The Bundesliga Show

The final match-day of the 2. Bundesliga season is almost upon us and here is Tom Loveys with his final betting selections.

Below are my betting selections ahead of the final day’s action in the 2.Bundesliga. Hertha and Braunschweig have already sealed promotion and will be playing in the higher echelons next season. Kaiserslautern have wrapped up the third place play-off spot. Regensburg and Sandhausen have already fallen through the trap-door to the 3.Liga, so the only thing that remains to be decided is who is left in the relegation play-off spot. Dresden and Aue will fight this out.

Match-Day 34 poses some interesting questions, will the teams play to form? Will the players be thinking of their summer holidays? Will we do any better than last week’s impressive 6/9 results correct

Match-Day 32: Best Odds at the time of writing:

Kaiserslautern 20/23 v St.Pauli 31/10: Draw 14/5

Kaiserslautern have cemented the third place spot and will be gearing up for the play-offs. Will they rest players? St. Pauli were particularly impressive against a fluffy-defensive showing of Braunschweig last week. The Red Devils are generally quick to start and are the best first 45 minute side in the league. Kaiserslautern to be winning at HT @ 7/5

1860 Munchen 21/20 v Aalen 13/5: Draw 13/5

Goals have always been minimal in games involving these sides this season. Having said that Aalen were boosted by their 3-0 victory against Dresden whilst 1860 slipped up to Paderborn. 14 of the last 20 1860 Munchen games have gone ‘Under 2.5′ goals and its a bet we’re happy to take at Odds Against. 1860 Munchen/Aalen: Under 2.5 goals @ 5/4

Bochum 21/20 v Union 14/5: Draw 5/2

Bochum hauled themselves out of relegation trouble with four consecutive wins, which was brought to a halt by Frankfurt last week. Union, despite looking promising potential promotion contenders earlier in the season, have been models of inconsistency, winning then losing on a regular basis. Bochum don’t normally make the first impact on the scoresheet, so we’ll take Union to make the better start. Union to score the first goal @ 13/10

 Braunschweig Evens v Frankfurt 3/1: Draw 14/5

Braunschweig will want to finish a successful season on a high and certainly forget last week’s mauling by St. Pauli. Frankfurt have been successful in this column of a number of occasions, but away form has been the only thing keeping them off a promotion bid. The away side would love to finish 4th, but we feel Braunschweig’s dominance at home will see them through. Braunschweig to win @ Evens

Duisburg 15/13 v Paderborn 12/5: Draw 27/10

Sticking to a format I like here…Paderborn impressed beating 1860 Munchen at home last week and have served us well in the past, scoring more goals between 45mins and 90mins. Duisburg after an awful start will just be pleased to be safe. Paderborn to score more goals in the 2nd half (Compared to the first half) @ 8/5

Dresden 4/11 v Regensburg 15/2: Draw 9/2

Dresden at 4/11….Obviously they have to get a result, but I’d have no confidence at that price. Regensburg will play without pressure and are capable of performing, as previous games have sometimes shown. The Draw at HT makes appeal in what will undoubtedly be a nervy match, priced at 24/13. However, taking a chance, I feel the atmosphere at the Gluckgas Stadium will spur the home team in the 2nd half  and overall keep them safe. Draw at HT – Dresden at FT @ 18/5

Hertha 8/15 v Cottbus 11/2: Draw 18/5

Newly crowned league champions will want to put on a show in their final 2.Bundesliga game. Having gone unbeaten at the Olympic Stadium this season, coupled with Cottbus’ poor away form, it’s difficult to look beyond a Hertha win. Hertha on the handicap, Hertha to keep a clean sheet are all markets that could be looked at, but keeping with a tried and tested and normally profitable market…. Hertha to score more goals in the 2nd half (than the 1st half) @ 13/10 makes appeal as a value bet.

Ingolstadt 9/5 v Fc Koln 31/20: Draw 13/5

Fc Koln will have to be content with another season in the 2.Bundesliga with their season just tailing away. Ingolstadt are tough top break down and goals are hard to come by with both of these teams. A low-scoring clash is expected. Under 2.5 goals @ 7/5

Sandhausen 7/2 v Aue 4/5: Draw 31/10

Aue are playing chicken with the 3.Liga and now face the real possibility of falling through the trap-door. Obviously requiring a result means that they are priced at 4/5 despite a poor away record. Sandhausen’s games normally are full of goals and can be quick starters, Aue will have to react, but I worry about them being able to get the needed result over the 90 minutes. So at a bigger price, we’ll go for Both teams to score in the first half @ 11/4

So to summarise, do you need some money for a new car, new shoes or even just some German Beer and Sausages? Then put some of these selections below into multiple bets and who knows…maybe a fortune awaits. 6/9 last week and some decent profits obtained.

Tom Loveys returns with some betting selections for the penultimate matchday of the German second division.

Two more Match-Days in the 2.Bundesliga season and all 9 games kick-off on Sunday at 12.30pm. Hertha only require a point away at FC Koln to clinch the title and its pleasing to see a contingent from the Hertha BSC UK fan club have made the journey to (hopefully) see this.

Kaiserslautern look like they have sealed the third play-off spot and a win against bottom-side Regensburg will cement this, whilst the relegation play-off spot looks like a battle between Dresden and Aue although St.Pauli’s games look difficult and they aren’t out of trouble either yet.

As always below are brief previews of each games with a selection offered at Evens or above for all nine games.

 FC Koln 6/5 v Hertha 12/5. Draw 11/4

A point for Hertha sees a title clincher but FC Koln need a result to maintain any chance of the third place spot. With the home side only tasting one defeat at the RheinEnergieStadion this season, it’ll be tough for the Berliners. I’m sticking to a trusted formula here, expecting a tight clash early.More goals in the 2nd half @ 23/20

 Union 21/20 v Duisburg 3/1. Draw 13/5

Duisburg have become a tough side to beat with no defeats in the last 5 games. Despite Union’s strong home form, I see little goals here. Under 2.5 goals @ 11/10

 Cottbus 8/13 v Sandhausen 5/1. Draw 10/3

Another side strong at home and the price of 8/13 reflects that against already relegated Sandhausen, especially after decent results against both Kaiserslautern and Braunschweig. We’ll be looking at the HT market for our selection and with the home side having led in 9 of their last 20 games, we’ll look for Cottbus to have the advantage after 45 minutes.Cottbus to be winning at HT @ 6/5

 Aue 21/20 v Ingolstadt 3/1. Draw 13/5

Aue are desperate for a result and showed some 2nd half battling qualities in their previous game against Hertha. Ingolstadt are the HT draw specialists, with 12 of their last 20 games being all square at the break.Draw at HT @ 5/4

 St.Pauli 19/20 v Braunschweig 10/3. Draw 11/4

Money has piled in for St.Pauli all week, with a combination of needing to win and Braunschweig having nothing to play for, the home side are now odds-on with a guaranteed rocking atmosphere at the Millerntor. Braunschweig won’t roll over though and again I’m looking at a market that has served us well in the past. More goals in the 2nd half @ 23/20.

 Frankfurt 17/10 v Bochum 17/10. Draw 13/5

I find it difficult to see how these two teams are equally priced. Frankfurt are superb at home and despite a crushing defeat last week, I expect a decent reaction against a Bochum side who have lost 7 of their 16 away games. Frankfurt to win @ 17/10

 Paderborn 7/4 v 1860 Munchen 9/5. Draw 12/5

1860 Munchen have a strong record away from home with only 3 defeats in their 16 away games. Similarly Paderborn appear to struggle in front of their own fans having only registered 4 wins this season. We fancy 1860 to keep this run going and will be backing them on the Asian Handicap. 1860 Munchen (0, -0,50) AH @ 29/20

  Regensburg 9/1 v Kaiserslautern 4/11. Draw 9/2

The odds suggest a formality for the Red Devils with a win sealing the third place play-off spot. Regensburg will be playing for pride and the game may be closer than expected. I see Kaiserslautern running out winners but only by a small margin. Kaiserslautern to win by 1 goal @ 11/4

 Aalen 2/1 v Dresden 6/4. Draw 12/5

An intriguing clash with the away side again, needing a result to keep a survival bid alive, although with only 1 away success this season, the stats don’t bode well. Aalen are a solid unit, who keep things tight. I fancy them to score the first goal, putting pressure on Dresden for the rest of the game. Aalen to score the first goal @ 6/5

To summarise our selections;

Three games left in the 2.Bundesliga and Hertha can wrap up the title with a win against Aue, if also already promoted Braunschweig lose to Cottbus.

There is an interesting battle for third place and the play-off position. With Kaiserslautern being thumped by Cottbus 4-2 and FC Koln failing to overcome 1860 Munchen, there is a slim chance that FSV Frankfurt can spoil the party and their clash against Kaiserslautern is surely the stand-out tie this week.

Already relegated Regensburg face Aalen and Sandhausen will also disappear to the 3.Liga if they fail to beat Ingolstadt, although their fate could be sealed dependant on Dresden’s Friday night result.

Friday:

Dresden 5/6 v Paderborn 4/1 Draw 14/5

Dresden are desperate for a win and the three points could realistically give them a great shot of escaping the drop zone completely. It could be a nervous, cagey clash with little chances in the first half. Draw at H/T @ 13/10 is the selection

Hertha 4/9 v Aue 8/1 Draw 9/2

Hertha will be keen to wrap up the title at the earliest possibility and are of course, strong at the Olympic Stadium. Aue face a daunting task but know that anything they can achieve will be a massive bonus and will arrive at the capital in battling spirit. I can see the Champions-elect putting on another strong show. Hertha to win to nil @ 13/10

Aalen 3/5 v Regensburg 6/1 Draw 10/3

Low scoring-clash expected. Regensburg will be playing for pride and Aalen looking to finish the season with a winning record. Draw-HT/Aalen-FT @ 7/2 is our selection at bigger odds

Saturday:

Sandhausen 13/5 v Ingolstadt 6/5 Draw 5/2

Last chance saloon for Sandhausen, who could already be relegated should Dresden achieve a result on Friday. The home side are in dreadful form, having lost the last 4, whilst Ingolstadt are the league’s draw specialists at HT with 14 draws at 45 minutes so far. Draw at HT @ 5/4

Bochum 21/10 v FC Koln 29/20 Draw 5/2

Fc Koln have a great chance to bounce back into 3^rd spot, with Kaiserslautern not taking their chance last Monday. Bochum have lost 7 at home and FC Koln seem the value bet over the 90 minutes, perhaps with a 1-0 score-line. FC Koln to win @ 29/20

Sunday:

Kaiserslautern 11/20 v Frankfurt 6/1 Draw 7/2

Arguably the best match of the weekend, Frankfurt are a huge price at 6/1 on current form but do struggle away from home. Kaiserslautern will be hoping that last week’s defeat was just a minor blip and are taken to be leading at HT. Kaiserslautern to be leading at HT @ 23/20

Duisburg 8/5 v St.Pauli 2/1 Draw 12/5

St.Pauli are particularly bad away from home, having lost 9 from 15 and the last three in a row, conceding 10. Duisburg may be value at 8/5 and are unbeaten in the last 6 games. Both teams should be safe, but need points just to be certain. We’ll take Duisburg at the prices to keep up their good form. Duisburg to win @ 8/5

1860 Munchen 6/5 v Union Berlin 14/5 Draw 12/5

6^th play 7^th with both sides having dreamed of better things earlier in the season. Union have been dreadfully inconsistent between home and away form but are taken to score the first goal against 1860 who have only opened the scoring 6 times in the last 20 games. Union to score first @ 6/4

Monday:

Braunschweig 3/4 v Cottbus 5/1 Draw 11/4

Party time for Braunschweig, celebrating their promotion to the Bundesliga. They will have added impetus should Hertha taste defeat against Aue with a slim chance of taking the title, still being alive. Cottbus will be buoyed by their victory against Kaiserslautern but an encounter at the Eintracht Stadion will be an altogether different proposition. Braunschweig have won 7 of their last 20 home games by a solitary goal and Cottbus have lost 6 out of their last 20 away games by the same margin. Braunschweig to win by 1 goal margin @ 5/2

Summary of Selections:

The 9-team accumulator pays a life-changing 6,417/1, maybe a bit optimistic but certainly combining some of these selections in doubles/trebles and multiple bets could prove profitable.

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A truncated betting preview from Tom due to outside commitments but here are his selections for MD 31.

Match-Day Odds

Tom’s Selections: