The Bundesliga returns for Matchweek 8 from 30 October to 1 November 2026, featuring nine fixtures shaped by an unexpected meeting at the summit of the table. Both Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund enter the weekend tied on 17 points and without a league defeat to their names. Our predictive model has generated projections for the first seven matches of the schedule, while the remaining calls appear on each match page the day before kickoff.
The match of the round: Bayern München vs Borussia Dortmund
Saturday evening brings Der Klassiker to Munich, with first place on the line. Bayern München lead the league on goal difference, having struck 25 times in seven league games, including 18 goals across three home outings. However, the hosts enter the game without Jamal Musiala, Bara Ndiaye, and Luis Díaz, whose attacking threat will be missed.
Borussia Dortmund have kept things tighter, conceding four goals across their seven fixtures. The visitors secured a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend and possess their own finishing threat in Serhou Guirassy, who has scored six times in all competitions this season. They arrive without Emre Can, Giannis Konstantelias, and Justin Lerma.
Our forecasting model produces a high-confidence projection for a Bayern München victory, paired with a firm expectation for over 2.5 total goals. The defensive discipline Dortmund have shown will face its steepest test against Harry Kane, who has eight goals this season. On the speculative front, the model leans cautiously toward a 2-1 home victory, while recognizing that classical meetings between these rivals regularly defy tight score projections.
Friday
SV Elversberg host FSV Mainz 05 to open the round. Elversberg sit eighth with 10 points and have stayed unbeaten in four of their last five home matches, though they come into this after a 4-0 loss at RB Leipzig. Mainz, who share identical points tallies in seventh place, boast a perfect away record in the league with three wins from three and ten goals scored on the road. With Elversberg missing Jan Gyamerah and Tom Zimmerschied, our model gives a low-confidence nod to an away win for Mainz, alongside a medium-confidence call that both teams to score.
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen welcome VfB Stuttgart in the afternoon slate. Leverkusen sit fourth after taking three victories from three home matches, scoring eight goals and allowing only one. Stuttgart have dropped to 15th after losing three of four away games, conceding twice per contest. With Ermedin Demirović leading the line for Stuttgart and Patrik Schick already on eight goals for Leverkusen, the model projects a home win with medium confidence and firmly anticipates over 2.5 total goals.
FC Augsburg meet SC Freiburg with both sides seeking a rebound in form. Augsburg have gone five league matches without a win, though they have drawn their last two home games against Bayern München and Union Berlin. SC Freiburg sit third despite consecutive defeats against Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern München. Our model issues a low-confidence projection in favor of an away victory for Freiburg, expecting both sides to find the net.
Borussia Mönchengladbach, currently bottom of the table on three points, host SC Paderborn 07. Alexander Blessin's side claimed their first win of the campaign last time out with a 3-2 victory at Stuttgart, but they have conceded 22 goals in seven matches and remain without Franck Honorat, Enzo Leopold, and Fritz Fleck. Paderborn sit 13th and remain winless on the road. The model leans toward a Mönchengladbach home win with medium confidence.
Werder Bremen meet 1899 Hoffenheim in a contest of in-form attacks. Bremen are sixth and unbeaten in six matches, led by Niclas Füllkrug's eight goals, though they have yet to register a clean sheet this season. Hoffenheim arrive following consecutive 3-0 victories in league and European competition, though they travel without the suspended Alexander Prass. The model offers a cautious call favoring Hoffenheim to win, with high confidence that the game produces more than 2.5 goals.
FC Schalke 04 face RB Leipzig in Gelsenkirchen. Schalke sit 16th and have failed to score a single home goal in three matches this season. Leipzig, placed fifth, have suffered three defeats in three away league matches, but their attacking depth tilts the projection. Despite Leipzig missing Christopher Nkunku through injury, our model projects a Leipzig away win with medium confidence and expects over 2.5 goals.
Sunday
Union Berlin host 1. FC Köln in Sunday's opening game. Union Berlin sit 17th after taking two consecutive draws against Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg, but they will be without the suspended Felix Uduokhai in defense. Köln occupy 12th place following a goalless draw against Schalke, with Thijs Dallinga leading their scoring with two goals. Neither side has managed double digits in league goals this season.
Eintracht Frankfurt close out the matchweek against Hamburger SV. Frankfurt are 14th after falling 1-0 away at Dortmund, with Younes Ebnoutalib providing their primary scoring punch with five goals. Hamburger SV are 11th on nine points, looking to steady themselves after a 1-0 defeat at Paderborn. Hamburg will have to adjust to the absence of suspended defender Mario Vušković.
Should Bayern München prevail in Der Klassiker, they will establish clear separation at the summit of the Bundesliga, while a positive result for Dortmund would shift the league lead entirely. At the bottom, a second consecutive victory for Borussia Mönchengladbach could lift them out of the automatic relegation places if Schalke or Union Berlin falter.
