German Bundesliga
2009-05-23 - Wolfsburg vs Werder Bremen
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
German Bundesliga
Volkswagen Arena
Saturday, 23rd May 2009, Kickoff 15:30
Vfl Wolfsburg
The final match is here, the beers are cold and ready and the trophy is about to be lifted. It is clear that Wolfsburg needs only one point to become a champion.
The team really deserved it, playing great football all season long. Edin Dzeko and his strike partner Grafite have already secured their places in the football history books. If they score in the last round they could become the most successful striker duo of all time.
Grafite is Bundesliga top scorer with 26 goals, followed by Dzeko with 25. Together they have scored 51 out of total 75 goals scored by the ‘Wolves’ this season. By way of comparison; the complete Hertha team (48), Hamburg team (46) and Schalke team (45) have scored less goals than this fantastic duo.
Wolfsburg attackers need just two more goals to equal the record set by Gerd Muller and Uli Hoeness. During the 1971/72 and 1972/73 seasons, the FC Bayern strikers totted up a total of 53 goals between them and fired their side to title wins on each occasion.
Dzeko has targetted one more record: his hat-trick at Hanover takes him to 20 goals from 16 matches in 2009. Dieter Muller (1. FC Köln) with 21 goals in 1976/77 and Gerd Muller (FC Bayern) with 23 goals in 1971/72 are the only two players to have scored more goals in a season's second half.
However Coach Felix Magath has urged his team to stay focused and not get carried away and to start celebrating until the end of the last round.
Another positive thing for the team is that Wolfsburg has extended the contract of the team captain – the Brazilian Josue, who has joined the team from Sao Paulo in 2007 and has so far been involved in 62 Bundesliga games for the ‘Wolves’.
Coach Magath has a full squad available for this match. No injuries and suspensions, so that is great for the team. This is last match for Magath as head coach and from the start of the next season he will be taking over Schalke 04 so there is no better way to leave the club other than winning the championship.
Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen has had a very disappointing season, and after losing in the UEFA Cup final has only the DFB Cup as a last chance to play in Europe next season. This team is a real “killer” for the punters. You simply never know what to expect. They win or lose when you at least expect them.
The team is tired and many players will suffer from fatigue after Istanbul, so the team will play in combined line-up, possibly similar as the line-up that started last week against Karlsruhe.
They have secured the 10th place with no worries whatsoever regarding their position.
Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs said that this season the team really lacked a winning mentality and consistency and right after the end of the last match they will start preparing to improve the squad for the next season. There is nothing much to say about the team that is crushed after European competition loss and that is already looking forward to forget this season.
Per Mertesacker is injured (ankle sprain) so he is definitely out of competition.
The Betting Verdict
Werder Bremen has one last chance for Europe and that is the Cup Final next week. I think that they will use this match to give chance to players who had not played that much and to refresh the squad before the final.
I do not think that Werder Bremen will spoil the party in Wolfsburg - but with this team you never know.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Wolfsburg 2-1 Werder Bremen (or 2-2)
BEST BETTING TIP :
I think that Wolfsburg will win this match but there is great value in backing draw as well (odds around 5.00) so that is worth a small punt as a cover.Also Graffite/Dzeko to score anytime is a great bet as well.
