Saturday Bundesliga Game Week 2 – Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen in action

Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen finished the 2009~2010 Bundesliga second and third respectively, and as such, they were considered serious title threats on the current season. So you can imagine the disappointment with which they were greeted after both suffered hefty defeats in opening day action last weekend.

Schalke 04 were defeated at Hamburger SV 2:1 while Werder Bremen suffered a 4:1 defeat at Hoffenheim.

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Looking ahead to their upcoming fixtures both Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen will be looking for their first Bundesliga points on the season. Schalke host Hannover 96 while Werder Bremen host Koln.

BetOnline markets on all the Bundesliga action in game week 2 are in full swing, so here is a look at these two eye-catching clashes.

Soccer Betting Line:

FC Schalke 04 -1½  +115   -275   3  O +125   U -145   Draw   +350    
Hannover 96  +1½  -135   +775   3  O +125   U -145   Draw   +350    

Match Time: 09:30 AM Eastern Time (15:30 Local Time) Saturday August 28, 2010

Soccer Betting Verdict: FC Schalke 04 are tipped at -275 to win outright and that is quite the vote confidence in them considering they were losers on opening day. To be fair, their opening fixture was the most-anticipated clash of the weekend, and perhaps the toughest of the Bundesliga lot. Schalke lost respectably enough at least. At home, they will have a huge edge over the visitors Hannover 96 and most expect they will recover nicely. Ex-Real Madrid star Raul made his debut last weekend but failed to shine. He is expected to pick up pace as he settles into Bundesliga life.

Soccer Free Picks: Schalke 04 -275 | Over 3 +125

Soccer Betting Line:

Werder Bremen -1½  +130   -240   3  O -120   U Ev   Draw   +350    
1 FC Koln  +1½  -150   +600 3  O -120   U Ev   Draw   +350          

Match Time: 09:30 AM Eastern Time (15:30 Local Time) Saturday August 28, 2010

Soccer Betting Verdict: Werder Bremen enjoyed a less than desirable start to their season and that is putting the 4:1 defeat rather mildly. That they lost to, of all sides, Hoffenheim, a middle-of-the-table and so badly was a huge disappointment. Understandably, it was doom and gloom for Bremen fans after that performance.

However, Werder Bremen quickly recovered in UEFA Champions League action with a dramatic 5-4 win on aggregate over Sampdoria. Their stock value soared on the back of that performance.

In some ways the European heroics sets them up well for their first home fixture in Bundesliga action. It should be a huge boost for the team after Hoffenheim ran riot with them last weekend.

Bremen are listed at -240 and if they bring some of the intensity that they showed in Italy, they will take this fixture handily.

Soccer Free Picks: Bremen -240 | Over 3 -120