Prediction and odds for the game: Dortmund (1/2) v Schalke (5/1)
We are backing the home win
When: Saturday, 16th May 2020, kick-off 14:30
Where: Signal Iduna Park
On Saturday, Dortmund host Schalke at Signal Iduna Park in the Revierderby, as the Bundesliga returns to action after a hiatus due to COVID-19.
Dortmund
Before the enforced break, Dortmund were in good league form recording four straight victories and had moved up to second place in the table. However, despite moving up the table, BVB are still four points behind reigning champions and league leaders Bayern Munich.
Dortmund are renowned for their attacking style of play, with talented young attacking players Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho in the team. Lucien Favre’s team has lived up to their reputation of late by scoring at least two goals in three of their last four league matches. Not only that, but BVB have also tightened up at the back, as a 2-1 win at Monchengladbach in their last league outing ended a run of three straight clean sheets in the Bundesliga.
BVB are very strong on home soil, as they are 13 league games unbeaten having recorded ten wins. Favre’s team also head into this derby on the back of a four-game winning run at Signal Iduna Park. Their attacking threat has been there for all to see of late at home, as they have scored at least three times in seven of their last eight home matches.
Schalke
David Wagner’s team are enjoying a solid campaign in the German top-flight. The visitors currently sit in the last European spot in the Bundesliga. However, the Royal Blues are just a point clear of Wolfsburg and Freiburg, who are in seventh and eighth place respectively in the table.
Strangely, the hiatus may benefit Schalke, as it gave them a chance to reset and regroup, as the visitors’ form before the temporary break was poor. They have failed to win in seven league outings, having also won just one of their last ten league matches.
In contrast to the hosts, Schalke have been desperately short of goals in the German top-flight of late. They have scored just once in their last four league outings. The lack of goals has certainly hindered their chances of consolidating a European spot. The fact that they have failed to win in six away matches has not helped the Royal Blues in their pursuit of a top-six finish. Once again, a lack of goals has been the main factor in their poor recent form on the road, as they have failed to score in their last four straight league matches on the road.
Conclusion
This derby will be played out behind closed doors, which not take something away from the occasion. It is difficult to tell how either side will respond to the enforced break.
However, Dortmund have the better quality and we are tipping BVB to come out on top in this clash, even though Schalke were the last team to win at the Signal Iduna. We are also backing over 2.5 goals scored, as Dortmund are strong in attack and Schalke have been highly unconvincing when it comes to defending in top-flight (they have the worst defensive record of all the teams in the Bundesliga top-8).
Verdict: We are backing the home win at odds of 1/2 and/or over 2.5 goals scored at odds of 8/11. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Who will come out on top in this Revierderby?
