Bundesliga Betting: Back Pepped-up Bayern to swat aside hapless Greuther

Bayern-bound: Guardiola will join in July

It's been an excellent week for Bayern Munich, and Kevin Hatchard expects it to get even better against the Bundesliga's weakest team.

Bayern Munich vs Greuther Furth, Sat 14:30 BST

Match Odds: Bayern 1.121/8, Greuther 36.035/1, the draw 11.010/1

It says a lot for Bayern Munich's standing in world football that they have been able to land the sport's most coveted coach - Pep Guardiola will arrive in July after signing a three-year contract. The former Barca boss was clearly impressed by Bayern's history, the club's commitment to youth development and the fact that a large chunk of the organisation is owned by fans.

As Guardiola swaps one FCB for another, we shouldn't forget the job that's been done by current Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. The 67-year-old has led Bayern to a nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga after a stellar first half to the campaign. Opta tell us that Bayern's current goal difference of +37 is the best of any team after 17 games, and no side has ever conceded fewer than Bayern's tally of seven goals let in before the winter break.

Some observers have suggested that Heynckes is now a lame duck who may struggle to keep his players motivated, but I think these assertions are wide of the mark. The squad have known for a long time that Heynckes didn't intend to renew his deal, and I think the players will be desperate to impress Guardiola before he takes the reins.

The first chance to catch Guardiola's eye comes against the league's weakest side. Greuther Furth have battled gamely, but they lack quality in all departments, especially in attack. Mike Buskens' battlers have collected just nine points and have scored just 11 goals. Intriguingly Greuther rarely get hammered in games, and their 3-0 opening-day defeat at home to Bayern remains their heaviest defeat of the campaign.

Despite their grit, it is inconceivable that Greuther will get anything out of this game, so value is scarce in a market so heavily slanted in favour of Bayern. If we proceed on the basis that Greuther won't score (Greuther have netted just one goal in their last five matches), backing Bayern to win 3-0 at 7.06/1 looks attractive, and it's worth a dart at Any Unquoted at 2.47/5, which will pay out if Bayern score at least four goals.

Recommended Bets: Back Bayern to win 3-0 in Correct Score market at 7.06/1

Back Any Unquoted at 2.47/5

Nurnberg vs Hamburg, Sun 14:30 BST

Match Odds: Nurnberg 2.3811/8, Hamburg 3.3512/5, the draw 3.45n/a

Nurnberg were dealt a major blow during the winter break, as coach Dieter Hecking left to join Wolfsburg. Hecking has done a magnificent job in Bavaria since joining in December 2009. Although the club narrowly avoided relegation in 2010, he led the team to an extraordinary 6th-place finish in his first full season, and last term they finished a respectable 10th in the standings.

Hecking is a great organiser and motivator, and while Nurnberg were never prolific goalscorers under his guidance, they were defensively dogged and hard-working. Hecking's replacements will be Under-23 coach Michael Wiesinger and assistant Armin Reutershahn. Both coaches know the club well, but I always have reservations about management duos, with the success of the Hyypia-Lewandowksi double-act at Bayer Leverkusen the exception rather than the rule.

Even with Hecking at the helm Nurnberg's results were modest before the winter break. They won just five of their seventeen games, and if the bottom three weren't so bad, a relegation scrap would be on the cards. Nurnberg won just three of their seven home games, and true to form goals in those matches were scarce, with just two featuring Over 2.5 Goals.

Hamburg recovered from a dreadful start to the campaign to reach the winter break in tenth. The Redshorts' home form was good (five wins in eight games), but on their travels they have struggled to score goals, netting just eight times in nine road trips. Six of Hamburg's nine away games featured Under 2.5 Goals, including five of the last six.

Nurnberg home games are rarely goal-fests, which is true of Hamburg away games, so Under 2.5 Goals looks a prudent bet at 1.84/5. I would also back No in the Both Teams to Score market at 2.0421/20, which has paid out in six Hamburg away games and four Nurnberg home matches.

Recommended Bets: Back Under 2.5 Goals at 1.84/5

Back No in the Both Teams to Score market at 2.0421/20

Bayer Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt, Sat 14:30 BST

Match Odds: Bayer 1.728/11, Eintracht 5.39/2, the draw 4.3100/30

Two surprise packages do battle in this one. Bayer have overachieved, and they lie second coming out of the winter break. The key has been stunning home form - Bayer have won six and drawn two of their eight games at the BayArena. Four of those six wins have been by at least a two-goal margin.

Newly-promoted Eintracht have reached the dizzying heights of fourth, but they can be fragile on the road, losing four of their last six away games. If you back Bayer -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.1211/10, a two-goal win or bigger will pay out.

Recommended Bet: Back Bayer -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.1211/10