Back hot Arturo Vidal to find the net for Bayern Munich

Hoffenheim v Stuttgart
BT Sport 3, 5.30pm Wednesday
Hoffenheim were beaten 2-0 at Hannover last weekend but their previous home game was an impressive 4-0 win over RB Leipzig and another victory looks likely against poor travellers Stuttgart.

Leaders Bayern Munich and high-flying Schalke have also lost at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena this term and Stuttgart could be facing an eighth road defeat of the season.

James Milton's recommendation
Hoffenheim
2pts 10-11 bet365, BetBright, Betway

Key stat
Stuttgart have taken one point from a possible 24 away from home this season.

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Bundesliga standings

Bayern Munich v Cologne
BT Sport 3, 7.30pm Wednesday
Jupp Heynckes, coach of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, admits the table "is very pleasant to look at" although winless visitors Cologne probably don't feel the same way.

The bottom club blew a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 at home to Freiburg on Sunday and their defence is likely to crumble at Bayern, for whom Arturo Vidal has scored in each of his last four league games.

James Milton's recommendation
A Vidal to score at any time
1pt 23-20 Betfred

Key stat
Cologne have picked up just three points from a possible 45 this season.

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Bundesliga standings

Schalke v Augsburg
7.30pm Wednesday
After three consecutive draws Schalke have lost ground on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich but the Royal Blues are a formidable force on home soil and could regain the winning feel against travelling Augsburg.

Third-placed Schalke are unbeaten in ten league matches and trailblazers Munich are the only side from eight visitors this season to leave the Veltins-Arena with all three points.

The tactically astute Domenico Tedesco, who arrived in June after Markus Weinzierl's failure to guide Schalke to a European competition for the first time since 2009, has his troops playing with confidence and, more importantly, feared once again by Bundesliga’s lesser lights.

Schalke slipped-up in their last home game when held to a 1-1 draw with rock-bottom Cologne but they won the shot count 17-4 and a little more control in front of goal would surely see them oblige.

Augsburg are no mugs - they sit just three points behind Schalke - but they were outclassed at this venue last season and were brushed aside by a determined Bayern (3-0) earlier in the campaign.

Augsburg tend to struggle when up against elite opposition - all three away of their away league wins have come against sides lying outside the top eight.

The hosts have Guido Burgstaller in red-hot form and creative midfielders Max Meyer and Yevhen Konoplyanka could cause the visitors plenty of problems.

Aaron Ashley's recommendation
Schalke
1pt 10-11 Betway

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Bundesliga standings

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