Borussia Dortmund-Bayer Leverkusen
Signal Iduna Park
Sunday, 22nd August 2010 – kickoff 17:30

Borussia Dortmund

This could be a very good season for Borussia Dortmund as they achieved a lot last season when they finished fifth at the table only ten points behind the champions. The team is packed with young players who had matured their game a lot during the last season and there are also few experienced players that play together for couple of years so this season Borussia Dortmund might be the secret underdogs for the Bundesliga title.

The team will be without one player that was in the first team since 2006 – the Paraguayan International Nelson Valdez left the club and joined the newly promoted Spanish side Hercules Alicante.

The team had a good preparation this mid-week when they easily won their Europa League match with 4-0 against the Azerbaijan side FK Agdam Qarabaq. Kagawa and Barrios scored twice which shows that they are in top form before the start of the Bundesliga. Shinji Kagawa was brought in the club from Japanese second division side and so far he proved to be a good acquisition.

Robert Lewandowski should be the replacement in the line up on the place of injured Blaszczykowski. Lewandowski was signed this year and last season he was the top scorer in Poland with 18 goals, so Borussia Dortmund now have three top strikers.

Bad news from the Europa League match is the injury of the midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski who will be out of the team for at least two weeks. Also the regular starter Dede injured his right ankle a week ago se he will be out of the team for a month.

Last weekend Borussia Dortmund progressed into the second round of the DFB Cup after beating Burghausen 3-0 away, so despite the couple of absent players in this match the team is in very good form. Interestingly, Borussia Dortmund have not lost a single pre-season match as they played eight times from which they have won six matches and drew two times. Among the pre-season wins most notable was the 3-1 win over Premier league side Manchester City.

Probable Borussia Dortmund line-up :
Weidenfeller,
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer,
Sahin, Kehl,
Lewandowski, Kagawa, K. Grosskreutz,
Barrios

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen were unbeatable during the first part of the season last year, but suddenly their form dropped a lot after the winter break and they finished fourth at the Bundesliga table, although they were the most serious favorites to become champions throughout the season.

Bayer Leverkusen set all time Bundesliga record last season when they went unbeaten for 24 straight matches from the start of the season but their form was especially terrible at the end of the last season as they had won only one of their last eight league games (3 draws and 4 defeats).

Positive for the team is the return of the Germany captain Michael Ballack who will bring the stability and experience and additionally strengthen the midfield of the team.

Bayer Leverkusen also have had a good midweek match winning 3-0 in the Europa League against the Ukraine side Tavriya Simferopol and Michael Ballack scored in that match. The last weekend was even more impressive when Bayer Leverkusen set a record win and demolished South West regional league side FK Pirmasens with 11-1 which was the highest victory in the DFB Cup matches.

Simon Rolfes and Patrick Helmes are still in rehab and unavailable for selection.

Probable Bayer Leverkusen line-up :
Adler,
Schwaab, M. Friedrich, Reinartz, Kadlec,
Vidal, L. Bender , Renato Augusto, Sam,
Kiessling, Derdiyok

The Betting Verdict

I expect this to be an open and entertaining match to watch as both teams have great strikers and are in very good form. Interesting fact is that Borussia Dortmund have not been beaten at home for six straight games and on the other side Bayer Leverkusen did not managed to win in their last seven away matches.

Both teams will start strong going for a victory in this match, so we might see a few goals here. Despite the home/away form of both sides, this will be a fresh new start for both teams in the Bundesliga with some new faces in their squads so i think its better to bet on goals rather than on a straight victory.

I give Borussia Dortmund slight advantage to win the match, but i would go for over 2.5 goals to be scored.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Over 2.5 goals to be scored in this match