Germans call an "English Week" smelling like a bed of roses. A 4-1 win over Werder Bremen bumped Augsburg, this weekend's opponents, out of the way to move the Foals into third position. When the two teams meet, expect Gladbach's goal-hungry attack to come out on top. Prediction: 3-1 to Gladbach.

Don't expect Werder Bremen to roll over too easily in this one. From the 10th position down on the table, all teams are locked in a dogfight for survival. Borussia Dortmund need to start with the same desire as they did in their 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg. But 2014 has been a year of inconsistency, errors and slackness for BVB. Prediction: 2-1 to Bremen.

Hamburg's results before the abject display at home to Stuttgart mid-week masked a whole lot of issues. Their opponents on Saturday, Schalke, have scored goals for fun at home, despite losing to Cologne last weekend. There's simply no chance for Joe Zinnbauer's team here. Prediction: 5-0 to Schalke.

Frankfurt have become one of the league's most entertaining clubs. It seems that Thomas Schaaf's tactics are essentially that he wants to outscore the opposition. Leverkusen, forward-thinking themselves, will look to punish the Eagles at the back. Prediction: 3-2 to Leverkusen.

Outside of Bayern's team, has there been a better player than Kevin de Bruyne in the Bundesliga this season? No way. The Belgian has contributed to 40 percent of Wolfsburg's goals this season and against a mediocre Cologne team his record will rise. Prediction: 3-0 to Wolfsburg.

Hoffenheim's drought on the road in the Bundesliga will come to an end in Berlin. They've not won away since September. But the Berliners have been lacking in consistency, even in spite of beating Dortmund. Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland will strike a chord once again. Prediction: 2-1 to Hoffenheim.

Freiburg are the perennial slow starters in the Bundesliga. But this season, they're much slower than usual. A home game to round off the first half of the season simply must be turned into three points. Hannover, on the other hand, have flown under the radar this season and sit in the top-half. Prediction: 2-1 to Freiburg.