Hoffenheim – Bayern Munich : Preview & Prediction
Hoffenheim ended a three-match winless Bundesliga run (E2, P1) by beating Schalke 3-0 to stay involved in the intriguing battle for places in the top half of the table, and followed that up by beating Schalke again, this time 5-1, in midweek cup action. Their best start after ten Bundesliga games since 2016/17 (G5, E2, P3) will have fans dreaming of qualifying for European competition, something they last achieved in 2019/20 via a sixth-place finish in the standings.
If they are to turn that dream back into reality, they will need to get back to their best at home (E1, P1) as they look to repeat last season’s 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich, or even their remembered 4-1 win at this venue two seasons ago. Hoffenheim have won all three of their home games this league season on a Saturday, two of which saw them complete the scoring after 85 minutes.
Bayern trail surprise leaders Union Berlin by four points but ripped apart Freiburg 5-0 on Sunday to record a three-game unbeaten league run (G2, E1). They are trying to get their act together as they also have the Champions League and DFB-Pokal to contend with, but appear to be getting into a rhythm after their up-and-down start to the campaign, although that win against Freiburg came at the cost of an injury to Leroy Sané, who will be out for several weeks.
A poor away performance has held the reigning Bundesliga champions back so far, as for the first time since March 2012, they have failed to record away wins in three consecutive games in a single Bundesliga season (E2, P1). They have not been at their best at this venue of late so there is no guarantee that record will not stretch to four – as it did in 2011/12, a year in which Bayern finished second in the league.
Players to watch: Munas Dabbur scored before half-time in Hoffenheim’s last two league games, scoring the second goal of the game on each occasion. One of 13 different players to have found the back of the net for Bayern this Bundesliga season, Leon Goretzka’s last three goals have all been registered before half-time.
Weekend stat: Hoffenheim have yet to go in at half-time trailing in a home game this Bundesliga season (MT: G1, E4).
Hoffenheim – Bayern Munich : Betting Tips
OVER 3.5 GOALS Odds:2.25
