Sonntag, 22. Januar 2017

FSV Mainz 05 - 1.FC Köln

This is the last encounter of this Round and it should be a close one. Both playing a really great Season so far and they are very close to an international spot but for this they have to continue the good work and play also results wise. Nevertheless Mainz is searching that they can replace one of their most important player in second half of the Season. Because they sold Malli to VfL Wolfsburg for 12 Mio. during the winter break. This was good for their budget but it was not the best way for the strength of the team overall. This is a big lose and it must be compensate form the team now. A big task what Coach Schmitt and Mainz has to do now. He scored 6 goals and gave a lot of assists as well. He was the head in their offensive play, such a player is hard to find and hard to replace as well. Of course they have to life with the situation now ..... The next big blow is that important striker Cordoba who works really hard for the team is suspended here. The next puzzle Schmitt has to find for the starting lineup. But with Muto he has a player back who was long injured in first half of the Season. The others should be ready.
In Cologne they are dreaming for more above all the fans. After a great Season so far where they are very hard to play and to beat as well. Coach Stöger and Manager Schmadke did a great job and they have an excellent squad ready for the game today. In winter break there was not much rotation in the squad, only starter Mavraj left to Hamburger SV. Hard decision but should be replaced even. In goal Horn is not ready 100% and Kessler is his replacement again. Up front they need more help in scoring because 62% of the goals were scored from Modest what is the highest amount of a player in BL history so far. If this guy get injured in the upcoming weeks it is very hard for Cologne to get on scoreboard. Osaka and the other guys should be working harder to get more dangerous in front of the goal and help Modest more. The defensive is working well and Cologne is hard to beat what is a big plus for them as well.

- Mainz lost the last duel against Cologne ..... the first time after winning 5 in a row.
- Cologne scored 3 goals in last game in Mainz, the other 4 none.
- Only 2 from 12 matches were won by Cologne --  both in the last 3.
- Mainz scored 26 goals what is the second best in their BL history to this time.
- But they conceded also 30 what is a high for them as well.
- Mainz lost 4 of the last 5 BL games, but won 4 of the last 5 home games.
- M05 scored 14 of their last 16 BL goals at home.
- The last 3 matches ended all 1-1 for Cologne --- 1991 they managed 5 draws in a row.


I am expecting a close match although Mainz is very strong at home but with the lose from Malli they have to find each other in offensive play. Also the defensive is not easy to crack from Cologne. Although Mainz scored in almost all (only against Bayern Munich 1) their home games at least 2 goals it is hard to see them scoring this again above all without Malli and Cordoba. Cologne good defensive work and Modest up front who is always able to score can be very dangerous for Mainz 05 today. My choice COLOGNE AHC0 or +0,25.

Bayer Leverkusen - Hertha BSC Berlin

Important match for the home side above all if they want to close the gap to the top places and reach an international spot in the end of the Season. They need an incredible run but if this run ends in a Champions League spot it is more as doubtful as the gap is almost to big already. Some good news for them is that they have important midfield player Bellarabi back in squad and he is set to start today. With him they have much more speed over the wings and overall in their play what help to overcome the opponent better as in the last month of 2016. Also the strikers can benefit from him with his assists and the Bayer train should be working better and better in the upcoming weeks. With Brandt on the wing it can be a really great duo who push Bayer 04. Therefore no injury worries right now, all important guys are ready, only Volland and Bender needs some days more to recover but should be in the squad again in the next weeks.
Hertha was on fire and played a great first half although it is not exactly a half as this match counts to first half. They are coming to Leverkusen with some absent players like Weiser who is injured and important for the team, also Kalou who showed good form recently is not available due to African Cup. Maybe Coach Dardai has to think a bit on which starting eleven he wants to count. But overall they should have a great team ready who is more as able to hurt Leverkusen. They are always hard to play with they defensive style and also with they fighting spirit in team.

- Hertha does not like to play against Leverkusen, they got only 0,68 Points from these matches.
- Bayer lost only 1 of the last 10 matches with Hertha (5-4-1).
- They could win 5 of the last 6 matches .......
- Since 2008, Hertha is waiting for a win in Leverkusen 0-2-3.
- But Hertha was able to score in the last 13 BL games in Leverkusen at least 1 goal !!!
- Leverkusen is playing their weakest Season in BL History since 2005/06.
- But if History repeats they are on a good way in second half of the Season ... ended 5th.


Real great encounter with two top teams, i like the match up here and it can be that this match produce some goals as well. Both teams have the offensive power and should be able to get the job done. Above all Bellarabi is a big hope for Leverkusen today and he should help to get the offensive play running. OVER can be a good choice, also if you hold back a bit and get on for OVER 2 in running after 10-15 minutes. This should be possible because both scored only 2 in 16 matches in the first 15 minutes ..... both teams scored more goal in second half ..... this means we get good options in running.

Samstag, 21. Januar 2017

BL Update 21.01.17

FC Augsburg - 1899 Hoffenheim

Both teams have some players out but should be ok for the squad. Midfield head of FCA will start despite a slight injury and should help to start well. On 1899 sides some players with problems like Bicakcic, Schär and Toljan ..... replacements are there, of course.
From the last 5 matches 1899 won 4, only 1 defeat but they do not like the opening games after the winter break at all. They wait since 7 matches for a win at this time (0-3-4) while Augsburg never lost a match to begin after the winter break. Also 1899 is unbeaten in 16 matches what makes it more and more possible that they are set to lose sooner or later. If I have to choose, HOME win !!!


SV Darmstadt 98 - Bor. M'Gladbach

Both teams start with a new Coach and they have to do a lot of work to bring the team back on track. Both are involved of relegation battle but SVD more. They need this win immediately if they want to have some hope, on the other side Gladbach is dreaming from other places as at the moment but the way up is very hard and an international spot seems to be not possible this Season. Gladbach won 4 of the 5 matches against SVD and has overall the better squad. Darmstadt is more a fighting team but they miss a lot of last Seasons power. New signing Sam is the biggest hope for them now but he is doubtful according the news with illness. With 9 defeats in a row Darmstadt looks really harmless before the winter break, if Frings can changes this against the experienced Hecking, we will see. UNDER can be a good choice here.


VfL Wolfsburg - Hamburger SV

Both teams had a lot of problems before the break but they showed also that they are able to get things running. Wolfsburg had a good end with two wins and also Hamburg with 3. This should be continued if they want to stay away from relegation trouble. In all the last 10 matches Wolfsburg could not be beaten from Hamburg (5-5-0). Last time this happened was 2011 in their own stadium. In all the 40 matches between these two sides there was never a 0-0 what give us a lot of hope for some goals. If this match see an early goal this match can be wide open as in this derby no one wants to lose. Additional Wolfsburg has to recover from their bad home performance with only 5 Points and 5 goals scored.

Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund

Interesting game here above all if you take a look at the squad. Bremen with some problems but also Dortmund. Bremen has not available Bargfrede, Grillitsch, Hajrovic and Junuzovic what is a big blow above all because many of these guys are normally in starting lineup if they are fit. On the other side Dortmund has no real striker left as with Aubameyang they have their top striker at the African Nations Cup and second striker Ramos would be sold in the next days to China. Therefore they have to change the system a bit and plays maybe with Schürrle or Götze up front. This is not the best way but they have to try it because of the mentioned situation. Also with Bürki and Bender they miss some but should be not the biggest problem at all. Some other players face some slight injuries as well but Coach Tuchel sit them on bench maybe. Important would be that defending chief Sokratis starts as the defensive without him is very shaky. He recover from injury and should be in starting lineup immediately.

- This encounter take place 96 times already and it was a very even one with 40-16-40.
- In the last matches Bremen could only win 1 of the last 10 and Dortmund showed their class.
- Bremen is without a lose in the last 5 BL games (2-3-0). The best run since 2 years now.
- Also they scored in all their last 15 BL games, this is the longest run in the league right now.
- At home they scored in the last 20 matches what is incredible good, of course.
- Dortmund was always down in the last 7 matches and they have to come from behind.
- They managed to lose only 1 of these games (2-4-1).
- Both teams have some problems in first half, what can be very important for OVER betting in 2nd.
- Bremen scored only 40% of their goals in 1st half while Dortmund had more problems 31,45%.
- BvB was not able to score a single goal between minute 31-45.
- Dortmund is very good in second half where they scored 24 goals .......

Normally this should be a very easy game for Dortmund but after the break you never know and the problems of both sides are there too. Bremen at home a good team also without the absent players and can push a lot with the fans in the back ..... AHC+1 looks tempting but if you prefer a safe bet you should wait until half time and take the OVER then. It can be easy money if they hold on with the goals in first half ..........

GL