Bundesliga preview and betting tips – Week 21

Mainz vs Hannover

An interesting match-up on Friday, as a revitalised Hannover side face a tough trip to Mainz as they look to continue their march towards the top half.

The O-Fives are just one place above Korkut’s team, but six points, so you would think this is a must not lose game today. That will be a hard task though, Mainz have won 3 of their last 5, only dropping points to Dortmund and Moechengladbach recently.

96 will take heart from their 3-1 victories over Wolfsburg and Moechengladbach, knowing they can score goals, and Rudnevs is a decent shout at nearly 3/1 in places, a man who has scored twice in 3 games for his new club.

Best Bet: Hannover or Draw – 10/11 – Bet365

Bayern vs Freiburg

Few believe many can stop Munich in all competitions this year, but im sure they will have one eye on their Champions League clash on Wednesday vs Arsenal.

They won 5-0 on Wednesday but have struggled to score more than twice recently in the league, and face a defensively tough Freiburg side. The win to nil should come in but is way too low at 4/7. Bayern shouldn’t concede and have scored 3 or less in 9 of their last 11 games, while Freiburg have conceded just five in their last 6 home games.

Best Bet: Under 3.5 goals – 11/10 – PaddyPower

Braunschweig vs Hamburg

van Marwijk’s team are in freefall and have now lost 7 straight, and although the Lions have been equally as poor, they have shown they can at least put up a right in the race to stay up. They were humbled by Frankfurt last week, but before that, had recently beat Hoffenheim and Leverkusen, drew with Bremen, and suffered an unlucky 2-1 loss at home to Dortmund.

In front of their own fans, they should be up for this, a win could pull them just a point behind their opposition.

Best Bet: Braunschweig Draw No Bet – 1/1 – PaddyPower

Dortmund vs Frankfurt

Klopp’s team seem to have stumbled through their poor patch and now have three wins on the bounce all away from home – the 5-1 demolition on Bremen the highlight.

Dortmund have been leading at half-time in 5 of their 10 games so far and id expect them to do the same here, against a Frankfurt team that ship goals for fun. 4 of their 5 losses have seen them behind at half time as well, and that shouldn’t change this weekend as Dortmund attempt to put themselves back in the title race.

Best Bet: Dortmund HT/FT – 5/6 – PaddyPower

Hoffenheim vs Stuttgart

If there is one thing you can guarantee with Hoffenheim its goals, 23 in just 10 home games and you’d normally like the overs market here, but with Ibisevic out for Stuttgart, you have to fancy the home team in this derby. The striker has 10 goals this season while no-one else has more than 4. One of those is young prodigy Timo Werner though, and at 7/2 could be a shout for anytime goalscorer.

Both sides need the win but I think the power of Gisdol’s team should see them through.

Best Bet: Hoffenheim win – 21/20 – William Hill

Leverkusen vs Schalke

What a fantastic game we have on Friday evening. Second host fourth in a game that should see goals. Schalke have won three straight since the break and Leverkusen will be annoyed at their DFB Pokal loss in midweek, so this game is less than ideal for Hyypia’s side.

A scrappy 2-1 victory over Stuttgart only papered over the cracks of two 1-0 home losses, and with Schalke only losing one of their last 8 at home, I think you’ll see them take at least a point on Saturday.

Best Bet: Schalke or Draw – 3/4 – Bet365, Coral

Augsburg vs Nurnburg

8 points from 5 games for Nurnburg has seen them on the edge of safety, and with a loss to Bayern last week, they were bought back to earth, and face a tough trip on Sunday to one of the leagues in form teams, Augsburg.

6 wins from 10 has seen them with a realistic chance of Europe, and with four wins in a row at home, you’d bank on them making it five this weekend.

Nurnburg usually score away and the win with both teams scoring appeals at nearly 3/1, but with the win priced so high, it would be criminal not to take them.

Best Bet: Augsburg win – 9/10 – BetVictor

Hertha vs Wolfsburg

Another important clash as 7^th host 6^th in a game where the Wolves can take a massive step in the race for Europe.

Berlin were beaten against Nurnburg last week and have won just one in their last five at home, while the away side have lost just once in six away games, and including their win in the cup midweek, have won 5 of their last 7 away.

Best Bet: Wolfsburg Draw No Bet – 6/5 – BetVictor