1. FC Saarbrucken vs SC Verl 1924 Best odds and tips

The home side are slight favourites with the bookies for Saturday’s 3.Liga clash against SC Verl 1924 at odds of around 2.00, while the visitors are priced at 3.30, suggesting that the odds are on the money for this closely matched fixture. Alois Schwartz’s side have been up and down in their last three home games (W1, D1, L1) and it’s difficult to predict how they will turn up for this clash with SC Verl 1924. They cruised past RW Essen 3-0 away last time out, but were heavily beaten 1-4 at home by Dynamo Dresden just nine days earlier. Verl’s form on the road has also been mixed with one win, one draw and one defeat from their last three away matches. They thrashed Erzgebirge Aue 5-1 at home in their last match, but were beaten 4-0 by Hansa Rostock in the away game before that. The contrast in tactical philosophies could lead to a chess match where conciseness is more important than chaos and the game could be settled by a small margin. Saarbrucken are a pragmatic, results-focused team that have played a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation under Schwartz since his appointment in April. His side have been more disciplined and capable of grinding out results when under pressure since he took charge. The engine room has provided the midfield presence, discipline and creativity to link up play and get their best attacking outlet, Kai Bruenker, on the ball. Ende’s SC Verl 1924 have been a more dynamic, possession-based team since he took charge in July 2023. His 4-3-3 formation is proactive, pressing the opposition high up the pitch and retaining possession in a fluid system that allows his team to be creative and score goals. Verl’s top scorer, Berkan Taz, has been the main man up top with 10 goals in 34 league appearances, including 3 of their last 8 team goals. Saarbrucken have scored an average of 1.59 goals per home match in the league this season, hitting 27 in total, while Verl have conceded an average of 1.53 goals per away match, shipping 26 in total. Verl have never beaten Saarbrucken away from home and we think that the home side have the mental edge in this one, but we’re going to back ‘Both Teams to Score’ because the last two meetings have ended in draws and both teams have the quality to get on the scoresheet in this clash.