Back Dortmund to maintain feel-good factor

• Posted by: csabax
• 12 April 2013
• Football
• Comment!

Borussia Dortmund pulled off an extraordinary Champions League victory against Malaga in midweek, and Kevin Hatchard expects them to continue their winning run against Greuther Furth.

 

Greuther Furth vs Borussia Dortmund, Sat 14:30 BST, Live on Betfair Live Video

Match Odds: Greuther 8.0, Dortmund 1.47, the draw 4.9

 

It would have been difficult for anyone without Malaga-based sympathies not to smile during Jurgen Klopp's post-match interview, after he had watched his Dortmund team snatch Champions League victory from the jaws of defeat. Two stoppage-time goals catapulted BVB into the last four, and they now face Real Madrid, who they took four points from in the group phase. Klopp bared his teeth in a gigantic grin throughout the interview, laughing repeatedly at the self-perceived absurdity of his side going this far in European football's premier competition.

Now Dortmund must come down from cloud nine and continue their efforts to wrap up second spot in the Bundesliga. Last week a shadow side came from behind to beat a determined Augsburg outfit 4-2, and that victory shows the strength-in-depth Klopp has at his disposal. Back-up striker Julian Schieber scored twice, while promising trio Moritz Leitner, Leonardo Bittencourt and Jonas Hofmann were given rare run-outs.

 

Dortmund have won four of their last five games in all competitions, and they have racked up 14 goals in that period. Robert Lewandowski has scored in each of his last ten Bundesliga games, and he will be keen to extend that record against the Bundesliga's weakest side.

 

Greuther Furth are doomed. They are nine points away from escaping the bottom two with just six games left, and their home record is truly atrocious. The Clover Leaves have collected four points from 14 home games, and have scored a pitiful six goals. The counselling industry in Furth must be enjoying something of a boom, as dismayed Greuther fans vent their anger and frustration.

 

At least Greuther have shown some fight under new coach Frank Kramer. Last week they missed several good chances before succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach, and they at least carry a bit of a goal threat these days. That said, it's hard to see them avoiding a repeat of their 3-1 defeat to Dortmund back in November.

 

It's worth backing Borussia Dortmund -1.0 & -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.00, and with BVB scoring freely and Greuther playing more openly these days, Over 3.5 Goals looks tempting at 2.68.

 

Best Bet

Back Borussia Dortmund -1.0 & -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.00

Recommended Bet: Back Over 3.5 Goals at 2.68

 

Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim, Sat 14:30 BST

Match Odds: Wolfsburg 2.16, Hoffenheim 3.75, the draw 3.55

 

Hoffenheim have given themselves a lifeline with last week's 3-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf, a perfect first game in charge for new coach Markus Gisdol. Hoffe are now just a point behind third-bottom Augsburg, and although they weren't outstanding against Fortuna, they did enough to win a tense encounter. The loss of keeper Heurelho Gomes for the season with a broken hand is a blow - the Brazilian has been very solid since his January loan move from Spurs.

 

Hoffenheim have a dreadful away record, with 10 defeats in 13 games, but Saturday's opponents Wolfsburg are in the midst of a frustrating run of results. Coach Dieter Hecking looks ready to explode most weeks, as time and again his side shoot themselves in the foot. The Wolves have won just two of their last ten games, and they have drawn their last three. Centre-back Simon Kjaer is a utter liability, and for me the dozy Dane is one of the Bundesliga's most overrated players.

 

Wolfsburg have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven matches, and they have a German Cup semi-final coming up against Bayern Munich, so they may not be fully focused. Gisdol wants his new charges to "hunt Wolfsburg like a swarm of bees", and if attacking trident Roberto Firmino, Kevin Volland and Sven Schipplock play like they did last week, Wolfsburg may struggle to contain them. Wolfsburg have drawn three games in a row, and I think Hoffenheim can dig in and make it four.

 

Recommended Bet

Back the draw at 3.55

 

Bayern Munich vs Nurnberg, Sat 14:30 BST

Match Odds: Bayern 1.26, Nurnberg 15.5, the draw 6.8

 

Bayern wrapped up the title with a minimum of fuss last week, as they won 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt. The celebrations were muted - Bayern have been champions-elect for months, and they knew they had a big Champions League trip to Juventus on the horizon. Bayern won that game in Italy 2-0, and they have now won 16 of their last 17 games in all competitions.

 

Bayern's Bavarian rivals Nurnberg have pulled clear of the relegation dogfight thanks to a run of nine matches unbeaten, but I wasn't impressed by last week's 2-1 home win over Mainz. Nurnberg were second-best for large parts of the game, and both of their goals came from excellent set-piece delivery from the outstanding Hiroshi Kiyotake.

 

Nurnberg are only one of four teams to take points off Bayern this season, but Bayern are in mind-bogglingly good form. In their last home game they dismantled Hamburg 9-2, and they didn't field their strongest available line-up. It's a derby, and Bayern players will be keen to put down a marker ahead of the German Cup semi against Wolfsburg, so I think Nurnberg will have their hands full. In 10 of Bayern's 14 home games, backing Bayern -2.0 on the Asian Handicap has been a win or a push, and seven of those 14 matches have featured more than 3.5 goals. It's also worth noting Nurnberg have won just one of their last 12 away games.

 

Recommended Bets

Back Bayern -2.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.12

Back Over 3.5 Goals at 2.32

 

(Source: Betfair)

 

Bet HERE

 

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