Bundesliga goal frenzy headlines our European football treble
Published:The BT Sport cameras will be focussed on Bundesliga action this evening with European hopefuls Schalke and Mainz set to do battle in the Ruhr valley.
Both have been in decent nick since returning from the mid-winter break and having been in free-scoring form in their respective matches since then we could be in for a thrilling contest.
Meanwhile, Monaco can complete a routine victory over Reims and Levante can increase Valladolid’s relegation woes in the night’s other continental clashes with a £10 stake on this treble returning a handsome sum of £81. 82.
Goals have rarely been in short supply in matches featuring Schalke and Mainz this season and the pair’s recent encounters also suggest that the net will be bulging when they meet again at the Veltins-Arena.
In their combined 42 matches this season, only six times in total have these sides failed to find the back of the net.
Schalke are arguably the pick to win this fixture given their run of eight wins in their previous 11 league matches but Thomas Tuchel’s Mainz are no pushovers lost just one of their last four contests in Gelsenkirchen, picking up two victories along the way.
That note of caution makes the goals selection a potentially safer option.
Fifteen of Schalke’s 21 Bundesliga fixtures this term have featured three goals or more while for Mainz 13 of their games have gone over the 2.5 mark.
Monaco can’t afford any slip-ups if they hope to close the five-point gap between themselves and PSG at the top of Ligue 1 and the Principality club should avoid a potential upset against Reims.
Dimitar Berbatov is expected to make his first start for Claudio Ranieri’s side and the Bulgarian’s influence will be crucial in the absence of long-term casualty Radamel Falcao.
Back-to-back victories for Reims have seen home in on the European places but with Monaco suffering just one defeat in their last 15 matches, leaving the Stade Louis II with anything at all will be a tall order.
With only one defeat at home big-spending Monaco have been imperious on their own patch.
And don’t expect the visitors to get too much change out of a defence that’s conceded just three goals in its previous seven matches.
Valladolid have notched just one win in their last nine and could find that miserable run extended when they entertain Levante.
The visitor’s last two matches away from home have yielded positive results, with victory over Sevilla followed-up by taking a point against upwardly-mobile Real Sociedad.
And the Valencian club have the perfect opportunity to continue that good form and go seven matches unbeaten in the process.
Defensive solidity has been a crucial factor behind their recent success as they bid to record a fourth straight clean sheet and maintaining that solid foundation will be key in their quest to return home with three points here.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
