BUNDESLIGA fanatic Jonny O'Sullivan (@libero_the) has taken a deep dive into Matchday 23 from Germany, picking out his best bets.
After last weekend’s action, it is a case of how you were at the top of the Bundesliga. The leading five teams all won with varying amounts of difficulty and will be heading into Matchday 23 with the confidence that they can all still mount towards a decent title challenge.
For what is considered a farmer’s league by some, the Bundesliga showed that it is filled with immense quality throughout in midweek. All five of the teams representing Germany won and most in pretty convincing fashion.
Leipzig and Dortmund enjoyed giving Jose Mourinho and oil-rich Paris Saint-Germain a lesson in the Champions League, with both thoroughly deserving their victories. Meanwhile, Frankfurt and Leverkusen deserved more in their Europa League games but lost a bit of concentration to allow their opponents a cheap away goal. However, the duo enjoyed 4-1 and 2-1 wins, respectively.
Elsewhere, Wolfsburg came back from behind to win 2-1 against Malmo, showing a lot of resilience and determination.
Bayern Munich v Paderborn | Friday 21st February 2020, 19:30 | BT Sport
Bayern Munich are very much in the mood of being efficient right now, going into matches and getting the job done as soon as possible. This may lead to doubts further down the line when they face teams where the intensity needs to be at100% throughout the match, but against Paderborn on Fridat night they should be fine.
Bayern keep scoring within the first 15 minutes of matches and quite often they finish the match in this period. Last weekend, The Bavarians were 3-0 up after 13 minutes before effectively taking their foot off the pedal; previously they’ve faced Hoffenheim and gave an own goal away but still managed to be 2-1 up after 20 minutes. They were also 2-0 ahead against Mainz the week before after just 14 minutes.
The table-toppers have scored 12 goals in the first 15 minutes of Bundesliga games this season, which is four more than any other team. It just so happens that here Bayern are facing the team who have conceded the most in the opening quarter-hour, with Paderborn shipping 13 early goals.
With a huge game against Chelsea on the horizon, it would not be a surprise for FC Hollywood to flex their muscles early on at the Allianz Arena and so Bayern Munich to be leading after 15 minutes at 7/4 (William Hill) is the preferred play.
Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund | Saturday 22nd February 2020, 14:30
Borussia Dortmund will travel to Werder Bremen this Saturday fresh off the back of their superb Champions League win over PSG, whilst Bremen will be hoping to avoid their fifth straight Bundesliga loss. In simple terms, Werder are hopeless right now. They have only managed to avoid defeat twice in their last 12 Bundesliga outings.
To avoid relegation, you need your home ground to somewhat resemblance a fortress. However, the hosts do not have that, having only managed to pick up a depressing five points from their 10 matches here this season.
Dortmund have been flying since the second half of the season began. In the same 12 matches where Bremen have lost 10 games, Dortmund have picked up 23 points, winning seven out of their last 10 league fixtures.
BVB boast the most prolific attack in the league and they’re travelling to the division’s leakiest defence here so we should be able to count on Dortmund having the confidence to brush their opponents aside. Bremen have lost five of their last eight Bundesliga fixtures by more than a one-goal margin so Erling Haaland and Jaydon Sancho should be licking their lips.
Take Dortmund to cover the -1 handicap (21/20 Bet365).
Best Bets
Bayern Munich v Paderborn – Bayern Munich to be leading after 15 minutes (7/4 William Hill)
Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund -1 handicap (21/20 Bet365)
