Football Bet of the Day: Banged-up BVB can still put on a show

Borussia Dortmund v Ingolstadt
Friday 17 March, 19:30
Live on BT Sport

Our Copa was only filled with bitter regret last night, as our pick Chapecoense led Lanus with 53 minutes gone in the Copa Libertadores, but ultimately lost 3-1. We move on.

We've already checked in with Borussia Dortmund this week, and they left us a goal short on Tuesday in their 3-0 win at Sportfreunde Lotte in the German Cup quarter-finals. We're giving them another chance, as they face Ingolstadt at Signal Iduna Park.

BVB are still reeling from their 2-1 defeat at Hertha Berlin last weekend, but their home form under Thomas Tuchel has been stellar for the best part of two seasons. Dortmund have still not lost at home in the Bundesliga since Tuchel took up the reins, a run that stretches back to April 2015. In all competitions, Die Schwarzgelben have won nine of their last 11 home games, and six of those wins have been by a margin of two goals or more.

Dortmund are without some key players this evening. Ousmane Dembele is suspended, and chief goalgetter Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is struggling with an adductor muscle injury. His participation will hinge on a late fitness test. Marco Reus is certainly injured, while Mario Goetze is out indefinitely with illness.

So, are wounded Dortmund there for the taking tonight? I would say no. Dortmund have a big squad with plenty of options, and Ingolstadt are still deep in relegation trouble. The Bavarians twice fought back from a goal down last weekend to secure a decent draw against Koln, but results elsewhere left them seven points adrift of safety.

Although FCI have improved under new coach Maik Walpurgis, they have only won one of their last six league games. They have one of the worst attacking records in the division, and the solid defending they produced in wins over RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen before Christmas seems to have gone out of the window. They have already leaked 41 league goals this season, just one fewer than they conceded in the whole of last season. In the last six games they have shipped 12 goals.

Even though BVB are pretty banged up, they still have teenage talents Christian Pulisic, Emre Mor and Alexander Isak to unleash. With the crowd in full voice as usual on the Sudtribune, Dortmund should take maximum points comfortably.

Recommended Bet
Back Borussia Dortmund -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 1.96