German Football 
/ Kevin Hatchard / 22 April 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Is Robert Lewandowski and his Dortmund team-mates set for a slip-up?
"Dortmund are misfiring on the road, and the pressure of reaching the finish line in the title race could take its toll."
Kevin Hatchard looks at the comings and goings in the Bundesliga this week and, of course, the best bets from this weekend's matches
As has become the norm of late, this week's column begins with the Bundesliga's latest to-ing and fro-ing on the coaching front. As expected, St Pauli coach Holger Stanislawski has agreed to join Hoffenheim in the summer. Hoffe will be working with a lower budget than in recent seasons as owner Dietmar Hopp looks to cut costs, which sounds like a challenge that's right up Stanislawski's strasse.
Hamburg have given caretaker boss Michael Oenning a contract until the end of next season, which I find as mystifying as the appeal of The Only Way Is Essex.
HSV have won just one of their four games since Armin Veh was sacked, but Oenning's already talking about pushing for the title next season. Equally surprising was Frank Schafer's decision to reject Cologne's offer of a two-year deal. He'll return to coaching the reserves next term, despite lifting the club six points above the dropzone.
Borussia Monchengladbach [5.6] vs Borussia Dortmund [1.67], the draw [4.1]
Last weekend's action took leaders Dortmund to the brink of securing their first Bundesliga title since 2002. Closest challengers Bayer Leverkusen were taken apart 4-1 at Bayern Munich, and BVB went eight points clear by sweeping aside Freiburg 3-0. If Jurgen Klopp's effervescent Dortmund win Saturday's game at rock-bottom Monchengladbach, they'll be crowned champions should Bayer fail to beat Hoffenheim.
Dortmund have the best away record in the league, but lately they have struggled on their travels. A 3-1 win at Bayern Munich has been their only win in four road trips, a period in which they lost at Hoffenheim and needed a stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a draw at Hamburg.
There's no doubt that Monchengladbach look a better team under the stewardship of coach Lucien Favre, but the Foals are still seven points adrift of safety.
Their best chance of survival is attempting to finish third from bottom, and then trying to win the relegation playoff.
Since Favre took over from Michael Frontzeck, Monchengladbach have transformed their home form. They've won three of their last four home games, having not won in front of their own fans before Favre arrived.
Defensively Monchengladbach have tightened up. Under Frontzeck they shipped an eye-watering 56 goals in 22 games, but under Favre they've let in just eight goals in eight games.
Recommended Bets: Dortmund are misfiring on the road, and the pressure of reaching the finish line in the title race could take its toll. Monchengladbach are desperate for points and are much more resilient these days, so lay Dortmund at [1.67] and back under 2.5 goals at [2.5]
St Pauli [3.5] vs Werder Bremen [2.22], the draw [3.65]
Before Holger Stanislawski leaves for Hoffenheim, he must somehow pull his beloved St Pauli out of a tailspin which threatens to return them to Bundesliga Zwei after just one season. The Pirates have lost seven of their last eight matches, although last week they were desperately close to picking up what would have been a vital win at Wolfsburg. St Pauli were 2-1 up in the 89th minute, but they failed to pick up Jan Polak at a corner, and he headed in an equaliser.
The spectre of relegation has hung over Werder for much of what's been a troubling season, but a seven-match unbeaten run has taken them six points clear of the dropzone. Werder haven't kept a clean sheet since December 4, but they've shipped just eight goals in seven games.
Recommended Bets: Werder have drawn five of their last seven, including the last three. St Pauli are playing better than their recent run suggests, so back the draw at [3.65] and under 2.5 goals at [2.4]
Nurnberg [2.22] vs Mainz [3.55], the draw [3.55]
Sixth-placed Nurnberg are two points behind fifth-placed Mainz in the race for a Europa League spot, so this game is crucial. Both teams have been in patchy form - Nurnberg have won just one of their last four games, while Mainz have won just one in five.
Recommended Bet: At home Nurnberg have won nine, drawn one and lost five, an exact match with Mainz's record on the road making an away win attractively overpriced. Back Mainz to win at [3.55]
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