Bundesliga Betting: New year but same old Bayern should carry on with winning ways

German Football / Razhan Miran / 30 January 2009 / Leave a comment

Razhan Miran suffered badly from withdrawal symptoms when the Bundesliga took its winter break but just like Germany's top division, is back and raring to go. Hopefully with some winning tips.

A lot has changed since the last time I sat down and watched a Bundesliga game. Seasons have changed, months have passed by, and somehow I look a little different. The winter break is indeed too long, and for someone like me who gets agitated by a ten day break for the internationals, let alone six weeks of friendlies, it is especially frustrating.

It makes little sense as it is, but when you consider how it changes the dynamics of a season, it seems even more ludicrous. The pre-winter break form usually has little correlation with the second half of the season. It is unfortunate, but any momentum picked up, and I'm thinking of Hoffenheim in particular, will most likely be lost.

Struggling teams have a chance to regroup, and those who were going well, will attempt to recapture that form. But surely that is what the summer break is for?

The English Premier League is the exact opposite of this, cramming in as many fixtures as possible into the congested Christmas period. However, for me there is nothing better than waking up on Boxing Day and having a whole day of mouth watering football ahead of you.

Regardless of my thoughts, the fact of the matter is, Europe's most entertaining league is now back on, and that is surely something to look forward to every weekend.

You may, or more likely may not remember the opening day of the Bundesliga this season. Friday the fifteenth of August and Bayern Munich were at home to Hamburg. Such is the efficiency of the German fixture list that the same game kicks off the second half of the season, but of course Hamburg are now at home. In fact, this half of the season mirrors the first exactly.

When these two teams last met at the Allianz, Jurgen Klinsmann was still learning the ropes, and it ended in a two-two draw. Since then however, and after a somewhat patchy first half of the season, both have managed to work their way into the top four. It is a clear incentive for both, that one of them shall top the Bundesliga after the match, even if it's only for nineteen hours.

Bayern are certainly favourites to do so, with an incredible run of form which has seen them win eleven out of the last twelve. The one blip was down to a last minute cracker away at Stuttgart in the league, however those ghosts were laid to rest this week when they returned to the Mercedes-Benz Arena and crushed them 5-1 in the cup.

The team are looking in good shape too going into this one, with an almost a fully fit squad available. Hamit Altintop returns to action after a few months off with his broken metatarsal, and loan signing Landon Donavan is set to make his debut after an impressing during the January friendlies. Toni Kroos, Lukas Podolski, and Daniel Van Buyten do have minor doubts however.

There has been some big news for Bayern during the break, with Willy Sagnol retiring from football after a long battle with injuries. Also, Lukas Podolski has signed for his old club Koln but will remain with Bayern till the end of the season. Klinsmann didn't waste much time in finding a replacement however, signing Hamburg striker Ivica Olic, who will also join them at the end of the season.

Olic is suspended for the next two games, so will miss out this one, however his replacement is likely to be Bayern old boy Jose Guerrero., who usually does well against his old club. Nigel de Jong has of course made his big money move to Man City, and could be replaced with loan signing Marcel Ndjeng from Monchengladbach. Alex Silva is also missing, but there is some good news in the form of Mladen Petric who seems to have fully recovered from injury.

I fully expect the Bayern steam roller to continue ploughing through their opposition, especially seeing as though Hamburg have a weekend side. They probably should be odds on, so take the [2.1] in the Match Odds. I cannot see Bayern losing tonight, so I think my pick of the bets is the Bayern -0 Asian Handicap at [1.54], which of course covers you on the draw. Correct Score is also an interesting market here, with 1-2 and 0-2 at [9.8] and [12.5] respectively, good value bets.

Be wary of the opening weekend, because like I say, the post-winter period is rarely a continuation of what happened before the break. Bayern are in a class of their own, so will have no problem backing them, but as far as other bets this weekend, choices are limited.

The Over 2.5 Goals in the Dortmund Vs Leverkusen fixture could be good value at [1.71], especially after their five goal thriller on the opening weekend in the summer. Werder Bremen usually hit from in the second half of the season, so it may be wise to catch them on some nice odds for the next few games before people realise and jump on the band wagon, thus ruining everything. I have a feeling [1.46] is too big at home to Bielefeld, so take Bremen in the Match Odds. Finally, although Wolfsburg are fantastic at home, they are pretty hopeless away, and at [2.18] to win at Koln, are certainly too short and worth a lay.