Football Bet of the Day: Bayer's travel sickness to continue

Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen
Friday September 29, 19:30
Live on BT Sport 3

The Swedish fairytale of Ostersunds had another chapter added to it last night, as a club that was in the fourth tier of Swedish football last season made it two wins out of two in the Europa League group stage. Dreams really do come true, for them and for us, because their 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin secured us an odds-against winner.

To Germany now, and a clash between two sides who are amongst the biggest in the Bundesliga, but have hit the skids. Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen both missed out on a place in Europe for this season, and are rebuilding under new coaches.

The 32-year-old Domenico Tedesco has been tasked with dragging sleeping giant Schalke back into the limelight, and he's made a mixed start to his tenure. A 2-0 home win over RB Leipzig was a great start, but since then the Royal Blues have picked up just six points from five games.

However, there is a general feeling that Tedesco has his players onside (he binned club captain Benedikt Howedes in a risky power play at the start of the season), and they are taking his input on board. Last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Hoffenheim was a good example - Schalke played really well, but couldn't score, and were punished brutally.

Leverkusen are also a work in progress under former Germany striker Heiko Herrlich. The last two home wins have been very encouraging, with Freiburg and Hamburg demolished. New signing Lucas Alario is already forming a dangerous strike partnership with Kevin Volland, and Jamaican forward Leon Bailey had by far his best game in a Bayer shirt against Hamburg.

However, Bayer's fragility away from home is still an issue. They have lost all three away games at Bayern, Mainz and Hertha Berlin, and against a Schalke team that has won two out of three at the Veltins Arena, I think they may struggle.

In what could be a close game, I'll back the hosts Draw No Bet.

Recommended Bet
Back Schalke Draw No Bet at 1.981/1