The German Bundesliga is finally returning from its hiatus this weekend. Fans from all over the world will be paying close attention to these games, since it will be first the major football league to resume play. With many of the games expected to break viewership records and no audiences in the stands, this first week will certainly be interesting. Not only for the fans, but for the players and coaches as well.
This will be the first time in a while for betting markets for major European leagues to be open. For instance, global sportsbook brand 22Bet has opened up a variety of betting options all across their platforms, from their UK and Canadian to the Kenyan 22bet.co.ke and even Nigerian version.
Borussia Dortmund: A Title Contender
Pre-COVID-19, Borussia Dortmund was ranked second with 51 points to their name. With just four points separating them from the current leaders and defending champions, Bayern Munich, Dortmund are sure to give it their all in the final sprint to the Bundesliga title. What’s more, a win here and they will put them within a single point of Bayern Munich, who won’t be playing until Sunday.
Borussia Dortmund were on a roll when they went on hiatus, winning all 4 of their last 4 Bundesliga games. If they continue playing like they have, we’ll be in for an exciting title bout.
But to give themselves a chance of their title dreams becoming a reality, they must absolutely avoid an upset from Schalke 04. And, despite the fact that the game will be physically played in Dortmund, there will be no fans in the stands, which will surely eat into the team’s homefield advantage.
Schalke 04: Hopes of Resurrecting a Season Gone Wrong
Schalke is currently ranked 6th with a trip to the Europa League on the horizon. Their current record sits at 9 wins, 10 draws, 6 losses, which translates to 37 points.
All of this looks good on paper, but once you take a closer look, you’ll realize that things aren’t as rosy as they seem. The team has been stuck in a winless rut for the last five games, with two games ending in losses and three ending in draws. All of this has allowed lower-ranked teams to get uncomfortably close to them. Schalke are only one point ahead of Wolfsburg and Freiburg, both of whom are eyeing that coveted Europa League spot.
But perhaps a hiatus was just what they needed. Will the prolonged rest help them return to former glory? A victory or a tie against Dortmund would certainly send a clear message to the rest of the Bundesliga.
Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke Prediction
Analyzing the shape of the teams is tricky, since neither outfit played for a number of weeks. But if the teams’ previous matches are an indication of anything, Dortmund is likely to be the favorite here, despite lacking a true homefield advantage. With Bayern Munich not playing until Sunday, a win against Schalke could also be psychologically significant to the team, placing them just one point behind Bayern Munich.
Bundesliga Odds
Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke 04 has all the markets you expect to find attached to a Bundesliga match, including winner, spread, both teams to score, and first goalscorer, with 22Bet money line odds packing in all the essentials.
The betting public is currently favoring Borussia Dortmund, which translates to a price of 11/20 for a home team win. Sports bettors are much less optimistic about Schalke, placing them at 520/100. A draw currently sits at 33/10 and both teams to score is at 3/4.
