While many of the major sports leagues have suspended operations temporarily as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bundesliga soldiers on, for now. The matches for this weekend have been designated “ghost matches” – meaning that they will be played without audiences due to the potential for spread of the virus. However, in midweek matches, fans simply gathered outside the stadiums, so authorities are weighing what to do about future matches. As far as this tilt is concerned, Borussia Dortmund (15-6-4, 51 points) is in second place in the table, just four points back of Bayern Munich but just a point of ahead RB Leipzig and just four points clear of fifth-place Bayer Leverkusen. This weekend they welcome FC Schalke 04 (9-10-6, 37 points), winless in their last five but still in sixth place in the Bundesliga table. However, they are at the top of a logjam in the standings, as they are just five points ahead of tenth-place 1. FC Cologne. Can Schalke pick up at least a point in this away Bundesliga match? Or will Dortmund defend their home pitch? Don’t miss our Bundesliga betting preview of this German soccer matchup.
Dortmund vs Schalke 04 2020 Bundesliga Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10:30 am ET
- Where: Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany
- TV: FOX Deportes / FOX Soccer Plus
- Radio: None
- Live Stream: fuboTV
- Soccer Odds: Borussia Dortmund -268 / Draw +360 / FC Schalke 04 +474
Why should you bet on Schalke?
Schalke is winless in their last five matches; in their most recent Bundesliga match, last Saturday, they hosted ninth-place Hoffenheim and settled for a 1-1 draw. Schalke opened the scoring with a tally from Weston McKennie in the 20th minute, but then Hoffenheim brought matters level when Christoph Baumgartner found the back of the net in the 69th minute.
For the match, Schalke only possessed for 43 percent of the game, but they outshot the visitors, 14-4 (4-1 on target, meaning that the only Hoffenheim shot on frame went home). There was some physicality, as the teams combined for 20 fouls, and there was some offensive pressure, with nine combined corners. However, neither team showed all that much urgency, particularly not Schalke. If they want to pick up a point or more against Dortmund, they will need to get more going on the offensive end of things.
Why should you put your money on Dortmund?
Dortmund’s next-to-last Bundesliga match came on February 29 as they hosted SC Freiburg and held on for a 1-0 win. Jadon Sancho scored the game’s lone goal in the 15th minute in a game that was statistically even despite Dortmund possessing for almost two-thirds of the game. Dortmund outshot Freiburg 16-13 (but Freiburg had more shots on target, 4-2). There were only 14 combined fouls in a game that featured little energy.
Dortmund’s most recent match came in the UEFA Champions League, as they visited Paris-Saint Germain for the second leg of their round of 16 tie. PSG prevailed, 2-0, with Neymar opening the scoring in the 28th minute and Juan Bernat Velasco doubling the margin in injury time at the end of the first half. Dortmund had more shots than PSG (11-8) but did not have as many on target (with PSG ahead 4-2), and Dortmund possessed for slightly more than half the game. However, PSG took advantage of a couple of mistakes on the Dortmund back line. Dortmund’s frustration came out when Emre Can was shown a red card in the 89th minute, so he would be ineligible for Dortmund’s next game in European competitions. For now, though, Dortmund’s Champions League campaign is over as PSG advanced, 3-2, on aggregate.
Final Score Prediction
Both teams are struggling to generate much on offense right now. Dortmund has the better talent, but I would argue that the home field advantage is somewhat neutralized by the fact that there will be no fans in the stands. On the basis of that talent differential, I like Dortmund to win, 2-1.
