Last weekend Werder demolished Hannover 5:1 away, and got back in the race for European positions. League leaders easily handled current champions, Wolfsburg, thus announcing that they are taking over the title.

Only one defeat in the last eleven duels

Werder scored even four goals in the first half in Hannover, thus announcing that the crisis days are finally over. Werder also made it to the Cup semifinals, where they will have to face Augsburg and we expect them to save the season through the Cup finals that will lead them to Europe. Champions League is mission impossible after the terrible run of results, so the points from this match won’t mean much to Werder. Having in mind that Werder are hosting Leverkusen only three days after the game against Twente, we think that William Hill’s offer of 1.73 for the hosts not to win is worth a shot.

Still, the tradition in the duel against Leverkusen absolutely favours the hosts that lost only three games to Leverkusen in Bremen, while they won even fourteen. Werder’s good attack suggests another exciting affair against Leverkusen and having in mind that the hosts can’t boast a good defense lately, we think that Bet 365’s offer of 1.53 for both teams to score is worth the money.

Leverkusen want a replay from last season

Only one goal ahead of Bayern is keeping Leverkusen on top of the standings. Last weekend Leverkusen deserved to take three points in the duel against Wolfsburg at home, which proved that the draw in Bochum was just a bad day and not a dip in form. Last season Leverkusen celebrated 2:0 in Bremen and that was their only win over Werder in the last eleven duels. Still, the visitors will try to make the best use of the fatigue of the home squad, which is why we expect them to start the game aggressively towards Wiese’s net. Sporting bet offer 2.20 for the visitors to score over 1.5 goals.

The good news for the club is that Kiesling is back in his scoring form and now he is again on top of the score sheet with thirteen goals. This regular German international is practically flawless this season, so Werder defense should fear him. Odds for Kiesling to score are 2.00 offered by 888 Sport.

Betting verdict

As we have already mentioned the hosts will probably secure a place in Europe through the Cup, so they don’t need the points from this derby. On the other hand, fresh Leverkusen players arrive to Bremen to repeat the success from last season and move farther ahead of Bayern on top. Even though tradition favours the hosts, the visitors are much better at the moment and it would be no surprise if they took the spoils from Weser stadium this season.

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Wolves’ negative run of 12 winless games continued last weekend, when they lost 2:1 in Leverkusen. On the other hand, Schalke have gone ten games without losing, while last weekend they easily beat Koln in front of their fans and took three precious points.

Keeper Lenz is the weakest link in the champions’ squad

Wolfsburg’s poor performance, to say the least, coincided with the injury of firs—choice keeper, Bengalio who will miss the most of the season. Keeper Lenz was tragic character of the last match as well, after clumsy reaction during a free kick, when he practically gave the chance to the rivals to score, but that was not all, he scored an own goal later on. The last time wolves won on home ground was over four months ago, it was against M Gladbach and they have managed only to draw few games since, while they lost most of the games at Volkswagen arena. The good news for the home fans before the duel against Schalke is the fact that their favourites lost only once to Royal blue at home and it was seven years ago. Having in mind that the hosts have no materialization problems, while the defense yields before the rivals’ attacks, we think it would be best to take Bet35’s offer of 1.67 for both teams to score.

Edin Dzeko is by far the best scorer in the team; he has scored ten goals, seven of which he scored in the last ten rounds. He is also a nightmare for Schalke’s defense, as he scored four goals in the last three duels, which is why we have no doubts that this Bosnian international will continue the good form. Odds on Dzeko to score are 2.62 at 888 Sport.

Magath is back to Volkswagen arena to take the title from his former club

Matip’s score minutes before the break saw Schalke break Koln’s resistance in Gelsenkirchen. Farfan doubled the lead later on and the blues kept the lead and recorded a routine win that kept them in the title race with Bayern and Leverkusen. Since Magath, who lead Wolfsburg to the title, took over, Schalke play quite different than they did for years in the past. Having in mind that trophy-winning coach knows the rivals very well, we have no doubts that he will find just the right way to take new points. Precisely that is why Magath opted for an extremely offensive approach with three forwards to revenge for the defeat from the first part of the season. Wolves defense, lead by keeper Lens doesn’t seem convincing at all and having in mind that the visiting attack won’t hesitate, we think that Sporting Bet’s offer of 2.38 for Schalke to score more than one goal might just pay off.

Just like Dzeko is a nightmare for Schalke, Kevin Kuranyi means the same to Wolfsburg, as he has scored six goals in the last seven duels against Wolfsburg. Second best scorer of the league has no intention of stopping there, but he wants to impose his quality to the national squad boos and earn a place in South Africa this summer. That is why we have no doubts that Kuranyi will be the biggest threat for the wolves’ net and Bwin offer 2.40 for Kuranyi to score.

Betting verdict

After a tough game in the suburbs of Valencia against Villarreal, the question is how tired the Wolves will be to face Schalke and continue the positive tradition against them. Lead by title wizard, Magath Royal blue arrive to fight his former club and they will know each weak point of the rivals, which is reason enough to back Schalke here.

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After a goalless affair against Schalke in front of their fans, Freiburg suffered a new defeat this time in Frankfurt, but thanks to poor result of rest of the rivals, they managed to stay above the dangerous zone. Hertha are waking up slowly, but they can’t seem to record a result better than a draw and finally move away from the bottom.

A ninety-minute goal broke Freiburg’s fans and players heart

Relegation contenders, Freiburg opened the score in Frankfurt unexpectedly, mostly thanks to the mistake of home defense. After that Freiburg defended in numbers and held on to a draw for the last hour on the pitch, until the last minute when one of Frankfurt’s numerous attacks was materialized. Coach Robin Dut is aware that a triumph over Hertha would be one step forward in their struggle to survive, which is why he opted for a pretty offensive formation with even three forwards. Having in mind that Freiburg outclassed Hertha in the first match in Berlin and the formation of the hosts, we expect a lot of goals in this match. Odds for home side to score are 1.31 at Betfair.

Team’s best scorer is Cameroonian Mohammadou Idrissou who hasn’t scored since he came back from the African Cup. The results depend a lot on this striker, as well as Freiburg’s destiny in Bundesliga and since Idrissou was the scorer in the first match against Berlin side, we think that Bwin’s offer of 2.90 for Idrissou to score is worth a shot.

To be or not to be for Hertha

Berlin side missed a fine chance to close the gap behind relegation contenders, as they only drew 1:1 with Mainz. The match in Freiburg is crucial for Hertha, as a triumph would help them a lot in the relegation battle, while a defeat would kill their last hope for survival. Coach Funkel lifted the team’s spirit and they lost only in Bremen in the last five rounds. Hertha won’t calculate in this match and only a win would keep their hopes alive, which is why we expect them to be extremely aggressive. Sporting bet offer 2.65 for the visitors to score more than one goal.

Hertha brought a big signing, Gekas on loan from Leverkusen in winter transfer window, who will stay in the club till the end of the season. The experienced Greek contributed to the win over Hannover and he was also the scorer last weekend in Bremen. Three seasons ago he was Bundesliga’s top scorer, so his performance will be crucial for Hertha’s future in Bundesliga. So think about Bet365’s offer of 3.40 for Gekas to score.

Betting verdict

The duel of these rivals is a direct clash in the relegation battle and none of the teams will settle for a defeat. The hosts will try to repeat the success from the first part of the season, when they celebrated a convincing win in Berlin, while motivated Hertha will try to record third win this season. Even though we slightly favour the visitors from the capital, we still think that it is bet to bet on over 2.5 goals here, especially because the tradition agrees with us.

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After a run of excellent results, Dortmund faced a crisis and last weekend they recorded third straight defeat at Allianz Arena. The only team with worst record is precisely Hannover, who lost seven games in a row, when Werder outclassed them 5:1 last weekend.

Millionaires won once in the last ten duels

Muhamed Zidan’s five-minute strike put Dortmund up front against Bayern and as it turned out this goal provoked the hosts that easily scored three goals later on. The losing run of three defeats can cause Dortmund lose a place in Europe next season, so they desperately need points against Hanno, who they haven’t beat for last seven years. Dortmund usually conceded against the reds and only once in the last fifteen duels did they manage to keep a clean sheet. Having in mind that home defense is shaken in the last three rounds, as they conceded even ten goals in the process, we think that Betfair’s offer of 1.59 for the hosts to concede might pay off.

Even though their results are not so good lately, Dortmund can boast a pretty attractive and efficient style. Lucas Barrios turned out to be the biggest reinforcement for the millionaires and in the last eighteen games he managed to score fourteen goals. This is an excellent striker, who will definitely be the biggest threat for Hannover, so we suggest that you use Expekt’s generous offer of 2.00 for Barrios to score again.

Hannover rely on tradition

Hannover’s negative run can’t seem to end and this team have gone over 100 days without winning, while they lost seven games in a row. Coach Mirko Slomka still hasn’t made any impact, but the important thing is that the team is much more offensive under his lead. Having in mind the positive tradition against the millionaires lately, as well as the fact that the hosts are in a crisis, we think that the visitors might continue the good run and reach first points after two winless months. That is why we suggest that you use Victor Chandler’s favorable offer of 2.75 for the visitors not to lose.

Defensive department is pretty weakened, as Vinicius is out and the great number of injuries is the main reason for such poor results. During the winter transfer window, Hannover brought Ivorian striker Arouna Kone, who scored on his debut. This loan from Sevilla is way ahead of Bundesliga quality and considering the fact that he will be eager to score, as it is his way to South Africa, we think that 888 Sport’s offer of 4.50 for Kone to score is worth a shot.

Betting verdict

None of the teams can boast particularly good results lately. Dortmund’s defensive department slowed down lately and the visitors from Hannover will try to use the crisis in millionaires’ squad in the best possible way. Dortmund haven’t won the reds for years now, so the odds for home win are too low to be worth the risk, while over 2.5 goals seems as a much better option.

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After 2:0 defeat in the Cup by Augsburg, Koln suffered exact same defeat against Schalke in the league. On the other hand Stuttgart ended the run of five league wins, when they yielded to hamburger that emerged victorious (3:1).

Neither of these teams have won at home for ten years in mutual duels

The defeat and expected elimination from the Cup have seriously shaken Koln and they let the hosts in Gelsenkirchen take the points. Koln play much better away than at home, where they only beat Mainz and Nurnberg, while they were an easy prey for the stronger teams. Billy goats’ defense is certainly the weakest link in th team and having in mind that they can’t quite handle Stuttgart lately, we suggest that you think about Sporting Bet’s offer of 2.20 for Koln to score over 1.5 goals.

Koln usually concede and score in the final third of the game. We have no doubts that this trend will continue, while Sporting bet offer 1.91 for goals to be scored from 75-90 minutes.

Stuttgart already thinking about Barcelona

Last weekend Hamburger ended Stuttgart’s good run of result, actually Rudd Van Nistelroy sank the hosts with two strikes that went in. Regardless of the defeat, coach Gross can be satisfied with the performance of his players. He won’t be able to count on Romanian striker Marica who earned the fifth yellow card. Precisely that is why Pogrebnyak will join Cacau up front and this striker has finally found his form after getting of to a poor start. Russian international will give his best to earn a place in the starting line-up, which is why we have no doubts that he will be the main threat for the Billy goats’ net. Odds on Pogrebnyak to score are 2.60 at Bwin.

Interestingly, in the last ten duels, none of these two rivals have managed to win at home. Stuttgart will try to regain necessary confidence before the match against Barcelona and revenge for the defeat in the first part of the season. The forms of these rivals are quite different now, so inspired visitors might just repeat last season’s success and take three points from Rhein Energie stadium. We don’t think Stuttgart will lose here, so take a look at Sporting bet’s offer of 1.36 for the visitors not to lose.

Betting verdict

Koln ended the good run with two straight defeats and now it seems that they are facing another crisis. On the other hand, Stuttgart seem unstoppable under the lead of manager Gross, especially against weaker teams, so it would be no surprise if they took three points from this game and the odds for an away win are worth the risk.

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