Betfair Live Video Preview: Defences to dominate when Augsburg face Hamburg

Rene Adler has been superb since joining Hamburg

The Betfair Live Video service brings you top-quality football matches from around the world, including a fascinating Friday night clash from the Bundesliga, as Augsburg take on Hamburg. Our Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard picks out the best bets.

Augsburg vs Hamburg, Fri 19:30 BST, Live on Betfair Live Video

Match Odds: Augsburg 2.526/4, Hamburg 3.02/1, the draw 3.55n/a

Augsburg have slightly improved in recent weeks, and have dragged themselves out of the bottom two. Solid goalless draws at Hoffenheim and Nurnberg sandwiched a 3-1 home win against a brittle Werder Bremen side. While five points from three games in a good return, I'm still convinced that Augsburg will ultimately finish in the bottom two, probably alongside Greuther Furth. Augsburg are currently 2.021/1 in the Bottom Two market.

The Bavarians' big problem is their lack of penetration in attack. Augsburg have failed to score in five of their eight Bundesliga matches, and only rock-bottom Wolfsburg have scored fewer goals than their tally of five. Summer recruits Aristide Bance and Knowledge Musona haven't scored a single goal between them, and midfielder Tobias Werner is the club's top scorer with a grand total of - cue dramatic drum roll - two goals. Coach Markus Weinzierl has been waxing lyrical about the improvements his side are making in attack, but I'm not convinced.

At least Augsburg's defending has been solid - in the division's bottom half only Fortuna Dusseldorf have conceded fewer goals - but the back four will be affected by the loss of first-choice right-back Paul Verhaegh. The Dutchman damaged ankle ligaments in stoppage time against Nurnberg, and could be out for three months. The Opta stats tell us that since they won promotion to the top flight, Augsburg have only won one Bundesliga game without Verhaegh in their starting line-up.

Hamburg made a dreadful start to the campaign, losing their first three Bundesliga games and crashing out of the German Cup to third-division Karlsruhe. Coach Thorsten Fink came under fire, but was given enthusiastic backing by the club's chief executive Carl Jarchow. Some astute transfer business in late August (including the return of the messianic Rafael Van Der Vaart) gave Fink more offensive weapons to work with, and the Redshorts have improved dramatically.

A stunning 3-2 home win against champions Borussia Dortmund was backed up by 1-0 successes against Greuther Furth and Hannover. Last week's 1-0 home defeat to Stuttgart was a setback, but in general Hamburg look a much happier and tougher outfit.

Goalkeeper Rene Adler has been in outstanding form since joining in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen, and he is a huge upgrade on the jittery Jaroslav Drobny. Fink has finally settled on a first-choice back four - the quartet of Dennis Diekmeier, Michael Mancienne, Heiko Westermann and Marcell Jansen have started each of the last five games. The difference has been marked as Hamburg have collected ten points from those matches.

Stylish Dutch playmaker Van Der Vaart has hit the ground running since his return to Hamburg - he has scored a goal and set up three more in just six games. Latvian striker Artjoms Rudnevs is finding his feet after his summer arrival, and South Korean forward Heung-Min Son looks a constant threat, bagging four goals in eight starts.

The first bet that jumps off the coupon is backing Under 2.5 Goals at 1.9620/21. Hamburg's last three games have featured just one goal each, while five of Augsburg's eight league games have contained fewer than 2.5 goals. Both teams are defending solidly, and Augsburg are struggling to score. On that basis I also like the look of backing No in the Both Teams to Score market at 2.245/4. If you're looking for a bigger return, then the 4.03/1 on offer for Hamburg to keep a clean sheet is also worthy of consideration.

Remember this game won't be available live on Bundesliga broadcaster ESPN UK, but Betfair customers can watch it live with us on Betfair Live Video. You can catch this game and plenty of others from around the world on your computer, tablet or mobile.

Recommended Bets: Back No in the Both teams to Score market at 2.245/4

Back Hamburg to keep a clean sheet at 4.03/1

Best Bet: Back Under 2.5 Goals at 1.9620/21

You can follow Kevin on Twitter @kevinhatchard