Bundesliga Betting: Bayern to be crowned yet again

Augsburg v Bayern Munich
Saturday April 07, 14:30
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Bayern to clinch title in style

As I said in last week's preview of Der Klassiker, Bayern love to use their games against Borussia Dortmund to make a statement. They did just that, sweeping aside their old foes 6-0 in what was an embarrassingly one-sided affair. Bayern admitted afterwards they had shut the game down in the second half (they led 5-0 at the break) so they could conserve their energy for the Champions League trip to Sevilla.

They found their visit to the Sanchez Pizjuan to be a lot more testing, at least in the first half. Bayern made a sleepy start and would've been a goal down at the break had Franck Ribery not forced an own goal late in the first period. After the restart, Bayern took full control of the game against a good side, and Thiago's winner was no surprise. The German champions are now well placed to reach the last four.

A victory at the WWK Arena this Saturday will secure a sixth consecutive Bundesliga titlefor Bayern, and it's hard to see them slipping up. I have massive respect for what Augsburg have done this season under their excellent coach Manuel Baum, and the Swabians did hold Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw last weekend, but they have lost their last five Bavarian derbies against the champions.

Augsburg's last three defeats against Bayern have been by scorelines of 3-0, 6-0 and 3-1, and with another meisterschale in their sights, I expect the runaway league leaders to put on another impressive display. They could make several changes and still field a very strong team, and even though they recently lost at Leipzig, I don't expect Augsburg to be able to mount the same kind of resistance.

Bayern have won five of their last six games, and have scored 22 goals in the process. I'll happily back them to win here.

Borussia Dortmund v Stuttgart
Sunday 08 April, 14:30
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Demoralised Dortmund there for the taking

Borussia Dortmund are in dire need of direction and a boost to their confidence after a truly dreadful display in Der Klassiker last weekend. BVB played without any cohesion whatsoever in defence, and only avoided a more humbling defeat because Bayern eased up on them.

It was Peter Stoger's first Bundesliga defeat as Dortmund boss, but it was one that has left a stain on his record. The Austrian has challenged the powerbrokers at Dortmund to put forward a long-term plan, whether it involves him or not. After last week's wretched performance and the sobering Europa League exit against Salzburg, it seems that Stoger will part company with the club in the summer. Nice boss Lucien Favre has once again been linked with the role, while Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann could only be acquired if Dortmund are prepared to make TSG owner Dietmar Hopp an eye-watering compensation offer.

With Dortmund's confidence on the floor, a visit from in-form Stuttgart is frankly the last thing they need. VfB still haven't lost a game under new coach Tayfun Korkut, and they beat Dortmund 2-1 in the reverse fixture. Mario Gomez is consistently scoring on the road, and has netted six of the club's last seven goals away from home.

With Stuttgart unbeaten since late January, and Dortmund a shadow of the side they are capable of being, there can be little justification to back the hosts at a very skinny price of 1.62. Dortmund have only won five of their last 12 home matches, and many of those wins were unconvincing.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Hoffenheim
Sunday 08 April, 17:00
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Frankfurt to win battle of the overachievers

Both Frankfurt and Hoffenheim have done remarkably well to be in the mix for European qualification at this stage of the season. Frankfurt needed a playoff to avoid relegation just two seasons ago, while Hoffenheim have lost three key players to Bayern Munich and have had to deal with the stresses and strains of a Europa League campaign.

Frankfurt couldn't buy a home win at the start of the season, but their form at the Commerzbank Arena has returned at the right time. The Eagles have won their last five Bundesliga home matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding just three in the process.

Hoffenheim were boosted by last weekend's 6-0 hammering of Cologne, but their away form is threatening to derail their bid for Europe. TSG have won just one of their last nine away games in the league, and their inability to hold onto leads is also proving costly. Hoffe led three times in their last away game at Borussia Monchengladbach, but came away with only a 3-3 draw.

I fancy Frankfurt to pick up another home win here against a Hoffenheim team they nearly beat in Sinsheim. Mark Uth denied them that day with a last-gasp leveller, but I don't think he'll be able to repeat the trick on Sunday.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Bayern Munich -1.5 on the Asian Handicap v Augsburg at 2.42

Lay Borussia Dortmund v Stuttgart at 1.62

Back Eintracht Frankfurt Draw No Bet v Hoffenheim at 1.87