The Bundesliga in Germany has shut down for the winter break, but there are still some domestic details to be taken care of before players get to relax for a couple of weeks. The DFB-Pokal round of 16 is set to go in midweek, and there can be no denying the biggest game on the schedule, with Bundesliga leaders and Soccer betting lines favorite Bayern Munich hosting Borussia Dortmund in a game that could well have a big impact on which team goes on to capture the trophy.
These two teams have been regular winners of this cup, and it is Borussia Dortmund who is the current holders after knocking off Eintracht Frankfurt in last season’s final. They beat Bayern Munich in the semi-final last season, but are going to have a much tougher go of things this time around, as they are not the same team that they were a few short months ago, just as the DFB Cup odds for this match indicate.
While Dortmund has struggled to play consistent football, the same cannot be said for Bayern Munich, who just continue to win, and who look as though they are going to be unstoppable in the Bundesliga. You never know what will happen in a one-off cup game, though, so it’s all to play for here.
As mentioned earlier, Dortmund has struggled versus Bayern Munich in league play, but have done better in the DFB-Pokal, beating them 3-2 in last season’s semi-final. US fan will want to tune into this one to get a look at Christian Pulisic, as the you American is thriving in Germany, netting the winner over the weekend. Dortmund will be looking to keep their cup streak alive, as they are the current holders, whilst also being runners-up in the three years prior to that win.
Soccer Betting Lines & Prediction: Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund
- When: Wednesday, December 20 at 2:45 PM EST
- Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
- TV: Sky Sports
- Live Stream: Sky Sports Live
- Soccer Betting Lines: Bayern Munich -1 (Total at 3.5 goals)
Recent Head to Head (Last 5 Games)
- Borussia Dortmund 1 – Bayern Munich 3 (Bundesliga)
- Borussia Dortmund 2 – Bayern Munich 2 (German Supercup)
- Bayern Munich 2 – Borussia Dortmund 3 (DFB Pokal)
- Bayern Munich 4 – Borussia Dortmund 1 (Bundesliga)
- Borussia Dortmund 1 – Bayern Munich 0 (Bundesliga)
Soccer Odds & Top Picks of the Week – December 18th
Why bet on the Bayern Munich?
Given that Bayern Munich is now 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, as well as being one of the favorites to win the Champions League, you might be excused for thinking that this team has some bigger fish to fry. Look back at previous year’s, though, and you will see that Bayern Munich take this tournament very seriously, having won it 3 times in the last 5 seasons. There is no reason to think that they can’t do it again, as this is a team loaded with talent. Robert Lewandowski is the man who does the majority of the scoring, but when he is kept in check by opposing defenses, Thomas Mueller is there to pick up the slack, just as he did over the weekend, netting the winner in a gritty 1-0 win over Stuttgart. Bayern is also likely to have Arjen Robben back for this one, adding another layer to an already potent attack. Bayern Munich has scored 7 and given up just 2 goals in their last 2 Bundesliga meetings with Dortmund.Probable Line-Up
- 26-S. Ulreich
- 27-D. Alaba
- 8-Javi Martínez
- 17-J. Boateng
- 5-M. Hummels
- 23-A. Vidal
- 11-J. Rodríguez
- 24-C. Tolisso
- 32-J. Kimmich
- 9-R. Lewandowski
- 25-T. Muller
Why bet on Borussia Dortmund?
It has been a tumultuous season for Borussia Dortmund, with Peter Bosz let go and replaced by Peter Stoger. The new manager has come in and added a little stability to this team, who have now won two in a row against Mainz and Hoffenheim. While it’s certainly nice to get back to winning ways, Dortmund fans will be looking at this one as the true mark of where their team currently sits.
As mentioned earlier, Dortmund has struggled versus Bayern Munich in league play, but have done better in the DFB-Pokal, beating them 3-2 in last season’s semi-final. US fan will want to tune into this one to get a look at Christian Pulisic, as the you American is thriving in Germany, netting the winner over the weekend. Dortmund will be looking to keep their cup streak alive, as they are the current holders, whilst also being runners-up in the three years prior to that win.
