Hannover v Bayern Munich
Saturday December 19, 14:30
Saturday December 19, 14:30
Although we won't know for certain until talks take place next week, it appears Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will be on the move at the end of this season, with Carlo Ancelotti his likely replacement. If Guardiola does go, he will have brought the Bundesliga some glamour and some sparkling football, and he may well leave Sabener Strasse having delivered a hat-trick of league titles.
Speculation about Guardiola's future plans is for a different column, but for now the Catalan has a title race to win. Last weekend's wholly unconvincing 2-0 win over Ingolstadt kept the Bavarian giants five points clear at the top, but Borussia Dortmund show no signs of slowing down in their pursuit.
Even though Bayern were well below their best last week, they still won by two goals, and I expect them to do something similar at Hannover. Regular readers will know that Hannover have burned us on a few occasions this season, producing some surprising displays despite araft of injuries and a squad that lacks firepower. However, Michael Frontzeck's men are in the bottom three, and have lost four of their last five games.
Bayern's recent record against H96 is stunning. They have won their last eight games against them, scoring 30 goals and conceding just four. The champions are without a clutch of players, but Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller have scored 28 Bundesliga goals between them, and all-action utility player David Alaba is back in training. Hannover are still without their most creative player, Hiroshi Kiyotake, and I can't see them putting up much resistance.
Recommended Bet
Back Bayern Munich -2.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.07]
Back Bayern Munich -2.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.07]
Cologne v Borussia Dortmund
Saturday December 19, 14:30
It's rare that both title contenders play in exactly the same timeslot, but that's what's happening this weekend. Borussia Dortmund are hanging in there in the title race, and since losing Der Klassiker 5-1 at Bayern, they have responded by winning seven out of eight in the league.
Away from home Dortmund have won three of their last four, and their incredible goalscoring run continues. Opta tell us they have smashed in 46 goals, just one fewer than they managed in the whole of last season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the league's top scorer with 18 goals, and last season's top scorer Alex Meier won the Torjagerkanone title with 19 strikes.
Cologne haven't scored a goal at their RheinEnergie Stadion since the last week of September, and they have won just one of their last eight matches. Striker Anthony Modeste started the season superbly, but he hasn't found the net since the win at Schalke on October 4.
Even without the injured Marco Reus, BVB should have enough firepower to overcome a Cologne side bereft of confidence in front of goal.
Recommended Bet
Back Borussia Dortmund -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 1.80
Back Borussia Dortmund -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 1.80
Hertha Berlin v Mainz
Sunday December 20, 14:30
Live on BT Sport 1
Hertha Berlin continue to go from strength to strength under their inspirational coach Pal Dardai,and at this stage of the season they have to be seen as genuine contenders for a European place. Last weekend's 4-0 dismantling of Darmstadt proved that Hertha can be as dominant on the road as they have been at the Olympiastadion.
On home soil Dardai's men have been sensational, winning five of their last six games in the capital. The back four is very solid, with centre-back Sebastian Langkamp the leader. The midfield pairing of Per Ciljan Skjelbred and Fabian Lustenberger gives the team a solid base, and strikers Vedad Ibisevic and Salomon Kalou have rattled in 14 Bundesliga goals between them.
Mainz have been on good form, and they have won three of their seven away games, but I was shocked by how bad they were in last Friday's 0-0 draw with Stuttgart. Playmaker Yunus Mallibarely got involved, and there was very little service to hot-shot Yoshinori Muto.
I wonder if a bit of fatigue is creeping into the Mainz players, and many of the first-choice eleven have started nearly every game. Hertha look the better side to me at the moment, and they have become incredibly strong at home.
Recommended Bet
Back Hertha Berlin at 2.22
Back Hertha Berlin at 2.22
