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Matchday 19 - Bundesliga All On Level Terms
By Joe, BettingExpert.com | Edited
Google+: Joe Bexpert
Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski were the highlight in the 5-1 win over Hamburg last weekend for Dortmund, will the Polish duo pull through with yet another high scoring game against Hoffenheim at home on Saturday. On the same day league leaders, Bayern will take on Wolfsburg while Sunday will see a bottom of the table matchup between Mainz 05 and Freiburg.
Bayern Munchen vs. Wolfsburg
Saturday – 14:00
Only a better goal score is keeping Bayern on top of the Bundesliga. But sooner or later they will have to start winning in order to keep their title challenge alive. That was not evident last Friday against Borussia Mochengladbach as the home team was able to do the double over Bayern by lashing out a 3-1 defeat. Only positive that came out of the game was Bastian Schweinsteiger returning to Bayern’s midfield and scoring a goal, it is his teammates who need to wake up from the winter break. Coach Jupp Hecknyes will be happy to see that Franck Ribery will return to the side and another option that was sorely missed last week. Bayern put their rivals back into contention but if they give any more freebies out, then their season could end very quickly.
Mid-table Wolfburg started their 2012 campaign the same way as they saw the year out in 2011. 1-0 wins, in 2011, they beat Stuttgart at home while 2012 saw FC Koln visit Wolfsburg but were also sent back home with a 1-0 defeat. If your next question is who scored the goals, then Sebastian Polter scored the winners in both games. He will be pushing for a starting line up but as both goals came as a substitute, he might be asked to play that role once again this weekend. Both debutant Adelino De Freitas and Felipe Lopes Aliste showed that they are a reinforcement for Wolfsburg and confidence is high as they travel to Munich.
Verdict:
Tricky tie as Bayern are favourites to beat Wolfsburg who look to be in a good form. Wolfsburg would prefer to take Bayern on earlier in the year rather than later. Bayern will want to see themselves bounce back from a setback and at home, things can be changed. Bayern needs to win.
Obscure Stat - Over the last 6 Bundesliga seasons, when a club in 1st place on the table has played an away that has collected between 0 & 1pt from their last 5 away matches, the home club has not been beaten in 12 matches played.
Dortmund vs. Hoffenheim
Saturday – 14:00
Back for business, Dortmund were gifted with the knowledge that Bayern slipped up in the title race and collecting three points would mean leveling with the league leaders in the Bundesliga. That is exactly what happened as Dortmund took full control against Hamburg with a 5-1 away win. The Polish duo, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski, were given the nod and that paid off for Jurgen Klopp, both scoring two goals while Kevin Grosskreutz opened the account for Dortmund in 2012. The good start to 2012 is very likely to continue as they face Hoffenheim at home. Should Klopp make any changes to the winning team then surely many will hope it is something that will improve the game play as Shinji Kawaga is seeing glimpses of good form that he experienced last season.
Eighth place Hoffenheim climbed out of the relegation battle before the winter break kicked in with a 2-1 home win over Augsburg. That surely gave them a bit of breathing space and 2012 started with a 0-0 draw against Hannover 96. Their ambition is to finish the top six in the Bundesliga but their matchup against Hannover didn’t show much prospect. As much improvement as there is to come, Hoffenheim needs to dig deep and find that same closed up shop at the back as they had last weekend. This one might just come up the way they want like their early encounter in the season where the visitors beat Dortmund 1-0 at home.
Verdict:
Dortmund means business and with nothing else other than the DFB Cup to distract them, the Bundesliga is the main priority. At home, Dortmund’s offense will find a way and by what we have seen, it’s likely that they will be on target and clinical, home win.
Obscure Stat - Over the last 4 Bundesliga seasons, when Hoffenheim have played to clubs positioned in the top 3 of the table, they have lost 8 times in 10 matches played, losing by 2 goals or more in 6 of those wins.
Mainz 05 vs. Freiburg
Sunday’s bottom of the table encounter could spell a bit of trouble for either team if a defeat is to come their way. The relegation battle starts here and Mainz 05 have the slight advantage of being at home and being in front by two points. So two points is the difference between the two teams and yet it could be five by the end of Sunday afternoon as Mainz 05 were victorious with 2-1 away win in their first matchup last year. Not surprising, it was a game where Freiburg dominated heavily but it was Mainz 05 who got the last laugh. Mainz 05 saw their 2012 spoilt with a 3-2 defeat to Leverkusen last weekend.
Well, Freiburg hold the bottom spot of the Bundesliga during the winter break and the start of the 2012 saw them flogging that spot to Augsburg.
Verdict:
Not for the faint hearted and one must be ready to win or less between the two. Although, can’t rule out a draw between these two relegation strugglers but Mainz looks to have the upper hand, a team that can score at home so a home win that is.
Obscure Stat - Over the last 3 Bundesliga seasons, when Mainz have hosted a club positioned between 16th and 18th on the table, they have been beaten just once in 8 matches played, winning 6.
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