German Bundesliga
2010-04-18 - Borussia Dortmund vs TSG Hoffenheim
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football : Germany ; Bundesliga
Signal Iduna Park
Sunday, 18th April 2010 – kickoff 15:30
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are on a good way to finish the season strong and reach the third place which will get them into the Champions league qualification matches. That would be a huge success for this young team and i think that in the next season they will be one of the ‘hot’ favorites for the Bundesliga title.
Their home form has been impressive lately as they are the only Bundesliga side with four straight home wins. Last weekend they unfortunately lost 1-0 away at Mainz despite having most of the possession. However, their morale is at high level because prior that match they have beaten their rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen. Borussia Dortmund are currently fourth at the table with 52 points, just two points behind Bayer Leverkusen at the third place.
They have a good chance to improve at the table, because after Hoffenheim their remaining matches of the season are against FC Nurnberg, Vfl Wolfsburg and SC Freiburg.
The left back Marcel Schmelzer received his fifth yellow card against Mainz and is suspended for this match, but Dede is back in the starting line up at his place after being out for five months rehabilitating from injury. Sebastian Kehl is also not available for selection due to a hamstring injury.
Probable Borussia Dortmund line-up :
Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Dede,
S. Bender, Sahin, Blaszczykowski,
Zidan, K. Grosskreutz,
Barrios
TSG Hoffenheim
TSG Hoffenheim plays really mediocre football this season, unlike last year when they were a team that were very entertaining side to watch.
Their form has been in constant decline in the past couple of months as they are now without a win in six straight matches, and their away form is even poorer with only one victory in the last eight away matches. It has been seven weeks now since their last win against Hertha Berlin.
The team is placed at the 12th spot at the table with 34 points which is eleven points clear relegation zone so mathematically they need only one point from the remaining four matches to finish safe in the Bundesliga.
Coach Ralf Rangnick has worries with several injured players, beginning with the first goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand who is out with back problems and will be replaced with the second choice Haas. The striker Demba Ba is out for the season rehabilitating from injury and midfielders Nilsson and Vorsah are also not available due to knee injuries.
Vedad Ibisevic and Obasi will be the two strikers up front with Carlos Eduardo taking the role of a playmaker behind them.
Probable TSG Hoffenheim line-up :
Beck, Gulde, Simunic, Eichner,
Weis, Luiz Gustavo, Vukcevic,
Carlos Eduardo,
Ibisevic, Obasi
The Betting Verdict
First match between these teams this season ended in 2-1 victory for Borussia Dortmund. These two teams have met only once in Dortmund so far last season and that match had ended in goalless draw.
Borussia Dortmund are much better side than TSG Hoffenheim at the moment and they need points in order to leap over Bayer Leverkusen at the third place on the table.
TSG Hoffenheim are slowly preparing for next season and they will finish current season with no motive as they are placed safely at the mid table.
BVB gained the momentum during past weeks and I expect Borussia Dortmund to recover quickly after last weeks loss and get another important home win.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 TSG Hoffenheim
