German Tips

International Football Tips

 

VFL Wolfsburg V Hannover: Saturday 26th September – 14:30 GMT

 

Last seasons German champions have hit a flat spot already in the early part of this season with their recent success away at Schalke just glossing over the fact that Wolfsburg haven’t won at home in their previous two visits to the Volkswagen Arena. Both Hamburg & Bayer Leverkusen, both very good side in their own right it has to be said, have come away from the home of Wolfsburg with all three points. Compare that to Wolfsburg immense home record of last season which seen them fail to lose a single game at home, winning 16 and drawing just the one. They’ve already made a mockery of last seasons home success but they will be eager to get back to winning ways at home, starting with a Hannover side who’ve managed just win in six outings.

 

Although Wolfsburg’s form at home has faltered in recent weeks, they have still be their ferocious and clinical self in front of goal. Two goals in each of their three home fixtures thus far amounts to a tally fo six in total but it’s been their defence which has let them down. The likes of Dzeko and Grafite were prolific and instrumental in Wolfsburg’s league success last season but they may have their work cut out against a Hannover team who’ve kept it very tidy whilst on their travels, keeping two consecutive away clean sheets.

 

Hannover may have made an impressive start to the season in terms of getting results on their travels but they did come a cropper on the opening day when they lost 1-0 at Hertha Berlin. However, Berlin are far from the force they were and their draw against Bremen deserves a lot more credit but even Bremen have lost their cutting edge in recent seasons. This will be their first real test of the season and we expect them to come up short.

 

Wolfsburg won’t get presented with many more easier opportunities to resurrect the intimidating home form they built throughout a successful 2008/2009 season. The striking duo of Dzeko and Grafite should be fresh and raring to go and we expect them to dismantle what has been a tidy defence for Hannover. Dzeko already has three goals to his name this season whereas Grafite topped the goalscoring chart in Germany last term.

 

 

1×2: Wolfsburg – 2/5 Coral

 

Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals – 8/15 StanJames

 

 

 

FC Koln V Bayer Leverkusen: Saturday 26th September – 14:30 GMT

 

 

Koln have started the season in a dire fashion, losing four of their opening six games. However, a recent away win at Stuttgart should be the boost in confidence Zvonimir Soldo, the Koln manager, was seeking. Stuttgart is normally a very tough venue to get any points out of but to get all three was a startling result to say the very least but will they build on their recent success or instantly return to losing ways? Well, Bayer, on the contrary, have made a very impressive start to the new campaign and have yet to taste defeat in six league outings, with their 3-2 win away in Wolfsburg their most creditable result thus far. They have won two of their three away fixtures and they look decent odds to maintain their challenge for the league title.

 

Leverkusen have been sensational on the road, not only winning two out of three away fixtures but also scoring a colossal tally of ten goals in the process. However, their defence or their attacking style of play has nearly cost them as they shipped an equally unimpressive four in return. However, their attacking intent is a big plus for any potential backer, especially us, as at least they will be doing their utmost to score the goals needed to win games.

 

Koln, however, find themselves languishing in 16th position, just one position above the drop. They have accumulated just four points from a possible eighteen and although their recent and first win of the season should give them a big lift, the critics will be out on whether that performance and result was just a one off and we are under the assumption that Koln are certainly going to lose a lot more games then they win. They simply lack the strength in depth to pick up enough points on a consistent basis, despite the acquisition of Lukas Podolski over the summer.

 

It must be said that Koln have had some torrid opening home fixtures, with both Wolfsburg and Schalke embracing the Rhein Energie Stadion, with Koln coming out the losing team on both occasions. However, they did manage to score in both encounters and they will take some heart from that, and so will we.

 

Leverkusen should win, and that will be our 1×2 selection. However, the odds on goals also looks very intriguing as Koln can’t defend against the quality side, Leverkusen concede plenty with their attacking mindset and Koln are more then capable of scoring on their own patch. This really does have the makings to be a thriller. Let’s just hope our tip doesn’t jinx the potential spectacle.

 

 

1×2: Bayer Leverkusen – 6/5 StanJames

 

Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals – 7/10 Bet365