Bundesliga Round 21 Preview: Bayer Leverkusen Look To Jump Up To Fifth with Win At Mainz

Meanwhile, league leaders Borussia Dortmund
host Hoffenheim, while champions Bayern Munich welcome Schalke

The race to
the Bundesliga title is heating up after both of the
favourite candidates dropped points in the previous round. This coming Friday
night (8 February) Bayer Leverkusen will hope to move closer to the top four
with victory away at Mainz, while the following day both Borussia Dortmund and
Bayern Munich play at home, against Hoffenheim and Schalke 04 respectively.

First things first

Before you
go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite
betting site and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As
a new customer and with the Bundesliga campaign already over halfway through,
there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available.

Where should I be investing my money?

First up,
the clash between Mainz and Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night. Mainz currently
sit in 11^th spot in the table but could go level with Bayer if they
claim all three points here – they are unbeaten in their last three home games
but have a negative goal difference of -6.

Bayer,
meanwhile, have won their last two games on the bounce, including a hugely impressive
3-1 win over defending champions Bayern Munich, and after a slow start to the
campaign have their eyes set on a place in the top four – they are priced at
7.00 to achieve that goal come May.

Regarding
this match, it is Leverkusen who come in as the clear favourites to take the
points. You can back the visitor to make it three league wins on the bounce at
just 1.83 while Mainz, despite home advantage, are out at 3.80 to do the same –
a draw is priced highest of all at 3.90, according to Oddsshark.

And we are
expecting the away side to continue their recent winning streak. A narrow, 2-1
win for Bayer comes in at 8.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a
US$42.50 pay out, while you can more than triple your money by backing a combo
bet of a Leverkusen win, coupled with both teams to score, at 3.25.

Dortmund to get back to winning ways on home
soil

The
following day, league leaders Borussia Dortmund will look to get back to
winning ways when they host Hoffenheim. Dortmund sit seven points clear at the
top of the table and are the favourites to win the league title at a price of
just 1.80.

Hoffenheim,
by way of comparison, sit eighth in the table but could move up to fifth with a
win on the road, depending on how other results go. Having qualified for the
UEFA Champions League last season, they are out at 13.00 to do so this time
around after an inconsistent first half of the campaign.

And it is
Dortmund who come into this clash as the overwhelming favourites to take the
points. You can back the table toppers to win at just 1.61, while Hoffenheim
are out at 4.75 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 4.20.

We are expecting
a comfortable afternoon for4 the home side. A 3-1 win for Dortmund is priced
competitively at 11.00, thereby offering more than a ten-fold return on any
investment, while you can more than double your money by backing a combo bet of
a Dortmund win, coupled with both teams to score, at 2.60.

Bayern in desperate need of win

And
finally, Bayern Munich host Schalke on the same day desperately needing three
points to reignite their title defence. A defeat last time out has seen the
champions slip down to third and they are at 2.00 to retain their domestic
crown.

Schalke,
meanwhile, are having a hugely disappointing campaign. They are without a win
in their last two league outings and are languishing in the bottom half of the
table.

It is
therefore of little surprise to see that Bayern are the red hot favourites to
win this match. You can back the champions to take all three points at just
1.18, while Schalke are all the way out at 13.00 to record what would be a
shock victory – a draw is priced in the middle at 7.00.

We are
fully expecting Bayern to coast to victory. A comfortable, 2-0 win for the home
side is priced at 7.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$37.50 pay
out, while you could more than triple your money by backing under 2.5 goals in
the game at 3.20.

Bundesliga round 21 fixtures:

Friday, 8 February

(3.80)
Mainz x Bayer Leverkusen (1.83); draw (3.90)

Saturday, 9 February

(1.61)
Borussia Dortmund x Hoffenheim (4.75); draw (4.20)

(1.70)
Borussia Monchengladbach x Hertha Berlin (4.75); draw (3.75)

(2.10)
Hannover 96 x Nurnberg (3.25); draw (3.50)

(1.70) RB
Leipzig x Eintracht Frankfurt (4.75); draw (3.80)

(2.80)
Freiburg x Wolfsburg (2.40); draw (3.40)

(1.18)
Bayern Munich x Schalke 04 (13.00); draw (7.00)

Sunday, 10 February

(1.83) Werder Bremen x
Augsburg (4.00); draw (3.75)