Prediction and odds for the game: Hertha Berlin (9/5) v Schalke (29/20)
We are backing the draw
When: Friday 31st January 2020, Kick-off 7:30 PM
Where: The Olympiastadion
On Friday night, Hertha Berlin host Schalke at the Olympiastadion, in a game that could have big implications on the fight for survival and the race for European places in the Bundesliga.
Hertha Berlin
Slowly but surely Hertha Berlin are improving under former Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann. The team from the German capital have now lost just once in their last five league outings in the Bundesliga after a 2-1 win at Wolfsburg last time out. The victory ended a mini two-game run without a league win for Hertha.
The win over the Wolves moved Klinsmann’s team seven points clear of the relegation spots and five points clear of the relegation play-off berths. They will know that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels though in a league like the Bundesliga.
Hertha will need to improve their away form if they are to move up the table, as they have won just once in their last six Bundesliga games on home soil, suffering four defeats in the process. Defensive improvement is needed on home soil too, as they conceded at least twice in all four of those recent home league defeats.
Schalke
The visitors are well and truly in the mix for the European spots in the Bundesliga this season. David Wagner’s team are in the Europa League spot in the German top-flight but are also just three points outside the Champions League positions.
A recent run of inconsistent form in the Bundesliga has not helped their chances of moving into the vital top-four of the German top-flight. They had been hard to beat until a 5-0 hammering last time out at the hands of reigning champions Bayern Munich. In fact, the visitors were four games unbeaten prior to the beating in Bavaria.
The visitor’s recent games in the Bundesliga have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in seven of their last ten outings.
Schalke’s recent away record is an inconsistent one, as they have failed to win in their last three away games in the Bundesliga while winning just twice in their previous six league outings in the German top-flight.
Wagner’s team need to improve defensive on their travels if they are to finish in the top-four, as the team from Gelsenkirchen have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 away matches in the Bundesliga.
Conclusion
Hertha will head into this game in the better spirits after their win against Wolfsburg. The hammering against Bayern may just knock Schalke’s confidence slightly. With that in mind, we are backing the draw at odds of 23/10. We believe this will be a high-scoring game, so we are also backing the over 2.5 goals scored
Verdict: We are backing the draw at odds of 23/10 and/or the over 2.5 goals scored at odds of 10/11. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Who will come out on top at the Olympiastadion?
