NO one thought football without fans would work but the Bundesliga’s making a good job of it.
All teams have played three games since the restart and in the main I’ve enjoyed what I’ve watched.
The lack of atmosphere takes a bit of getting used to but in a way players have thrived in the strange surroundings.
Home advantage has virtually been eliminated and actual playing time has increased because with no audience there are fewer theatrics from stars.
The players are taking more risks too as they won’t be booed if something doesn’t come off and while you can’t hear crowds you can make out team-mates talking to each other and coaches firing instructions on to the field.
What the Bundesliga really needed though was Borussia Dortmund to beat Bayern Munich in midweek.
Instead the champions, going for eight in a row, won 1-0 away to move seven points clear at the top and are now 1-16 to go all the way.
Bayern have been peerless since the restart, winning all three matches, and it’s difficult to see anyone stopping them now with just six games to go.
On Saturday night they are at home to Fortuna Dusseldorf and are no bigger than 1-12 at Ladbrokes to pick up the points.
Fortuna came from behind to beat Schalke on Wednesday and move within a point of safety but haven’t beaten Bayern for 29 years.
They’ve conceded 24 in the last six meetings so over 3.5 team goals must have a chance at 17-20 with Betway.
The champs have netted eight times since the restart but Robert Lewandowski wasn’t on target in Dortmund. He rarely goes two Bundesliga games without a goal so consider the Pole at 33-20 with Unibet to strike first.
Schalke’s defeat in Dusseldorf was their sixth in seven games and they have no points since the restart.
They are at home to a Werder Bremen side fighting the drop and I’m backing the visitors not to lose at 1-2 at bet365 – if you fancy them to win you can have 7-4 at McBookie.
Werder have triumphed on their last three visits to Schalke and David Wagner’s side are in a mess and without a win in 12.
Schalke have netted just twice in eight and Bremen held Borussia M’gladbach 0-0 in midweek so under 2.5 goals at 10-11 with bet365 looks a good shout.
Wolfsburg pulled off the shock of the round in midweek by thrashing Bayer 4-1 away and I fancy them to follow up with victory against out-of-sorts Eintracht Frankfurt.
The home men are lead Hoffenheim by three points in the race for the final Euro spot and are 19-20 with bet365 and Ladbrokes for a vital win.
Eintracht’s point against Freiburg in midweek from 3-1 down was their first in five games and are now just points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
Sitting between Fortuna and Eintracht are Mainz who entertain a Hoffenheim side that ended an eight-match run without a win by beating Cologne in midweek.
In a game that’s tough to call it might be better to go for goals. Mainz mauled Hoffenheim 5-1 away in November and are unbeaten in the last three meetings.
Last season this fixture saw Mainz win 4-2 and in 2016 the sides drew 4-4. Over 2.5 match goals looks the best bet at 1-2 with bet365 and that’s fine on a treble.
The final game today sees Hertha Berlin aiming to continue their good form at home to Augsburg.
They’ve started with two wins and a 2-2 draw at Leipzig and are evens at Ladbrokes to beat a side held 0-0 at home to bottom feeders Paderborn on Wednesday.
My top tips are on the main football thread.
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