Bundesliga preview and betting tips – Week 18

After a four week winter break, the Bundesliga is back, and with relegation, Champions League, and Europa League spots well up for grabs, we should be in for an tantalizing final 17 games in the 2013/14 season.

Borussia Dortmund vs Augsburg

BVB saw themselves drop into fourth place before the break after collecting just four points from six games an losing three straight at home. On the other hand, Augsburg brought themselves into European contention, winning four of their last seven and are now unbeaten in three on the road.

I believe the break came at a good time for Klopp’s side to regroup though, and would expect them to return to their early season form. They are too low to back at 1/3 but the 4/5 on them to win by more than a goal appeals, though with 8 of his 11 goals this season coming at home, im backing this striker to score at a great price, as he is as low as 2/5 with some bookies.

Best Bet: Lewandowski to score anytime – 20/21 – Bet365

Freiburg vs Leverkusen

Christian Streich’s side collected their first home win before the break, beating Hannover 2-1, but should find Saturday’s clash a hundred times harder, especially with them breathing down the necks of Bayern at the table’s summit.

Leverkusen have fell twice to poor opposition 1-0 on the road, but with Freiburg’s poor defence, its hard to see a repeat of that scoreline, and I would expect a similar result to the cup match they played at the Mage Solar Stadion in December, where Hyypia’s side ran out 2-1 winners.

They are a respectable 4/5 with Coral to win, and the riskier of you may want to plump for them to win by 1 goal, like they have done in three of their last four meetings, and five times already away this season. That is a massive 14/5 with Ladbrokes.

Best Bet: Leverkusen to win – 4/5 – Coral

Nurnburg vs Hoffenheim

The home side hold the unenviable record of 11 draws in their opening 17 games, without a win to their name. They have been relegated a massive seven times from the Bundesliga in their history, and could well see an eight if they don’t pick up wins from now.

Hoffenheim are no world beaters, but have been the team to watch this season, their games averaging 4.4 goals per game, with young stars Firmino and Volland the main catalysts of this.

Firmino should be the main man the watch on Saturday, with 8 goals (7 away) and 6 assists (5 away) 13/5 to score anytime, and 7/1 for ‘Highest Rated Player’ with BetVictor look superb bets.

However, with Nurnberg without a win all season and with the away sides eye for goal, there is one bet that stands out.

Best Bet: Hoffenheim Draw No Bet – 19/20 – Coral, William Hill

VFB Stuttgart vs Mainz 05

A proper mid table clash here as 10th host 9th, and i can’t imagine much separating them on the pitch either, Stuttgart falling only to Leverkusen and Moenchengladbach at home so far, and Mainz picking up important points away to sides just below them in the table, much like Saturday’s opponents.

05 have seen 7 of their 8 games go Over 2.5 goals which is a decent investment at around 4/6, i think the home sides lack of goals could see an away win, which is a large 5/2 at several bookies, though I like the away win with the security of the draw.

Best Bet: Mainz 05 Draw No Bet – 13/8 – Bet365

Wolfsburg vs Hannover 96

Die Roten have a new manager, and will hope for a change in fortune when they visit Wolfsburg on Saturday, after losing all eight away games so far. They also have a new striker in Rudnevs and think they may well come out and attack with him and Diouf. They showed signs of improvement and at least scored in the four losses before Christmas.

They face decent opposition in the Wolves, who have won 6/8 home matches including versus Dortmund. They are however down at 6/10 to win. The home side will also be boosted by the signing of de Bruyne, and I think they will chalk up a few goals against a shaky Hannover defence, they have however conceded in six straight, and i think both teams will get on the scoresheet here, but can only see a home win.

Best Bet – Wolfsburg to win & Both Teams To Score – 21/10 – StanJames, William Hill

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Hertha Berlin

The home side are yet to pick up a home win and are struggling to find any form that will take them away from the drop zone, while Hertha have won three straight to land themselves hot in Europa League contention.

The Old Lady won the reverse clash 6-1 in August, and I think they are huge at 11/5 to win. They have only fell to the top two and Schalke in the past 10 games, while Frankfurt have only one win in that period.

Best Bet: Hertha Berlin Draw No Bet – 6/5 – BetVictor

Werder Bremen vs Braunschweig

The Lions ended a run of four straight defeats with an impressive 1-0 win over Hoffenheim before the break, but with have to improve their home record if they are to remain a top tier team.

Bremen themselves haven’t been in sterling form, losing four in five before grinding out a 1-0 victory against Leverkusen in their last home match.

Their home form is erratic, they have won 1-0 on two occasions this season, and either side of those victories, suffered a 3-0 and a 7-0 demolition. They should have better luck against the Lions though, Marc Arnold’s side have only scored twice away from home in one match, and have scored just one in their last four.

Bremen should win and win all three of their home wins coming by one goal, that is one for the gambler at a huge 14/5.

Best Bet: Bremen to win – 17/20 – William Hill

Hamburg vs Schalke 04

The Royal Blues will fancy themselves in Hamburg in Sunday, despite not seeing their side win away in three games. The home side have now lost four of their last six at home, the solitary win coming against whipping boys Hannover. Three of those losses came against bottom half sides in the away form table.

Three straight losses going into the break, and 6/4 on Schalke making it four look tasty.

Whatever happened, there should be goals, but Over 2.5 down at 1/2 is hardly worth backing.

Best Bet: Schalke 04 Draw No Bet – 5/6 – BetVictor