Bundesliga preview and betting tips – Week 30

Our German football expert Brad Smith returns with his weekly Bundesliga preview and betting tips below. Good luck if you’re having a punt.

Schalke vs Frankfurt (Friday 1930 GMT)

Just 1 loss in 14 for Schalke and that was against the mighty Munich, and while Frankfurt have lost just two in eight, they have played the majority at home.

The Royal Blues have won 10 of 14 home games and are a great bet to win again with second place in sights, with eight wins in their last nine home games. No doubt they will call on their talisman Huntelaar to get a goal, but at 9/10 he is too short to back.

They like to attack early, and with them leading at half time in each of their last seven home wins, there can only be one bet for Friday.

Best Bet: Schalke HT/FT – 17/10 – BetVictor

Freiburg vs Braunschweig (Saturday 1430 GMT)

The first of two basement battles on Saturday and the Lions could jump out of the relegation zone with a win. They are very poor on the road, though have shown slight belief in recent weeks.

They have scored as many goals in their last four away games as in their first 10, and with be buoyed by their midweek derby win over Hannover. Kumbela can reach double figures and is 9/4 to score anytime, and while EVS is tempting for Freiburg to make it three straight home wins, the sensible bet is to go with goals.

Braunshweig have seen both teams net in eight of their last nine games and I think that’s the bet here.

Best Bet: Both Teams To Score – 7/9 – Unibet

Hannover vs Hamburg (Saturday 1430 GMT)

Slomka returns to the AWD Arena and the home fans will be glad to see he has taken his away form with him to Hamburg, as they have lost six straight now away in the league.

They will be encouraged by the fact that the Reds have lost three of their last four at home, and the fact top scorer Diouf is out for the season.

Huszti has been a fore figure in their home performances though and can score the first goal for a second game in a row at 8/1.

Korkut will know his side need a big win here though and they won’t get many better chances, especially against their ex-coach.

Best Bet: Hannover win – 6/4 – BetVictor

Mainz vs Werder Bremen (Saturday 1430 GMT)

An impressive draw at Schalke looks to have given Bremen sufficient breathing space at the bottom, though could well be dragged into it should results go against them this weekend.

Mainz lay three points from Europe, a spot they could only have dreamed of pre-season, and having won five of the last six home games against teams below they, they should be too strong for Bremen at 17/20.

However, take out Dortmund and Bayern, its seven clean sheets in eight for Mainz at home, so I’m willing to go a bit bolder on the Reds.

Best Bet: Mainz win to nil – 11/5 – PaddyPower

Moechengladbach vs Stuttgart (Saturday 1430 GMT)

A win over BVB has revitalised the Foals who have now won four in five after seven without a win. Fourth is theirs to lose, and they should make it a trio of wins at home this weekend, against a Stuttgart team with seven wins in their last nine away and facing the real prospect of relegation.

They will get no hope from Gladbach, and Raffael is a huge 6/4 to add to his 11 goals in 15 home games, while they are 12/5 to win by more than one goal, however, with Stuttgart possibly looking to hold out for the draw, there is only bet for me.

Best Bet: Moechengladbach win – 20/21 – BetVictor

Wolfsburg vs Nurnburg (Saturday 1430 GMT)

Another European chasing team face relegation battlers this weekend, but at this stage of the season, nothing is certain, and certainly a Nurnburg team who have drawn 11 times already.

I think the Wolves will pick up a win and keep the heat up on their rivals, though are too short for me at 4/6, while there is value to be had when you see a leaky home defence with just one clean sheet in 12, while Nurnburg have only failed to score away at the top four.

Best Bet: Wolfsburg and BTTS – 9/4 – Ladbrokes

Bayern vs Dortmund (Saturday 1730 GMT)

No doubt game of the weekend, and after suffering contrasting fortunes in Europe, will the big guns come out for Bayern on Saturday? Only Pep knows.

Five games without a clean sheet for Bayern, and with Klopp’s side scoring 30 on the road you can expect both teams scoring at 6/10 here – though Lewandowski to score against his future club at 5/2 may also be a bet.

I’d expect Guardiola to please the fans here though and get a result against their big domestic rivals in what should be a very entertaining game for the neutral.

Best Bet: Bayern and BTTS – 19/10 – Ladbrokes

Leverkusen vs Hertha Berlin (Sunday 1430 GMT)

Hyypia was relieved of his duties after a run of nine defeats in 11 but somehow they still have a chance of Champions League qualification. Hertha have nothing to play for and it is telling without a win in seven, with just three goals in that time.

Bayer 04 have scored in their last six though so offer some chance of a goal, though a repetition of the 3-3 of last season looks unlikely given current form.

Sascha Lewandowski will take charge and im expecting a nervous encounter that the home side nick.

Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals – 11/10 – PaddyPower

Hoffenheim vs Augsburg (Sunday 1630 GMT)

Everyone knows that Hoffenheim mean goals, with each of their 14 home games having at least 3 goals in. Ten of them have had at least four in, and although they have nothing to play for, don’t expect them to hold back, especially with Firmino just three goals off the top of the scoring charts. Polanski has two in two at home and is a huge 8/1 to score at any time.

However, sticking with goals is the best bet here, and with Augsburg’s outside chance of Europe, expect them to make this an interesting encounter.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals – 11/8 – BetVictor