Bayern Munich-Vfl Wolfsburg
Allianz Arena
Friday, 20th August 2010 – kickoff 20:30

Bayern Munich

The reigning champions start the new Bundesliga season with a derby match against Vfl Wolfsburg, which will be a good test for the team that will show how well are they prepared after the exhausting furious finish of the last season.

Bayern`s first competitive match was the DFB Cup match on Monday against the lower side of Germania Windeck which they won it 4-0.Despite the big and routine win, coach Van Gaal said that that was the worst pre-season performance by his team and that changes are needed in order for the team to have a good start of the season.

The team has one personal change since the last season as they brought back the 20-years old and very good midfielder Toni Kroos from Bayer Leverkusen where he played the whole last season on loan, and he will have to fight for his place in the starting line-up as he plays on the same position as Ribery, but coach van Gaal said that he plans to use him as a central midfielder. Robben is still not 100 percent fit from his injury and Kroos might start in this match.

In front of this match there is slight doubt whether the striker Ivica Olic will play due to a knee injury which he had picked up in a friendly match of the Croatian national team against Slovakia, and he sit-out the DFB Cup match but will probably return in the starting line-up against Wolfsburg. If not, Klose will take his place.

Probable Bayern Munich line-up :
Hans-Jörg Butt ,
Lahm , van Buyten , Demichelis, Contento,
Schweinsteiger , van Bommel , Kroos, Ribery ,
T. Müller , Olic

Vfl Wolfsburg

After their great season two seasons ago when they became German champions, last season it was a disappointment for this team who managed to finish eight at the table trailing more than 20 points behind the champions.

This season there are many personal changes in the team and they will start fresh with higher expectations as no one really believes that they are serious contenders ,which relieves pressure off their shoulders and we should expect some really good performances from this team.

After becoming champion of Holland with FC Twente, Steve McLaren took over this team, signing a two-year contract until the June 2012. His assistant coach will be Pierre Littbarski who might be remembered by the older football fans as one of the best German midfielders who also took part and played constantly in the German national team when they become champions back in 1990.

The club also secured services of the Danish defender Simon Kjaer from Palermo which will bring stability and security in the defense of the team that was among the teams with most conceded goals last season. He will be partnered with another great defender which was signed from the relegated Hertha Berlin- Arne Friedrich so this team expects much tighter defense. In my opinion, the team made a great move selling Obafemi Martins to Rubin Kazan, and bringing Mario Mandzukic from Dinamo Zagreb who should shine in the years to come. He will get his chance this season, but in the attack Grafite and Dzeko are irreplaceable at the moment. Cicero was also signed from Hertha Berlin and will play at the left wing.

Expect some great news for the team in the following week or two, as the latest reports are that they have already agreed terms with Diego from Juventus who should make a comeback in the Bundesliga and with Ryan Babel from Liverpool, nothing is yet official and there is still work to be done, but in any case this team will be much stronger than the last season and i expect them to finish in the top five or six teams in the Budnesliga this season.

In front of this match there is only one slight doubt in the team. Wolfsburg`s goalkeeper Diego Benaglio might miss this match as his wife expects a child, so if he is not able to participate, the 22-year old Marwin Hitz will take his place.

Probable Vfl Wolfsburg line-up :
Benaglio,
Pekarik, Kjaer, A.Friedrich, Schafer ,
Riether, Josue , Cicero ,
Misimovic,
Grafite , Dzeko

The Betting Verdict

The first few rounds are always ‘tricky’ when picking a winner and especially in the Bundesliga where half of the league fights for the title, and one half fights to avoid relegation. Last season Bayern Munich started really bad picking just few points in the first five or six rounds, but the team was new and the coach as well, but they found the recipe to temp their form for a perfect finish.

This season Bayern Munich are stronger as several players raised their game to a higher level and the players play and function as a team very well. On the other side Vfl Wolfsburg will be motivated to show a great performance, and especially with so many new players that will want to impress the coach and the fans.

Vfl Wolfsburg are much stronger team than last season but i think that they need some time, maybe a few rounds before they start to play as a team as the team needs time to adopt the new style of play which will be installed by McLaren.

Bayern Munich have what it takes to stay focused and take this match seriously, and although this is just the first match of the season i give them edge to find the way for an opening Bundesliga win in Munich.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Bayern Munich-Vfl Wolfsburg 2-1

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Home win for Bayern Munich