Hamburg vs Schalke Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Both Hamburg and Schalke head into this off the back of disappointing results last weekend: Hamburg’s 3-1 defeat away to Mainz 05 ended their four match unbeaten run (W2 D2) following their “revival” in gameweek 11. Meanwhile, Schalke 04’s unlucky 1-1 draw at home to Freiburg marked their third consecutive Bundesliga match without a win since the end of their superb twelve match unbeaten run across all competitions (W10 D2).

Schalke head into this match as the bookies favourites at 6/5, but we feel both teams to score at 3/4 has to be a safer bet here for the following reasons: Hamburg – the “ever-present” Bundesliga side – have build some momentum after their worst ever start to a new campaign. Hamburg scored just two goals over their first nine Bundesliga matches, but now coach Markus Gisdol seems to have found the correct formula – the North Germans have scored ten goals over their last six Bundesliga outings (at least one goal in each). Meanwhile, Schalke have had generally poor form on the road this season (W1 D2 L4), but the Royal Blues have only failed to score in one of their last five on the road – only Borussia Dortmund were able to deny Schalke the back of the net.

Fault for Schalke’s turnaround in form may be due to the ever growing number of names added to the injury list, alongside center back Naldo’s current suspension (see team news). Schalke have failed to keep a clean sheet in all of their last four Bundesliga matches and, notably, have scored exactly one goal in four of their last five. Schalke are the better team on paper, but with a few names missing it should end up fairly balanced on the field. As such, we feel that a 1-1 draw at 5/1 seems reasonable here.