Soccer Selections: Expert Picks for Bundesliga, La Liga and More

Over the next two months, we’re going to be in soccer overload mode.

The German Bundesliga, which restarted back in May, gets company in the European soccer world this weekend. 

Spain’s La Liga returns to play this weekend, and it will be followed by the Italian Serie A and English Premier League next week. 

Then in July, Major League Soccer comes back with a World Cup-style tournament in Orlando. 

With so much soccer on our plate, we’ve opened up our Soccer Selections column to all of the major leagues. 

Buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride from now until August and we’ll be here to provide the best analysis possible. 

All of our odds come from DraftKings Sportsbook, where you can watch certain European leagues with money in your account. 

To the picks!!

Joe Tansey 

Record: 19-22

2-Team Parlay: RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund Money Line (-115)

RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are two of the three heaviest favorites this weekend in Germany.

There’s no value on the money line alone, but if you parlay them, the value drops for a better payout. 

Leipzig needs a better performance after a surprising draw with last-place Paderborn, and it is facing a Hoffenheim team that fired its head coach out of nowhere Tuesday. 

Borussia Dortmund is playing 16th-placed Fortuna Dusseldorf, who it beat 5-0 back in December.

2-Team Parlay: Barcelona and Real Madrid Money Line (-165)

I’m following the same parlay strategy with the two best clubs in Spain. 

Barcelona returns with a match against 18th-place Mallorca and Real Madrid hosts 16th-place Eibar. 

In the previous meetings with these clubs, Barca and Madrid outscored their opponents by a combined score of 9-2. 

This is probably the easiest way to bet La Liga if you are not familiar with the league. 

If you want to take a chance, a four-team parlay with Leipzig, Dortmund, Barca and Madrid pays out at +202.

Mainz vs. Augsburg

The only good pick I handed out last week was Mainz as a +225 underdog. 

I’m ditching my week-old Mainz fanhood to support Augsburg on a similar money line. 

Why? Augsburg has won three in a row and five of its last six against Mainz, and road teams winning is still a very significant trend to follow.

Pick: Augsburg (+200) 

Other Picks: 

Bundesliga: Hertha Berlin-Eintracht Frankfurt Over 3.5 (+150) and Hertha Berlin (+104)

Both teams have been involved in high-scoring affairs since the Bundesliga’s return and Frankfurt could be worn down by a tough midweek cup match with Bayern Munich. They lost last Saturday after a midweek game.

2.Bundesliga: Dynamo Dresden-Hamburg Over 3.5 (+165)

Here’s a trend I picked up on this week. At least four goals have been scored in four of five Hamburg games since the restart. 

La Liga: Sevilla-Real Betis Over 2.5 (-122)

At least three goals have been scored in five of the last six meetings between the two sides. 

Larry Henry Jr. 

Record: 13-19

Wolfsburg vs. Freiburg 

Four points separate Wolfsburg and Freiburg in the race for the final European qualification spot and both teams come into this showdown off important wins.

Wolfsburg used a late winner to down relegation-threatened Werder Bremen and will now look to pad its lead over Freiburg. Freiburg has picked up wins over Wolfsburg in two of its last three meetings, but I like Wolfsburg's talented attacking front to do well at home. 

Wout Weghorst came up good for me last weekend and I expect the same at home. 

Picks: Wolfsburg (+152), Weghorst to score (+100)

Schalke vs. Bayer Leverkusen

David Wagner's Schalke hasn’t won in its last 12 league matches, but it did break a four-match losing run against Union Berlin. 

Leverkusen had an early lead against Bayern Munich last weekend before eventually suffering a 4-2 defeat on home soil. Kai Havertz missed out with an injury, but should be back and itching to get after a struggling Schalke defense. Even if Havertz misses out, Peter Bosz's side has enough scoring options to continue Schalke's dismal run of form.

Three of the last six head-to-head meetings have hit over 2.5 goals, another play I like in this matchup. 

Picks: Bayer Leverkusen (-200), Over 2.5 goals (-148).

Sevilla vs. Real Betis

La Liga kicks off with Sevilla's clash with Real Betis on Thursday.

The hosts are currently in third place and hanging onto a Champions League place for next season. Sevilla downed Real Betis 2-1 earlier this season and was riding a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions prior to the pause in league play.

Betis is in 12th in the league table and defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in its last match back on March 8th. Defense has been an issue for Betis this season and that could issues against a strong Sevilla attack. 

Pick: Sevilla (-120)

Other Picks

Bundesliga: Paderborn vs. Werder Bremen (+112)

I'm riding with Werder Bremen on the road, as it has been better than Paderborn since the season restart. 

Cologne vs. Union Berlin (+265)

Union Berlin's form hasn't been the best of late, but I like it to make it three straight head-to-head wins over Cologne.

La Liga: Valencia (-139) vs. Levante

Valencia is right outside of the final European qualification spot and defeated Levante once already this season. I like them to sweep the season series at home. 

Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid (+120) and Over 2.5 Goals (+185)

Atletico Madrid has won four of its last head-to-head meetings with Athletic Bilbao. I also expect this to finish over 2.5 goals, a total that has been met in four of the last six matchups between these two top-10 sides.


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