Champions League
2009-11-03 - Bayern Munich vs Bordeaux
A Sports Betting Pick by Shady
Football: Europe, UEFA Champions League
Tuesday, 3rd November 2009 - Kickoff 19:45
Bayern Munich are on the verge of being knocked-out of the Champions League if results don’t go their way. A win for Bordeaux here would secure them a place in the next round and Bayern will need to win their remaining two games including an away win at Turin.
Bayern Munich (Germany)
Luis Van Gaal is missing two of his most influential players in team but this is should not be made as an excuse for the German side. Ribery is definitely out of today’s clash while Robben is not a 100% fit.
Bayern have relied on both these players to penetrate opponents defence and the absences of both these players including raising star Thomas Muller would leave Van Gaal no other option than to play a 4-4-2 formation, using Luca Toni as their target man.
The weekend draw against Stuttgart saw Bayern moved down to six position in the League, five points behind League leaders, Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern Munich has yet to put in a string of good performance this season.
This is the major problem Van Gaal is facing and rumours are all over the media that several key players in this Bayern squad will be leaving during the winter transfer window.
With such uncertainty in the squad, morale would be low BUT it is only seven weeks till the winter break and the players would definitely want to level up their game as they would not want to be on the transfer list.
Luca Toni who was rested in the weekend against Stuttgart is likely to start up front replacing Mario Gomez. Miroslav Klose is likely to partner the giant Italian up front.
In midfield, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Mark Van Bommel, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Gorlitz is likely to form the midfield. Holger Badstuder, Edson Braafheid, Philipp Lahm and Demichelis will start in defense, protecting Jorg Butt in goal.
Bordeaux (France)
Laurent Blanc would be delighted with his side victory against Monaco in the weekend as Bordeaux have lost their last 2 away games. This would have given a little confidence towards ahead of this game.
Bordeaux have been playing decent football under Laurent Blanc but I do expect Bordeaux to have difficulties in coping with the physical presents of Luca Toni.
One major problem for Blanc’s side is that his side do not score many goals in the Champions League. Bordeaux had the extra player advantage a fortnight ago against Bayern and should have won by a bigger margin instead of scraping a 2-1 win.
Blanc is likely to start with the same eleven that did well against Bayern last time out. Carrasso will start in goal protected by Chalme, Ciani, Planus and Tremoulinas.
In midfield, Diarra and Grorcuff will start in a more central position leaving Plasil and Wendel out in the flanks. Chamakh is likely to start up front supported by Gouffran.
The Betting Verdict :
This is a sort-of must win game for Bayern. Luis Van Gaal cannot afford to see his side dropping points yet again if he wishes to progress to the later stages of the Champions League. With Bordeaux playing a difficult game at the weekend, Blanc was unable to rest his players ahead of this game like he did a fortnight ago.
I am backing the home side to take all three points today mainly due to home factor. No doubt Ribery is out and Robben might just make the bench, the physical presents of Luca Toni should be sufficient to take all three points for Bayern.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Bayern Munich to win the game
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Bayern to cover the -0.75 head start
