FC Nurnberg v Borussia Dortmund
Football : Germany : Bundesliga
Easy Credit Stadion
Saturday, 24th April 2010 – kickoff 15:30

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FC Nurnberg

FC Nurnberg are on pressure to produce a good performance and need points to escape from relegation zone as they are one of the three teams with 28 points at the 14th spot near the bottom.

They were beaten last weekend by SC Freiburg 2-1 who are their direct rivals in the relegation battle, and that loss probably will affect team`s morale in front of this encounter against the much stronger team of Borussia Dortmund who need maximum 9 points from the remaining three matches in order to secure a Chamipons league spot.

Coach Dieter Hecking has a big problem replacing the team captain Andreas Wolf, who is definitely out of this match due to a fractured thumb. Most likely Havard Nordtveit will take his place in the central defense. Another blow is the absence of the defender Breno who is also injured and who has been a regular starter for the team.

The team will play with only one striker Choupo-Moting, but depending on the situation at the pitch Albert Bunjaku might get more offensive role from the midfield.

Probable FC Nurnberg line-up :
R. Schäfer,
Diekmeier, Maroh, Nordtveit, Pinola
Ottl, Tavares, Bunjaku, Gündogan, Risse,
Choupo-Moting

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund missed a great opportunity to get in the top three teams and be in a place that leads into Champions league after their unexpected 1-1 draw at home last week against TSG Hoffenheim. They were really unfortunate to concede a last minute equalizer, so now they must focus and get points against Nurnberg in order to stay in contention for the third place.

Mohamed Zidan will be out of the squad due to a torn ligament injury which he had picked up against TSG Hoffenheim last week. Hungarian International Tamas Hajnal should take his place in the offensive midfield as a partner to Kevin Grosskreutz.

Marcel Schmelzer will be back in the starting line up as a left back and Dede is out as he still lacks match fitness. Skipper Sebastian Kehl (strained groin) is also out.

Probable Borussia Dortmund line-up :
Weidenfeller,
Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer,
S. Bender, Sahin, Blaszczykowski,
Hajnal, K. Grosskreutz,
Barrios

The Betting Verdict

In the last nine matches between these teams in Nurnberg, FC Nurnberg have won only once against BVB. The overall record in Nurnberg is nine wins for FC Nurnberg, six losses and twelve draws. The first match this season between these teams ended in convincing 4-0 victory for Borussia Dortmund.

FC Nurnberg often shows very good displays against better teams like Bayern Munich who were held to a 1-1 draw and they beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 at home.

I think that although they desperately need points, FC Nurnberg will take more defensive approach because their best defensive duo-Wolf and Breno are both out through injuries and their second striker Charisteas is still out of the team.

My opinion is that we will not see too many goals here and both teams will wait patiently for their chances. BVB are the better side, but worrying thing is that they often fail to deliver when they are most expected to do so.

FC Nurnberg can produce very good matches against favorites and they have proven that this season but now they will miss three important players so that gives more chance to their opponents.

Borussia Dortmund were unlucky conceding a last minute goal last week, but i think that they will get a ‘lucky’ win here and make up for the dropped points in the last round. It might be a late winner, Nurnberg might even take the lead first, but i lean more towards away victory for BVB, but you can also try covering with a small stake on the draw.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

FC Nurnberg 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (or 1-1)

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Away win for Borussia Dortmund as a main bet, but you can also try a small stake on the draw to cover.