Bundesliga Betting: Breathtaking Bayern to keep on marching

Hannover v Bayern Munich
Saturday 21 April, 14:30

Brilliant Bayern to rack up another handsome win

Bayern Munich are still on course for a remarkable treble. The Bundesliga title has been wrapped up, Tuesday's stellar 6-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen booked another appearance at the DFB Cup final, and Real Madrid await in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Rather than slowing down at the end of a demanding season, Bayern seem to be getting better by the game.

Some much-needed clarity has also been obtained when it comes to the coaching situation. Eintracht Frankfurt boss Niko Kovac has agreed to take the reins at the Allianz Arena, and his final game with the Eagles will be the cup final against his new employers. Kovac has shown excellent motivational skills and good tactical awareness in Frankfurt, and I think he'll do a fine job in Munich. He also played for Bayern as a midfielder, so that helps.

Bayern's opponents this weekend are Hannover, who are grateful that they made such a strong start to the season. A collapse in 2018 could have been very costly had they not already had so many points in the bank. They have taken just 13 points from 13 games since the turn of the year, but they are realistically just one win from total safety, and they might have already done enough.

Bayern have won their last two matches 6-2 and 5-1, and they have scored 37 goals in their last ten outings. I don't expect ailing Hannover to put up enough resistance to prevent another comfortable Bayern victory.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Hertha Berlin
Saturday 21 April, 14:30

Eagles to keep on soaring

The aforementioned Niko Kovac has done a remarkable job with Eintracht Frankfurt. Not only has he guided them to a second consecutive DFB Cup final (they won 1-0 at Schalke on Wednesday night), but he has kept them in contention for a place in the Champions League. Admittedly, Frankfurt need to win all of their games to make the top four after they were bashed 4-1 at Leverkusen last weekend, but for a club of their resources to be in the mix is impressive.

Kovac has knitted together a squad that features 17 different nationalities, and he has shown great man-management skills to get a tune out of problematic midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. The squad has great faith in the tactical framework Kovac has built for them, and they are willing to fight, as we saw in the cup semi-final at Schalke.

Frankfurt have won five of their last six home games, and I expect them to extend that impressive streak against a Hertha Berlin that has been limping along for some time. They are one of the only sides in the Bundesliga who truly have little to play for. They won't be relegated, and only a remarkable run of wins would see them sneak into the top seven. They are the picture of inconsistency - nine wins and nine defeats, 35 goals scored and 35 conceded. Comfortable survival isn't to be sniffed at, with bigger clubs than Hertha in deep relegation trouble, but coach Pal Dardai will be a little disappointed not to have been part of the scrap for Europa League qualification.

Frankfurt are on a high after Wednesday's win, and they have been superb at home. I'll back them to take three points here.

Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen
Saturday 21 April, 17:30
Live on BT Sport

BVB too short to win Champions League showdown

All is not well with Borussia Dortmund. I saw their problems first-hand on Sunday, as they slipped to a 2-0 Revierderby defeat at Schalke. Although Dortmund had long spells of possession in the second half, they rarely looked like breaking through an organised Schalke rearguard. To make matters worse, star striker Michy Batshuayi damaged ankle ligaments, and will almost certainly miss the rest of the club season.

Dortmund look likely to separate from coach Peter Stoger at the end of the season, regardless of whether he secures a top-four finish. He hasn't stamped his authority on the squad in any way, and there are simply too many players under-performing. Nice coach Lucien Favre, who was a target for Dortmund last summer, appears to once again be top of their list.

Bayer Leverkusen are in better shape, although their sobering 6-2 hammering by Bayern in the DFB Cup on Tuesday was a reminder of how far they still have to go to mix it with the best in Germany. Coach Heiko Herrlich has overcome a rocky start to put his team on course for the top four, and last weekend's 4-1 win over Frankfurt laid down a marker.

Bayer recently played some stunning football in a 4-1 win at RB Leipzig, and it's that performance which makes me think they can take advantage of a wounded Dortmund. BVB have won just three of their last ten games, and without Batshuayi, they lack a focal point for what is already a pretty disjointed and chaotic attack.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Bayern Munich -1.5 on the Asian Handicap v Hannover at 2.28

Back Eintracht Frankfurt to beat Hertha Berlin at 2.00

Back Bayer Leverkusen Draw No Bet v Borussia Dortmund at 2.24