German Bundesliga
2009-03-14 - VfL Bochum vs Bayern Munich
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Rewirpower Stadion Bochum
Saturday, 14th March 2009- Kickoff 15:30 local
Vfl Bochum
Bochum are slowly climbing up the ladder and currently are 3 places above the relegation zone but far from safe. The team is improving and has only lost once since the winter break, and also managed to grab a big point last week against dangerous team of Bayer Leverkusen.
The approach in this game will be to give the best shot and hope for the best, although it will be very tough. Coach Marcel Koller has big problems with the line-up and there are many absentees in the squad.
The team captain Marcel Maltritz is out through injury, and Diego Klimowicz, Oliver Schroeder, Shinji Ono, Schmitgal, Zajas, Mergim Mavraj and Anthar Yahia are also out because of suspensions and injuries.
Due to many absent players on Saturday this match might become a big chance for young club talents Kevin Vogt and Jürgen Duah, but will that be enough to oppose a mighty team like Bayern?
Coach Koller said that team`s focus would be more on next week important away match against Moenchengladbach rather than this fixture. And that says enough what will be the outcome of this fixture.
Bayern Munchen
Bayern is on a roll at the moment. After blowing Hannover with 5 goals last week, even with a combined team they trashed Sporting Lisbon.
Coach Klinsman mentioned last week that the match against Hannover should be turning point of the season for them, and even after the Sporting match he warned his players that the focus should be on Bochum now and the good streak to continue. So the team will take this match seriously.
Luca Toni, Hamit Altintop and Tim Borowski are out because of injuries, but Franck Ribery is expected to play. The defender Daniel van Buyten impressed with his great performance and football maturity in the clash with Sporting so he might get another chance to start.
Its obvious that when Luca Toni is out then Lucas Podolski steps up and gives his best and is in great form. Bayern are just 4 points behind leaders, the Bundesliga gets its boiling point and this is a must-win for Bayern if they want to get closer to the number one spot and the title.
The betting verdict
Interesting fact is that Bayern have not lost to Bochum for 5 straight years, and that combined with Bochum major injury worries and Bayern great form as well as team inspiration from the last results, everything points to me that Bayern will win this match.
I expect Bochum to “park the bus” in front of the goal and use counter-attacks as a major weapon, and surprisingly they might even get to score but I do not think that will be enough to avoid defeat.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bochum 1-3 Bayern Munich
BEST BETTING TIP :
I`ll take away win for BAYERN MUNICH at a price around 1.57 (bet365) and I don't think it will last long.Anything above 1.50 its great offer.
