Bayern hopes to start new run against Wolfsburg
Soccer Betting Lines
01/27/2012 - Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich opened the second half of the Bundesliga season the way it opened the first half, with a loss. But after the setback to Monchengladbach in August, Bayern became invincible.
Well, at least for a stretch of 13 matches.
Bayern turned its season-opening 1-0 loss to Gladbach into the spark for a big streak of 12 successive shutouts in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League.
At the time, Bayern entered the conversation with Barcelona as one of the best club's in Europe. But since the unbeaten streak was snapped, Bayern has proven it is still mortal.
After its latest loss to Gladbach, 3-1, last weekend, the pressure is on for a second streak, and coach Jupp Heynckes admitted it was time for a new approach with its lead atop the standings only goal differential.
"I've told my team in no uncertain terms," Heynckes stated, "that I expect a very different approach, not just on Saturday, but right through to the end of the season."
Bayern hosts Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, but while suspended winger Franck Ribery returns ("When Franck's in the team, our quality goes up another notch," Heynckes said.), injured center back Daniel van Buyten starts his spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.
Regardless, Bayern has no choice but to move on with the options it has at its disposal, even if those include Brazilian defender Breno, who has gone through a turbulent first half of the season off the field.
"We're wide awake now," said Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger about the loss to Gladbach, "I'm very confident."
Wolfsburg has allowed 34 goals this season, third-worst in the league, and may play right into the hands of Bayern, which will look to get back on track this week to maintain its lead and build momentum for the Champions League last 16.
Defending champion Borussia Dortmund sits level on 37 points withe Bayern, and hosts Hoffenheim on Saturday. Third-place Schalke also has 37 points, and will visit Cologne on Saturday.
Gladbach has also remained in the race, as it's just one point off the pace in fourth ahead of its visit to Stuttgart on Sunday.
In Saturday's other games, Augsburg hosts Kaiserslautern, Hertha Berlin hosts Hamburg, and Werder Bremen hosts Bayer Leverkusen in a match-up of the fifth- and sixth-place teams, respectively. Also Sunday, Mainz hosts Freiburg in a clash of bottom-four sides.
Hannover hosts Nurnberg on Friday to open the week's matches.
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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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