RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund Betting Tip Over 2.5 goals – 19 January 2019

RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund
Saturday 19th January 1730hrs 
Football – Germany – Bundesliga
Pick: Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Matchbook
Odds: 5/6 (odds taken 22.30 GMT, Thursday 16th January)

This fixture is a developing into a proper Bundesliga rivalry and we’re set for the next edition of it on Saturday evening. Continue reading for a match preview of fourth placed Leipzig against leaders Borussia Dortmund, with a selected betting tip.

Bundesliga Betting at matchbook

RB Leipzig Preview

It was a successful first half of the season for Ralf Rangnick’s Leipzig who sit in the top four in the Bundesliga. Should they end the season there it would ensure qualification for the Champions League. That’s the aim of this club now who have ambitions of challenging the status quo in Germany. That hasn’t gone down well with the majority, if not all, of the other clubs in Germany who feel they have fast tracked their way to the top due to the considerable funds invested in them via Red Bull. Julian Nagelsmann will be in charge from the summer onwards but the current incumbent is doing a good job and they will fancy their chances of toppling the leaders on Saturday in front of their own supporters. Leipzig have an excellent home record with seven wins and two draws from their nine league games so far. Only Dortmund have scored more goals than them at home as well, and they also have the second best home defensive record. All of that combines to them approaching this match in excellent heart and hopeful of another positive result. The teams are stacking up in behind them in the battle for the top four so whilst it’s been a good first half to the campaign, that’s now history and they have to continue in the same vein.

Borussia Dortmund Preview

Dortmund have taken the Bundesliga by storm so far this season and have got their fans dreaming of a first league title since 2012 when Jurgen Klopp was in charge. Bayern Munich have dominated since whilst Dortmund have been inconsistent. The arrival of Lucien Favre in the summer appears to have changed that, though, and they come into the second half of the season with a six-point advantage of Bayern and the rest of the league. Favre will be the first to note how much football is left to play and will be urging caution, but it is the best position the club have been in for years. With 42 points from their first 17 games, they know a similar haul from their next 17 will see them champions – but they have plenty of challenges along the way, starting with this one. Bayern are the only team who have picked up more points away from home in the league so far, which will give the visitors hope of another positive result when they travel to Leipzig. Their only defeat so far came away to Fortuna Dusseldorf, which came in their most recent away outing.

RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund Betting Advice

There’s certainly a rivalry emerging between these two clubs and it took to social media during the week, setting the tone for what’s ahead. The two sets of supporters certainly do not like each other and it should make for an excellent atmosphere. Dortmund held the bragging rights from the first meeting of this campaign with an emphatic 4-1 win back in August, but the overall record (albeit brief) is very even with a couple of wins apiece and a single draw from their five meetings. So if history is a guide then there is little to separate the teams.

Home advantage could well be they key to Saturday’s game. Dortmund have been good on the road but they have shown some vulnerability with that loss against Dusseldorf, whilst they have been involved in some very close matches on other occasions when on their travels. Leipzig have been impressive at home but this will be best opponent they have faced. I was initially leaning towards a bet on the home team but instead, over 2.5 goals has occurred in five out nine Leipzig home games and the same record for Dortmund’s away games, making it a bet in this one as well.