Former Germany international Maurizio Gaudino discusses his loan spell at Manchester City during the 1994/95 season, the difference between English and German football and his son Gianluca’s time playing for Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich vs Augsburg: Visitors can get on scoresheet
Kick Off: 1430, 01/04/2017 Stadium: Allianz Arena Bayern Munich have won 12 of their previous 14 meetings with Augsburg but the visitors don’t have a bad record when it comes to scoring against the Bundesliga champions. As well as securing surprise 1-0 wins in May 2015 and April 2014, Augsburg … Read more
Who has the toughest run-in?
Once the international break is out of the way, attention will switch to the business end of the domestic season as the fight for trophies, Champions League qualification and survival come to a head. In all five of Europe’s main leagues there is plenty still to play for so we … Read more
European acca: Five tips from across the major leagues
We’ve picked out five top European football bets for a Saturday acca and are hoping to follow up last week’s 13/1 windfall with a pay-out of over 22/1 this time. Don’t fret if one of the legs lets you down because our five-team acca insurance ensures we refund minimum £5 … Read more
Graphic: Is your club’s season on track?
As we approach the business end of the season there will be plenty of twists and turns at both ends of the league table and fans are keen to use any football predictor they can find to see if their team is on track. To address this we have created … Read more
Karl-Heinz Riedle on Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s title chances and the comparisons to Borussia Dortmund
Karl-Heinz Riedle was a Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund before spending two years at Liverpool so the former striker is better placed than most to compare the two clubs and assess Liverpool’s progress under fellow German Jurgen Klopp.
Goalscorers Acca: Four players to pick
We’ve got the lowdown on those players we think will hit the back of the net in Saturday’s Premier League matches. If these four hit the onion bag, a tenner will return around £175. Harry Kane to score for Tottenham against Swansea @ 7/10 Kane has just signed a new … Read more
Which overachievers can be the Bundesliga’s best besides Bayern Munich?
With Borussia Dortmund dropping points for the fourth Bundesliga match in succession at home to rivals Schalke, there continue to be four sides separating them from leaders Bayern Munich, causing them to drift to 2/5 in the winner without Bayern market. It isn’t usual suspects Bayer Leverkusen or Borussia Monchengladbach … Read more
The good times won’t stop yet for Roma, Nice and Hoffenheim
Just in case the Premier League’s Sunday lunchtime offering of Everton v West Ham doesn’t entice you, news.bwin have compiled a better-than-14/1 treble on the action involving high-flying Serie A, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga trio Roma, Nice and Hoffenheim: Roma to score three or more goals at Empoli @ 2/1 … Read more
Top four the best case year-one scenario for ambitious RB Leipzig
Next time somebody bores you with the line that no division can rival the Premier League for unpredictability, point them in the direction of the Bundesliga table. Schalke, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg and Hamburg, all of whom have finished on the podium in the past 11 years, are in the bottom … Read more
Obstacles for Sampdoria, Bayern Munich and Real Sociedad to overcome
If Liverpool v West Brom doesn’t get you psyched, there are televised Saturday teatime offerings from Serie A, the Bundesliga and La Liga for you to switch the channel to. news.bwin have picked out a bet from each of those showdowns, which can be combined in a 287/25 treble: Sampdoria … Read more
Odds on Will Grigg Bundesliga switch slashed in wake of 10,000-strong petition
Traders at bwin have been forced to cut odds on cult-song-subject striker Will Grigg moving to Hamburg from 100/1 to 20/1. Initially quoted at triple figures when news that fans of the Bundesliga side had created a petition demanding their club sign the Wigan marksman this summer yesterday, sustained betting on … Read more
EXCLUSIVE: Watch Bayern stars flaunt slick basketball moves
Bayern Munich made the headlines last week for losing to an under-strength Manchester City side in the Champions League and then again yesterday for drawing Arsenal in the last 16 for the second year running.
But now you must prepare to witness the European champions as you’ve never seen them before.
Regular readers will know that here at bwin HQ, we love to use our Skills Series videos to put the technique of the best players on the planet to the test.
In the past, we’ve brought you Gareth Bale wowing his new Real Madrid team-mates with some nifty footwork.
Then there was Carlos Tevez bossing a Juventus-themed challenge.
And who could forget Manchester United star Wayne Rooney scoring an incredible bicycle kick while blindfolded?
However, we quickly realised ahead of this latest instalment that Bayern are an exceptional case.
Seeing as Pep Guardiola’s men have been almost peerless on a football pitch in the past 18 months, some lateral thinking was required to really take them out of their comfort zone.
Enter forward Thomas Muller, midfield enforcer Javi Martinez and Brazilian defensive duo Dante and Rafinha – on to a basketball court.
What happened next was as impressive as it was unexpected.
In the video – which you can watch by opening the player at the top of this page – the quartet appear to make the transition from foot-to-eye to hand-to-eye coordination effortlessly, peppering the basket at will.
The sort of teamwork famously demanded by Guardiola is also frequently on display as they pull off all manner of alley-oops and slam dunks, passing some tricky tests with flying colours.
And if you’re still hungry for more after checking out the footage, how about the chance to win a shirt signed by the entire Bayern Munich squad too?
Don’t say we’re not good to you…enjoy!
EXCLUSIVE: Robben has ‘really good feeling’ about Guardiola philosophy
Arjen Robben is relishing the start of a new era at FC Bayern, with the ex-Chelsea star full of praise for boss Pep Guardiola and what he will bring to the club.
It has been suggested in some quarters that the former Barcelona manager has his work cut out after seeing predecessor Jupp Heynckes deliver the treble last term.
However, Robben insists the players are excited about Guardiola’s philosophy – which brought him an incredible 14 trophies in four seasons at the Nou Camp – and are feeling confident about the challenges lying ahead.
“I like [his philosophy] and so does the team,” said the Dutchman in an exclusive interview with bwin, which you can watch by opening the player at the top of the page.
“It’s a new start for me with a new manager and I have a really good feeling about it.
“I have said it a few times already but I think that I can still take a few steps further forwards and I hope it will be a successful season.”
Guardiola has already signed playmaker Thiago Alcantara from his former employers in a £17m deal, while Mario Gotze was lured from Borussia Dortmund and defender Jan Kirchhoff has arrived from Mainz.
With the nucleus of last year’s all-conquering team still in place – only Mario Gomez has departed to Fiorentina – Robben believes Guardiola will be focusing on evolution rather than revolution.
“Although there are quite a few good new ideas, we don’t need to exaggerate as we’re not suddenly going to play completely differently,” he said.
“I think the most important thing is that, with the exception of Gomez, all of the old players are still here and that we have gained three very good new players.”
Robben, of course, penned the final chapter of Bayern’s incredible campaign by scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final as Dortmund were defeated 2-1 at Wembley in May.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were also forced to play second fiddle to Bayern in the Bundesliga and the German Cup, but they drew first blood this season with their recent 4-2 victory in the German Super Cup.
Robben admits he is expecting another strong challenge from their main rivals for domestic silverware.
“I think Dortmund will certainly be up there again and they will possibly be our biggest opponent,” he said.
“But I also believe that there are a number of other very good teams in the Bundesliga. It will be a huge challenge for us and we are all looking forward to getting started again.”
Robben will expect to be involved as Bayern bring the curtain up on the new league season on Friday against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Allianz Arena, with bwin making them strong 13/100 favourites for the win.
But despite witnessing the Bavarians thump Gladbach 5-1 in the recent Telekom Cup pre-season tournament, the 29-year-old is taking nothing for granted.
“It was good to beat them but that was it,” he added.
“Our preparations are continuing and we need to keep up our progress so that we are 100% ready to face Gladbach again.”
Bayern are as short as 1/5 to retain the Bundesliga title, while they are 9/4 favourites to win the Champions League again and a price of 31/4 is on offer for them to repeat their treble-winning exploits.
And if they are to enjoy another successful campaign, one thing is for sure: an increasingly mature Robben is likely to play an integral role.