Bayern Munich play host to Schalke in the DFB Pokal on Wednesday night, with both sides bidding to reach the final four of the competition.
Carlo Ancelotti’s charges warmed up for this clash in spectacular style, hammering Hamburg 8-0 at Allianz Arena at the weekend and the Bayern fans, who have been critical of the style of play that their side has adopted under the 57-year-old Italian’s stewardship this season, will be hoping for more of the same here.
Schalke, though, will provide stuffy opposition; Markus Weinzierl’s men have been beaten in just one of their last nine matches in all competitions and the visitors will feel that if they can contain the Bundesliga leaders then they will have a decent chance of pulling off a surprise victory.
Getty ImagesBayern have blasted 13 goals in their last two matches on home turf and Ancelotti’s men are chalked up as Betway’s 2/9 (1.22) favourites to claim a fourth successive home victory here. Schalke can be backed at 11/1 (12.0) to pull off a memorable triumph, while the same firm go 11/2 (6.50) that the match remains all square at the end of 90 minutes – a selection that would have seen punters profit when these two teams last locked horns.
Ancelotti’s men have conceded just one goal in their last six home victories in all competitions - against Arsenal in the Champions League – and Betway offer 11/10 (2.10) that the men from Munich win this Cup clash without conceding. The same firm go 10/11 (1.91) that the Bavarians score more than twice – a selection that would have landed in four of the last five home wins that Bayern have enjoyed.
Schalke, however, could well keep things tight; Weinzierl’s side have not conceded more than a single goal in any of their nine competitive fixtures thus far in 2017 – a sequence of results that includes a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bayern in Munich at the beginning of this month.
GOALFollowing Bayern’s tremendous victory at the weekend, punters may be tempted by Betway’s 9/20 (1.45) quote for more than two goals to be scored here, but there have been fewer than three goals scored in seven of Schalke’s last nine games.
Furthermore, there were fewer than three goals scored in both of the Bundesliga meetings between the teams this term; the 6/4 (2.50) quote for fewer than three goals to be scored, therefore, could offer decent value for punters ahead of Wednesday’s German Cup clash in Munich.
| Under 2.5 goals at 6/4 (2.50) for a 1pt stake with Betway |
