Can Bayern win the Bundesliga? It seems highly unlikely at the moment, as before this weekend's fixtures, there was a 10-point gap between them and Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table. However, there are still seven games and 21 points left to play for for both teams, as the Ruckrunde reaches its climax.
In this article, we explore the current outrights for each title contender, and analyse Bayern's April fixtures in more detail, and from a betting point of view…
Can Bayern win the Bundesliga? – Current outrights
Bayer Leverkusen – 1/16
Unsurprisingly, Leverkusen are huge favourites to win the Bundesliga, given the 10-point lead they accumulated before the international break. With just seven games to go for them and Bayern, it would take an almighty slip-up to lose the title from here, but the pressure could get to Leverkusen knowing they have never won the Bundesliga before.
Bayern Munich – 14/1
Bayern are currently second-favourites with betting markets to win the title, but are considered big outsiders. However, they have experience of being behind in title races and coming back to win, notably pipping Borussia Dortmund on the final day of last season.
VfB Stuttgart – 750/1
Should neither Leverkusen nor Bayern win the title, Stuttgart are the next favourites according to betting markets. However, this is considered a long stretch, as they were a further four points behind Bayern, and so 14 points behind Leverkusen, before this weekend's fixtures.
Can Bayern win the Bundesliga? – April fixtures
6th – Heidenheim (A)
Bayern's first fixture of April is away to Heidenheim, who were winless in five league matches before the international break. Currently lingering in 11th with not much to play for, the visitors should be confident of all three points in this one, especially considering they have won the previous two H2Hs, scoring nine goals in total.
9th – Arsenal (A)
Bayern travel to Arsenal in midweek for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. They are not allowed to bring any fans as punishment for a previous offence, which will make it even more difficult to get a result. Still, Bayern's recent record against Arsenal is strong, and they were the last team to knock the Gunners out of the competition in 2017, beating them 10-2 on aggregate.
13th – Cologne (H)
A return to the Bundesliga sees Bayern host struggling Cologne at the Allianz Arena, with the visitors in the relegation zone in 17th before this weekend's round of fixtures. They are winless in six league matches, losing three, and so Bayern should be confident of maximum points here.
17th – Arsenal (H)
Bayern host Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League in mid-April, hoping for a positive result that takes them to the semi-finals. Realistically, Bayern may actually have a better chance of winning this competition than the Bundesliga given its knockout format, but Arsenal – sitting top of the Premier League before this weekend's fixtures – will be tough to beat.
20th – Union Berlin (A)
Once they put the Champions League aside, Bayern switch their attention to the Bundesliga again when they visit Union Berlin. Their opponents should be safe from relegation by this point, but a few defeats could change things. Union did beat Werder Bremen 2-1 at home before the international break, but have never beaten Bayern in nine previous H2Hs.
27th – Frankfurt (H)
Bayern's final game in April sees them host Frankfurt, who beat them 5-1 in the reverse fixture. It will be a big test of their title credentials, indeed if Leverkusen have not already won it by then!
