Ends Leipzig’s away curse in Sinsheim?
This coming Saturday it’s that time again. The clash between the two upstarts Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, known less affectionately to many football traditionalists as “El Plástico”, is on the agenda. Although only three goals were scored in the most recent three encounters between these teams, there is every reason to believe that the spectators in attendance at the PreZero Arena will see one or two goals this weekend.
Both teams go into this match with confidence. The Sinsheimers because they have won all three of their most recent home games; the Saxons because they have now won seven unbeaten Bundesliga games in a row. If we look at the odds on the three-way market before kick-off between Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, it is clear that the bookmakers see coach Jesse Marsch’s team in the favourite role.
This could again be linked to the fact that in the past seven head-to-head clashes, only once have the respective hosts taken the three points. However, because the Bullen have yet to celebrate a win away from home this season, a Hoffenheim vs. RB Leipzig prediction on the success of the reigning runners-up is also associated with risk. A goal bet is probably the most elegant way out of this.
Hoffenheim – Statistics & current form
TSG Hoffenheim have played an extremely inconsistent season so far. There have not been two wins in a row in the eleven matchdays so far. Just before the international break, the Kraichgauer again showed two faces. First they beat Hertha Berlin 2:0 at home, but then they suffered a sobering 2:0 defeat at promoted Bochum. Instead of catching up with the top third of the table, TSG fell back to tenth place.
The aforementioned two faces can also be explained quite well by the different performances at home and away. Only four of the total of 14 points were scored away from home. At home, the record reads much better with three wins, one draw and only one defeat from five matches. The most recent three matches at home have all been victorious.
Fourth TSG home win in a row?
But if you still think it is too risky to place a bet on TSG, who are unbeaten in nine home games this season, you should look towards betting on the number of goals between Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig. In five home games against Sinsheim, 17 goals have been scored in total, i.e. an average of more than three goals per game. Also interesting: Only four other Bundesliga teams have scored as many goals at home as Coach Hoeneß’s team.
Although Baumgartner, Rudy, Skov, Kaderabek, Bicakcic or Hübner are still unavailable, the home side can definitely be trusted with something.
Predicted line-up of Hoffenheim:
Baumann – Posch, Grillitsch, Vogt – Akpoguma, Raum – Stiller, Samassekou – Geiger – Bebou, Kramaric
Last matches played by Hoffenheim:
1st Bundesliga
11/06 2021 – Vfl Bochum 2 – 0 Hoffenheim
10/29 2021 – Hoffenheim 2 – 0 Hertha Berlin
DFB Cup
10/26 2021 – Hoffenheim 5 – 1 Holstein Kiel
1st Bundesliga
10/23 2021 – Bayern Munich 4 – 0 Hoffenheim
10/15 2021 – Hoffenheim 5 – 0 1. FC Köln
RB Leipzig – Statistics & current form
It now seems as though Jesse Marsch has arrived at RB Leipzig. After initial difficulties, the development curve of the reigning runners-up has been going steeply upwards in recent weeks, at least at national level. Internationally, however, the Champions League exit can no longer be averted. Only third place, which would mean “relegation” to the Europa League, is still possible.
In the Bundesliga, on the other hand, the “Red Bulls” have been unbeaten for seven games. That is currently the longest streak in the league and also the second longest in the club’s history. Four victories are offset by three draws in the course of the positive run. Significantly, all the points have been shared away from home.
Leipzig hardly recognisable away from home
The Saxons are still winless away from home this season. Worse still, the central city side have not won in eight away matches in the Bundesliga this season.
2021/22 there were the aforementioned three draws and two narrow defeats. Nkunku and Co. never scored more than one goal per game. Therefore, the odds on a three-goal win between Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig should be treated with caution.
Probably the biggest asset that the fifth-placed team in the table can throw into the ring is its defence. The eleven goals conceded are currently the lowest in the top flight. As with many other statistics, however, there is also a relative “but” here, because Gulacsi has not yet played to zero away from home this season. We assume that this will continue and tend to bet on goals on both sides in combination with generally at least three goals in the course of the game. With the exception of Halstenberg, Saracchi and Poulsen, who is injured with the Danish national team, all men are on board.
Predicted line-up of RB Leipzig:
Gulacsi – Orban, Simakan, Gvardiol – Mukiele, A. Haidara, Kampl, Angelino – Nkunku, Dani Olmo – Silva
Last matches played by RB Leipzig:
Club friendlies
11/11 2021 – RB Leipzig 2 – 1 FC Eilenburg
1st Bundesliga
11/06 2021 – RB Leipzig 2 – 1 Borussia Dortmund
Champions League Grp. A
11/03 2021 – RB Leipzig 2 – 2 Paris Saint-Germain
1st Bundesliga
10/30 2021 – Eintracht Frankfurt 1 – 1 RB Leipzig
DFB Cup
10/26 2021 – Babelsberg 0 – 1 RB Leipzig
Hoffenheim – RB Leipzig Direct comparison / H2H balance
Hoffenheim have only won two of their ten direct duels against RB in the Bundesliga so far. Only against FC Bayern do the Sinsheim side have a worse winning record than against the Saxons. This impression is reinforced by the fact that the central cities have not lost any of the last six encounters (four wins, two draws). Gulacsi has not conceded a goal against the Kraichgauer three times recently. That, too, is likely to change on Saturday.
Hoffenheim – RB Leipzig Tip
Schalke, Bremen or HSV in the 2nd Bundesliga. Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig in the top flight. This constellation is a real thorn in the side of many traditionalists and so-called football romantics. But the fact is that it is absolutely deserved from a purely sporting point of view. In the current season, TSG and the Saxons are once again among the first division teams that play some of the most attractive and fastest football.
This in turn prompts us to take a look at the betting odds for some goals between Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig. The home side have already scored twelve goals in their own stadium and recently celebrated three wins in a row. The visitors from the central city, meanwhile, are undefeated in eight games, but have not yet won an away game in the current season. Nevertheless, their self-confidence has returned in impressive fashion.
We therefore play the combined tip in “El Plástico” Hoffenheim vs. RB Leipzig that on the one hand both teams will score, but on the other hand that the mark of 2.5 goals will be cracked. For the “BTS & over 2.5” we find a 1.72, which we play with a stake of six units. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to risk a bet on a home win, especially since the performances of Hoeneß’s eleven have been extremely strong in front of the home crowd in recent weeks.
