Bundesliga Betting: Werder and Bayern to put on a show

"Werder have scored in their last 21 Bundesliga games at the Weserstadion, but you'd be mad to back them to keep a clean sheet against Bayern."

Back Both Teams To Score at 2.16

Werder Bremen v Bayern Munich
Saturday January 28, 14:30

When they are up against it, champions tend to find a way to win. In freezing cold temperatures last Friday, facing a vibrant Freiburg side playing with adventure, Bayern Munich found themselves behind at the Schwarzwald Stadion after just four minutes. Slowly but surely the league leaders played their way back into the contest, and after Robert Lewandowski had netted a first-half equaliser, the Polish superstar then won the match with a breathtaking stoppage-time goal. He chested down a cross from Franck Ribery, kept the ball in the air and away from the Freiburg defence with a delicate touch, and then sent a perfect volley into the bottom corner. A goal you could quite happily watch again and again, unless you follow Freiburg.

After the match Bayern winger Arjen Robben admitted his side hadn't deserved the win, and had relied on individual brilliance to see them through. The Dutchman was spot on - this was another flat Bayern display that could easily have seen them drop points, and they still aren't consistently hitting top gear under Carlo Ancelotti.

Although Bayern dismantled Werder Bremen 6-0 on the opening night of the season, I think they are in for a tougher test this weekend. I was massively impressed by Werder last weekend, even though they lost 2-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund. They played most of the match with ten men after keeper Jaroslav Drobny was sent off, but they still attacked with purpose, and Dortmund's winner came courtesy of a fortunate deflection that teed up Lukasz Piszczek. New signing Thomas Delaney had a storming debut in midfield, and he'll give SVW real drive and energy.

Werder went into that game against BVB with a five-game unbeaten run, and with Max Kruse, Serge Gnabry and Claudio Pizarro there is enough quality to disturb a Bayern defence which had some shaky moments last week. Werder have scored in every single Bundesliga game they have played this season, apart from their demolition in Munich. Bayern have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last six away games in the league, so I'm backing both teams to find the net.

Recommended Bet
Back Both Teams To Score at 2.16

Wolfsburg v Augsburg
Saturday January 28, 14:30

After a dismal first half of the season, Wolfsburg are finally heading in the right direction. Although I remain unconvinced about coach Valerien Ismael as a long-term solution in the dugout, some excellent winter signings are making an impact.

Speedy Rennes winger Paul-Georges Ntep set up a late winner for Mario Gomez on his debut, Yunus Malli has a proven track record as a playmaker from his Mainz days, and aficionados of Dutch football I've spoken to all speak highly of young midfielder Riechedly Bazoer.

Wolfsburg's 1-0 win over Hamburg last Saturday gave them some breathing space in the relegation battle, and they are now chasing a third consecutive home victory.

Augsburg had a brief revival when they replaced coach Dirk Schuster with academy boss Manuel Baum, but the Bavarians lost 2-0 at home to Hoffenheim last weekend, and they are still expected to be without key forwards Caiuby and Alfred Finnbogason. Left-back Konstantinos Stafylidis is suspended, and the club has been hit by a flu bug this week.

FCA are struggling to score goals (they have netted just 13 in 17 games), and they lost the reverse fixture 2-0 to the Wolves on the opening weekend. Augsburg have lost four of their last seven road matches, and I think they'll come unstuck again here.

Recommended Bet
Back Wolfsburg to win at 1.99

Mainz v Borussia Dortmund
Sunday 29 January, 16:30
Live on BT Sport

I opposed Borussia Dortmund at what I felt were too short odds in last week's column, and they weren't exactly convincing in their 2-1 win at Werder Bremen. However, I actually think they will perform better this weekend at Mainz, as BVB coach Thomas Tuchel returns to face the club where he made his name.

For a start, top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubmeyang is back from African Cup of Nations duty, as he was unable to prevent the hosts Gabon from crashing out at the group stage. Also, teenage wing wizard Ousmane Dembele is raring to go after he was left out of the starting XI last week. Andre Schuerrle finally got off the mark in the Bundesliga this season, and Marco Reus is benefiting from a relatively injury-free period.

Mainz played out a goalless stalemate against FC Koln last week, and the lack of creativity since the defection of playmaker Yunus Malli was there for all to see. To make matters worse, bustling striker Jhon Cordoba is still suspended. Mainz have conceded 15 goals in eight games, and I think Dortmund's attack can exploit the gaps in that rearguard, especially the speed mismatch.

Recommended Bet
Back Borussia Dortmund -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.14