Goals galore in Swabia
Augsburg v Borussia Dortmund
Saturday 26 September, 14:30
Live on Betfair Live Video
There is something incredibly daring about the way Borussia Dortmund give so much responsibility to players who are barely old enough to get a driving licence, let alone put the fate of a multi-million euro enterprise on their shoulders. 17-year-olds Jude Bellingham and Gio Reyna combined for BVB’s opening goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach, while for the final goal, 20-year-old Jadon Sancho slipped the ball through for 20-year-old scoring sensation Erling Haaland to produce an unerring finish.
It will be fascinating to see whether these daring young guns an take down all-conquering Bayern Munich, but even if they can’t, they’ll have a lot of fun trying. In the end, my suspicion is that Lucien Favre’s side won’t quite find the consistency they need, and I have long-held doubts about goalkeeper Roman Bürki. He’s a good custodian, but not a title-winning one.
Augsburg opened their league campaign with a 3-1 win at Union Berlin, and coach Heiko Herrlich wants to play in a more attacking style than his counter-punching predecessor Martin Schmidt. Each of Augsburg’s last four games in the top flight have seen both teams find the net, and the resumption of the striking partnership between Michael Gregoritsch and Alfred Finnbogason could prove important.
Dortmund beat Augsburg 5-1 and 5-3 last term, and I think we’re in for another wild ride. I’ll back Over 3.5 Goals at [2.42].
Foals to find their feet
Borussia Mönchengladbach v Union Berlin
Saturday 26 September, 14:30
Live on Betfair Live Video
The general consensus seems to be that Borussia Mönchengladbach weren’t as bad as the scoreline suggests in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. That was certainly the view held by coach Marco Rose, who must find a way of balancing the club’s commitments in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. The return to full fitness of key forwards Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram will do no harm – both players were only substitutes at Signal Iduna Park.
Gladbach have won four of their last five home games in the Bundesliga, and if you stretch back further, they have taken maximum points from 12 of their last 15. Their only failures in that spell were against Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, who all finished in the top six last term.
Union Berlin have lost talismanic striker Sebastian Andersson to Köln, and they haven’t yet found a solution. Max Kruse should have a big impact on their attack, but he’s not a target-man. The capital club have really struggled post-lockdown, winning just three of their last 12 games at this level. On the road, they have lost four of their last five.
I’ll back Gladbach -1.5 on the Asian Handicap here at [2.22].
Hoffe can take a chunk out of the champions
Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich
Sunday 27 September, 14:30
Live on BT Sport and Betfair Live Video
At time of writing, we don’t know how Bayern Munich will have fared in the UEFA Super Cup, but what we do know is that they will be slightly drained by a trip to Budapest and a clash with Europa League winners Sevilla. Given that there is concern over the high COVID-19 infection rates in the Hungarian capital, it’s fair to say it could be an emotionally draining excursion too.
Bayern strutted their stuff in last Friday’s 8-0 demolition of Schalke, with Leroy Sane particularly impressive against his former club. Sane scored a goal and set up two more, while Serge Gnabry whacked in a hat-trick. Robert Lewandowski slotted in a penalty, and has now scored on Matchday One in each of the last six seasons.
Bayern lost at home to Hoffenheim last term, but then gained a measure of revenge by winning the reverse 6-0, a match that featured the players ambling around in the closing stages in protest at Bayern ultras raising offensive banners about Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp. Bayern have only dropped two points in 2020, and I believe they’ll win here, but Hoffenheim can score. Striker Andrej Kramaric netted a hat-trick in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Köln, and he has scored the club’s last nine competitive goals.
You can use the Sportsbook’s Same Game Multi to back Bayern to win and Both Teams To Score at [1.91].
Source: Betfair German
