Bundesliga Betting: Schalke to hold up the champions

Schalke v Bayern Munich
Tuesday September 19, 19:30
Live on BT Sport 3

Bayern's mini-crisis came to a spectacular end on Saturday, as the Bavarian giants kicked off the annual Oktoberfest celebrations in style with a 4-0 drubbing of Mainz. Die Nullfunfer were bamboozled by Bayern's speed of play, Joshua Kimmich delivered three assists in a superb display, and Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace. The peerless Pole has now scored 82 Bundesliga goals in 100 appearances for Bayern.

Now though, Bayern face a trickier test. They visit a Schalke side that has won three of four games under new coach Domenico Tedesco. I believe the jury is still out on the 32-year-old, but there's no questioning the results he has produced. RB Leipzig, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen have all been overcome, and the bold call to jettison club captain Benedikt Howedes hasn't cost them yet.

Bayern are trading at 1.89 to be leading at half-time, and that's a price we can attack. Carlo Ancelotti's side have led at the break in just one of their last seven Bundesliga away games, while Schalke have trailed at the restart in just one of their last nine home matches.

Recommended Bet
Lay Bayern in the Half Time market at 1.89

Mainz v Hoffenheim
Wednesday September 20, 19:30

Hoffenheim have had a mixed week. They were stunning against Bayern on Matchday Three as they won 2-0, deadly in attack and resolute in defence. On Thursday they were schooled by Braga in the Europa League, as the Portuguese side used all their experience to turn around a match that was slipping away from them. On Sunday, Hoffe were held to a 1-1 draw by a Hertha side that worked incredibly hard to frustrate them.

It's worth remembering that Julian Nagelsmann's side have made an unbeaten start to the league campaign, so I can't fathom why they are 2.66 to win at a Mainz side that's just been stuffed by Bayern. Mainz have lost three of their first four games of the season, and it's taking time for new coach Sandro Schwarz to get his ideas across to the players.

Mainz have lost to newly-promoted Hannover and Stuttgart, and although their fans always generate a fantastic atmosphere at the Coface Arena, that won't faze Hoffe at all. I'm backing the visitors.

Recommended Bet
Back Hoffenheim Draw No Bet at 1.93

Hertha Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen
Wednesday September 20, 19:30

Bayer Leverkusen were very good on Sunday, as they thrashed Freiburg 4-0 to pick up their first league win under new coach Heiko Herrlich. However, it's worth noting that Freiburg were dreadful, and there are still big gaps in the Bayer defence that better teams will exploit.

Hertha were smashed 6-2 the last time they hosted Leverkusen, but that was in the midst of last season's late collapse, and coach Pal Dardai's fitness regime means Hertha always start the campaign better than they finish it. Hertha have won 13 of their last 20 home games, and they got a fine draw at Hoffeheim at the weekend, succeeding where the champions Bayern had just failed.

Bayer have lost both of their Bundesliga away games under Herrlich, and I think there's still an underlying fragility in that squad that Dardai's battlers can exploit.

Recommended Bet
Back Hertha Draw No Bet at 2.46

FC Koln v Eintracht Frankfurt
Wednesday September 20, 17:30
Live on BT Sport ESPN

These are testing times for FC Koln, and coach Peter Stoger is facing his biggest challenge since taking charge of the club. The Billy Goats have built their success on defensive discipline, cohesion and work-rate, but all of that went out of the window in Sunday's abject 5-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Yes, there were two controversial VAR calls against them (both correct, in my opinion), but it was unquestionably the worst I've ever seen Koln play under Stoger.

For the first time in their history, Koln have lost their first four games of the Bundesliga season, but I think there'll be a reaction on Wednesday. I know what Koln fans are like, and they'll unite behind the team and create a cauldron at the RheinEnergieStadion.

Frankfurt are also reeling after losing at home to Augsburg at the weekend, and although their globe-trotting approach to the transfer market paid off last season, I'm not sure coach Niko Kovac has quite nailed down his best eleven. They are badly missing the injured Marco Fabian, and they have only won one of their last nine away games in the league.

Koln have won their last three home games against the Eagles, and I think they hit rock bottom on Sunday. The only way is up.

Recommended Bet
Back FC Koln Draw No Bet at 2.06