Hamburg v Dynamo Dresden: betting preview and tip

Bundesliga 2
7.30pm Monday

Cologne trimmed Hamburg's lead at the top of Germany's second tier to one point with their 4-1 demolition of St Pauli on Friday and the pressure is on the hosts to take maximum points against Dynamo Dresden.

Disappointing defeats to Holstein Kiel and Arminia either side of the winter break have hampered Hamburg's chances to push on but they will be buoyed by their German Cup win over Bundesliga outfit Nuremberg last time out.

Dresden have tumbled down the standings after four defeats in five matches and they have taken maximum points just once since their 8-1 capitulation to Cologne at the end of November.

Bundesliga 2 standings

A scoreline of that kind is unlikely to be replicated at the Volksparkstadion, though, as Hamburg have set up conservatively in the majority of their league encounters this season.

Their cautious 4-1-4-1 formation is reflected by a goal difference of plus five, the joint-lowest among the division's top seven clubs.

Hamburg have been grinding out results rather than blowing teams away and their home record of five wins from ten matches is less impressive than one would expect from a top-of-the-table club.

But Hannes Wolf will be aware of his side's need for a win, with Cologne, Union Berlin and St Pauli all knocking on the door for promotion, and Hamburg should take the spoils in a low-scoring affair.

Recommendation
Hamburg to win & under 4.5 goals
2pts 19-20 Betway, Coral, Ladbrokes

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