Borussia Dortmund Vs Schalke
Saturday, 16 May 2020 – 14:30 Kick-Off
German Bundesliga
Pick: Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap
Odds: 23/25
Bookmaker: 888Sport
(All odds correct at time of writing: 12th May 2020 at 10:35)
Preview: Not a bad way to resume football in Germany’s top division, with Borussia Dortmund and Schalke clashing in the Revierderby. It is a must win game for the hosts in particular, whose record in this particular match-up has not been great in recent times.
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Table of Contents
Borussia Dortmund Preview – No margin for error in title race?
Prior to the league being suspended due to COVID-19, Borussia Dortmund (2nd – W15 D6 L4, GF68 GA33) won seven and lost one of eight Bundesliga games as they sought to reel in leaders Bayern Munich, whose leads currently stands at four points. Not an insurmountable deficit by any stretch of the imagination. Although with the remainder of the season set to be played behind closed doors, it does compound the task at hand somewhat.
The famous Yellow-Wall at Westfalenstadion has certainly played its role thus far. No team has beaten Lucien Favre’s men on their own patch this term, nor has anyone managed to collect more points from said matches than their 30 from a possible 36 (W9 D3). Furthermore, Dortmund scored four or more on six separate occasions at home, impressively securing seven of nine victories whilst maintaining a clean sheet.
Unfortunately, there will be no raucous home support to fall back for the remainder of the campaign. That could be potentially significant, but particularly ahead of this weekend. Across their previous eight league meetings with Schalke, Dortmund have only managed the one victory whilst going the last three as hosts without winning, losing last season’s corresponding encounter 4-2 when reduced to nine men.
Schalke Preview – Royal Blues at risk of falling away?
Top of the table at the end of September but clinging on to a Europa League berth by the time the league was halted in early March. Gradually the season had begun to unravel for Schalke (6th – W9 D10 L6, GF33 GA36) under coach David Wagner, who will have spent at least some of his time during the lockdown mulling over his team’s dramatic decline since the turn of the year.
After initially winning their opening league game of 2020, beating Monchengladbach 2-0 back home to make it four unbeaten, The Royal Blues would subsequently embark on a winless run stretching seven matches (D4 L3) that remains ongoing. There were some heavy defeats to the likes of Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and even FC Koln, but even more alarming was the crisis which unfolded in front of goal, scoring twice across the last 630 minutes of Bundesliga action.
Their woes are even more profound on their travels, where they are six top-flight fixtures without a win – failing to score at all in each of the most recent four – since triumphing 2-1 at Werder Bremen in November. Something will have to give this weekend then, as the travelling party in a fixture that has seen them hit four goals on both of their latest two league visits to Signal Iduna Park.
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Borussia Dortmund Vs Schalke Betting Advice
It isn’t easy predicting how teams will adjust to football returning amid so much uncertainty and anxiety outside of the football bubble. Nevertheless, Borussia Dortmund approach this local derby as firm favourites, which is entirely justified based on their exploits so far this season but especially at home. As for the visitors, their form was abysmal prior to the break with goals in particular proving especially difficult to come by.
Borussia Dortmund Vs Schalke Key Facts
- No team boasts more points (30 from 36), goals scored (40) or fewer goals conceded in home games this season than Borussia Dortmund.
- With an equal number of wins, draws and losses (4) in away matches this term, Schalke find themselves without a win in six consecutive away games (D4 L3).
- The previous three league meetings at Borussia Dortmund have returned two draws and a defeat for the home side, with Schalke prevailing 4-2 last season.
Dortmund appear to have strong claims for winning a first home Rivierderby since 2015. Seven of their nine home league victories in 2019/20 were ‘To Nil’ (17/10 BetVictor), also winning by at least two clear goals on as many occasions.
Best Betting Odds for Borussia Dortmund Vs Schalke
Borussia Dortmund – 8/15 (Ladbrokes)
Draw – 16/5 (Unibet)
Schalke – 5/1 (Coral)
