B Dortmund v E Frankfurt (Over 2.5 goals)
Borussia Dortmund’s 4-3 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Saturday was the 17th successive league and cup game in which Dortmund were involved in a game with three or more goals scored. The last time they featured in a game with under 2.5 goals was on October 26 when they were held to a rare goalless draw at Schalke. Dortmund’s last 12 league games has seen a total of 60 goals scored at an average of five per game. This weekend, Dortmund host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Westfalenstadion in a game that could well see three or more goals scored. Frankfurt’s last two games in the German Cup and the league have seen a total of four and five goals respectively. They beat RB Leipzig 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the German Cup while they scored five goals without reply at home to Augsburg in the league last Friday night. When the two sides met earlier this season, they shared the points after a 2-2 draw in Frankfurt. It was the seventh time in the last eight meetings in which these two sides combined for three or more goals. And in those eight encounters, there were goals for both Dortmund and Frankfurt which is another bet that should be considered.
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (BTTS)
Fiorentina travel to Sampdoria with both sides in need of a win to help move them away from the wrong end of the Serie A table. Sampdoria sit 16th, four points clear of the relegation zone while Fiorentina are two points and two places better off after 23 games of the 38-game season. When these two sides play against each other, they usually produce entertaining games with goals for both sides. The last nine meetings have seen goals for both teams including the reverse fixture this season when Fiorentina claimed a 2-1 win at the Artemio Franchi Stadium against a Sampdoria side reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute. Two of Fiorentina’s last three games in all competitions have seen BTTS land while four of the last five league games Sampdoria have played has seen goals for both them and their opponents. There is also a chance this game could see over 2,5 total goals scored based on recent trends and historic data. Six of the seven meetings have seen a minimum of three match goals scored while four of Sampdoria’s last five have seen at least three goals scored including their 3-1 win at Torino last Saturday. Fiorentina’s 2-1 defeat at home to Atalanta was their third successive game in which three or more goals had been scored.
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (BTTS)
In Spain, Osasuna can move level with their weekend opponents Athletic Bilbao if they can get the win at San Mames. There is a very good chance this game could see at least one goal for each team given the fact the last four meetings there has been goals for both Bilbao and Osasuna. That includes Bilbao’s 2-1 win at Osasuna on November 24 when Kenan Kodro scored the winner 11 minutes from time. Four of the last five La Liga games Bilbao have played have seen goals for both Bilbao and the team they have been playing and that includes their 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad last Sunday. It was the eighth league game in which Bilbao failed to win. As for Osasuna, Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at home to Real Madrid was the fourth time in the last five league and cup games they had been involved in a game where BTTS has landed. Both Osasuna and Bilbao have scored in nine of their last 10 league and cup games so scoring is not a problem.
Vitesse Arnhem v Heerenveen (BTTS)
One of the most remarkable stats coming out of European football involves Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen. When Sherel Floranus equalised in their 1-1 draw at home to VVV Venlo, it took their total of games in which there were goals for both teams to 13. The last time the Super Frisians were not involved in a game when both they and their opponents found each other’s net was on October 5 when they beat Zwolle 1-0 at the Abe Lenstra Stadion. This weekend, Heerenveen travel to Arnhem where they will face Vitesse, When they two sides met earlier this season, the two sides combined for five goals as Heerenveen came from 2-0 down to win 3-2. That was the sixth time in their last seven meetings in which each team scored against the other and includes the last four. Vitesse Arnhem’s last home game ended in a 1-1 draw when FC Emmen were the visitors to GelreDome. It won’t surprise many people if this game finishes with goals for both sides.