Bundesliga Betting: Kovac to get a taste of next season

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt
Saturday 28 April, 14:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

Bayern to overcome the face of their future

One subject will dominate the build-up to this clash, and that's Niko Kovac's first visit to the Allianz Arena since he was confirmed as Bayern's coach for next season. The Croatian - a former Bayern midfielder - has earned his big opportunity by dragging extraordinary performances out of a limited squad, and showing a flair for tactical tinkering and man-management. He'll need all of those qualities at Sabener Strasse next season.

Before he joins Germany's most successful club, Kovac must try to keep Frankfurt's campaign on the rails. They have done superbly to reach the final of the DFB Cup for the second season running, and that will bring about another meeting with Bayern. Frankfurt still need a few points to nail down a Europa League spot, and they have claimed just one pointfrom their last four league outings.

Bayern will be largely focused on trying to repair the damage of Wednesday's 2-1 home defeat to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League, so we can expect wholesale changes. However, this is as strong a Bayern squad as I've seen since I started covering the league, and they have shown time and time again they can win Bundesliga matches comfortably even if they make five or six changes to their side. They have won their last three domestic games 5-1, 6-2 and 3-0.

Bayern can be backed -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.09], and I believe that's a generous price.

Wolfsburg v Hamburg
Saturday 28 April, 14:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

VFL and HSV to play out another nail-biter

Sometimes football clubs don't, or can't, learn their lessons. Last season, Hamburg and Wolfsburg played out a nail-biting relegation showdown on the final day of the regular season. A late goal from Luca Waldschmidt saved Hamburg from the drop, and pushed Wolfsburg into a relegation playoff they narrowly survived.

Now both are in trouble again. Wolfsburg are one of three teams locked together on 30 points, while Hamburg are in the automatic relegation zone, five points worse off. If HSV lose this weekend and other results go against them, they'll suffer their first ever relegation from the Bundesliga.

Wolfsburg were looking resurgent until last weekend, when they put in one of their worst first-half displays of the season. They conceded three goals before the break in a 3-0 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach, and could've lost by a bigger margin. The third Gladbach goal summed up the Wolves' performance - the team dithered in lackadaisical fashion as it formed a defensive wall, and Christoph Kramer netted a quickly-taken free-kick.

Hamburg have won their last couple of home games under new coach Christian Titz, who has imbued his charges with a sense of adventure and a willingness to be brave in possession. The return of tenacious midfielder Lewis Holtby to the fold has proven to be pivotal, as he has scored three goals, including the winner against Freiburg last weekend.

Wolfsburg are 2.20 to win this, and that seems way too short to me. I wouldn't say there's much to choose between the teams, and the hosts haven't won any of their last seven home games. They haven't scored more than once in a home match since the first week of December.

I'll back the visitors to pick up at least a point.

Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund
Sunday 29 April, 17:00
Live on Betfair Live Video and BT Sport

Dortmund to find Bremen trip harder than market believes

There's no doubt that Borussia Dortmund were excellent in last weekend's 4-0 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen. Teenage Englishman Jadon Sancho lit up Signal Iduna Park with a goal and two assists, Marco Reus was in irrepressible form, and the defence largely nullified a dangerous Leverkusen attack.

However, BVB fans know that the team rarely produces two strong displays back-to-back these days, and they haven't won two games in a row for more than two months. On the road, Dortmund have gone five matches without a victory.

Bremen still haven't lost at home under coach Florian Kohfeldt, and you have to go back to late October for the last time they were beaten at the Weserstadion. They are also playing without any real pressure.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Bayern Munich -1.0 on the Asian Handicap v Eintracht Frankfurt at [2.09]

Back Draw or Away in the Double Chance market in Wolfsburg v Hamburg at 1.80

Lay Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen at 2.00