There are a number of intriguing contests to be played this weekend with the fight to stay in the top-flight and to qualify for European football reaching its climax in the coming weeks. However, the clash between German titans Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will serve as our main course as we look to enjoy quality football matches and make some extra cash at the same time.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Friday 5 March
Schalke 23/10
Draw 49/20
Mainz 11/10
(21:30)
Schalke are rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga table, nine points from safety with seven league games to go, which doesn’t bode well for their chances to stay in the top-flight. The Royal Blues suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Stuttgart last weekend, the consolation goal being the only strike scored by the club in February who remain winless in nine matches. Second from bottom Mainz will look to add to Schalke’s woes by claiming victory in this massive “six-pointer” clash. The Carnival Club’s target will be to return to winning ways after a 1-0 loss to Augsburg ended their three-game unbeaten run. Away to Win Either Half is the smart bet at 6/10.
Saturday 6 March
Borussia Monchengladbach 33/20
Draw 24/10
Bayer Leverkusen 16/10
(16:30)
Borussia Monchengladbach allowed a two-goal advantage to slip from their grasp at the Red Bull Arena last Saturday and ultimately left with nothing following RB Leipzig’s three goals in the last 30 minutes of the clash. The Foals are now in serious danger of missing out on European qualification for next season after going winless in their last five league games, including defeats to relegation-threatened Cologne and Mainz. Bayer Leverkusen suffered another blow in their hopes to qualify for a European berth after disappointingly losing 2-1 to Freiburg. The defeat finds the “Werkself” with just one win from six games coming into this encounter. Recent meetings between these opponents have been high-scoring affairs, consider Both Teams to Score (Yes) a banker at 11/20, however, I also have my eye on Both Halves Over 1.5 Goals at 31/10 – my value bet of the weekend.
Hoffenheim 19/10
Draw 5/2
Wolfsburg 13/10
Hoffenheim come off a 1-1 draw in the capital against Union Berlin. Sebastian Hoeneb’s troops return to the Pre-Zero Arena with the aim of bagging their fifth win on home soil and become the first team to breach the Wolfsburg defence in 750 minutes of football. The Wolves come into the clash high on confidence with eight straight clean sheets being the most important ingredient behind their success that finds “Die Wolfe” in third position on the standings, just seven points from Bayern Munich with seven games to be played. As usual, I’m all in on Wolfsburg to claim three points at 13/10.
Freiburg 37/10
Draw 3/1
RB Leipzig 13/20
Freiburg got the better of Bayer Leverkusen who were suffering from the dreaded UEFA Europa League hangover last weekend, and now have bigger fish to fry in the form of Julian Nagelsmann’s title-chasing Red Bulls. RB Leipzig showed character by coming from two goals down to claim maximum points with three second-half goals. Surely this team can give Bayern Munich a proper race for the Bundesliga Meisterschale that’s been in the Bavarians’ possession for eight straight seasons. My money is on last season’s UEFA Champions League semi-finalists to convincingly win at 13/20.
Eintracht Frankfurt 8/10
Draw 29/10
Stuttgart 29/10
Eintracht Frankfurt will be desperate to get back to winning ways after their impressive 11-game unbeaten streak was snapped last Friday with a 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen. The Eagles will fly back home to Deutsche Bank Park where their last result was a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich. Stuttgart come into the clash off back-to-back wins against relegation-threatened Cologne and Schalke but will now have an uphill task on their hands to outscore the hosts on their own patch. Delve into the Matchbet & Both Teams To Score market and select Eintracht Frankfurt & Yes at 21/10. But if you’re not as confident as I am, stick with the home win at 8/10.
Hertha Berlin 1/1
Draw 24/10
Augsburg 26/10
Hertha Berlin suffered yet another defeat at Wolfsburg last time out that stretched their winless streak to nine games that include seven defeats, which finds The Old Lady precariously hovering above the drop zone, just staying afloat for the moment on goal difference ahead of Arminia Bielefeld. Augsburg’s victory over Mainz was the visitors first win from five games that sees them put distance between themselves and the relegation zone, eight points to be exact. The hosts have convincingly won the last two ties, however, this time I foresee these sides sharing the spoils in a cagey, hard-fought draw at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
Bayern Munich 13/20
Draw 34/10
Borussia Dortmund 34/10
(19:30)
Sunday 7 March
Cologne 7/4
Draw 21/10
Werder Bremen 17/10
(16:30)
Cologne suffered a third straight defeat when they travelled to the Allianz Arena to lock horns with defending champions Bayern Munich. The Billy Goats return to home soil with the hopes of earning just their second victory at the RheinEnergieStadion all season. Werder Bremen pulled off the shock result of the previous round last Friday, beating in-form Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in a thrilling encounter that allowed the Green-Whites to steer further away from drop zone. It might seem like I’m sitting on the fence, but Away To Win Either Half is a much safer bet than the away win.
Arminia Bielefeld 19/10
Draw 23/10
Union Berlin 11/10
(19:00)
Arminia Bielefeld were put to the sword by Borussia Dortmund in a 3-0 defeat at Signal Iduna Park that added to the Blues’ misery, leaving them winless in five games that include four defeats while shipping 17 goals on the process. Union Berlin were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after defender Nico Schlotterbeck unfortunately put the ball past his own goalkeeper in the 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim. I’m expecting another cagey game that won’t have fluid passing or rhythm. Utilise the Under 2.5 Goals option and select Yes at 13/20.
TREBLE @ 10/1
Wolfsburg Win 13/10
RB Leipzig Win 13/20
Eintracht Frankfurt Win & BTTS 21/10
Written by Bryan Naicker
