- Home form: Waldhof have won two, drawn one and lost two of their five home games in all competitions.
- Away form: Kaiserslautern have won two, drawn one and lost three of their six away games in all competitions.
Punters can profit from derby intrigue
Match overview
There's a real cup feel about this DFB-Pokal first-round derby in which 3. Liga SV Waldhof 07 Mannheim will try to shock 2. Bundesliga FC Kaiserslautern. The visitors arrive in better form, coming into the game unbeaten in two after a pair of 0-0 draws at VfL Wolfsburg and at home to Karlsruher SC, but Waldhof could hold their own for the majority of the game, particularly as they have the home advantage.
Tactics and threats
Rui Mota has brought a patient, possession-based build-up game to Waldhof, with compact lines and selective pressing that should hold up well until a moment of individual brilliance or a moment of defensive incompetence occurs.
- Julian Ulbricht has been the livewire in the Waldhof ranks, scoring two of his side's six goals in the last five matches, but the hosts will get chances from all over the field in this game, so we're taking the over/under bet.
Tactical savvy to settle this derby
Torsten Lieberknecht has set his side up in a more pragmatic manner, using vertical transitions to get at the opposition and duel-winning intensity. Die roten Teufel are more flexible tactically, but it should be the same gameplan on Friday night and they are the more likely winners.
However, the derby feel of the fixture means the home team will get a bite and the away team will have to work for their win, so we're going with a low-stakes play on the draw in the exact score market. Kaiserslautern's 2.05 price is far too short in this spot when compared to Waldhof's 2.98 and the draw at 3.75, but we think the visitors can edge this one.
Marlon Ritter has been Kaiserslautern's most dangerous player, scoring two of their four goals in the last five. His pace and finish can make a difference and he will be a big threat on the counterattack.
