Will TSG be Frank Kramer’s final opponent?
On Friday evening, these two teams faced each other in the Bundesliga’s tenth matchday. TSG won 3-0 at the Veltins Arena, although the Königsblauen put in a decent performance and had several good chances to level the game at 0:1. In the end, however, it was the fourth defeat in a row for S04.
It therefore came as a surprise to many outsiders that Frank Kramer was not relieved of his duties, but will get his next chance to turn the club around in the cup match in Sinsheim on Tuesday evening. However, if we look at the odds before the second-round clash between Hoffenheim and Schalke, hopes of a trend reversal are limited. For a home win after regular playing time, odds in the range of 1.50 are offered.
This assessment is understandable insofar as the Kraichgauer are even stronger at home than away and the Knappen, on the other hand, served as a supplier of points in the last away games in the Bundesliga. Despite the fact that two first division teams are facing each other, it would therefore be a big surprise if a prediction on the visiting team between Hoffenheim and Schalke pays off.
Hoffenheim – Statistics & current form
TsG Hoffenheim can undoubtedly be called one of the big winners of the last Bundesliga matchday. The aforementioned 3-0 away win at Schalke lifted the Kraichgauer up to fourth place in the table and they can therefore start the upcoming cup match and the subsequent Bundesliga match against FC Bayern with a broad chest.
Particularly noteworthy this season is the defence, which has improved significantly under Andre Breitenreiter compared to last season. Oliver Baumann has only conceded ten goals in the Sinsheim box. Only Borussia Mönchengladbach was able to score more than two goals against TSG on the first matchday. Looking back at the last eight games in Germany’s top division, the score was even level on four occasions.
The second thing the Kraichgauers can throw into the ring is their home strength. Ten points were scored in the first five home games of the current Bundesliga season. Only the last game in front of a home crowd was an unfortunate 2-1 loss against Werder Bremen. In view of the previous pleasing performances at the PreZero Arena, however, there is almost no alternative to betting on the hosts on Tuesday evening between Hoffenheim and Schalke.
Most of all, Breitenreiter’s team does not want to have to wait as long this time as they did in the first main round, when they even had to go into extra time after a goalless 90 minutes at regional league side Rödinghausen, but then scored the decisive two goals to win 2-0. Nevertheless, the kickers from the Rhine-Neckar region must banish the experiences of the last cup years from their minds. In fact, they only made it to the round of 16 in two of the past seven seasons. Otherwise, it was always the end of the line in round one or two.
This time, however, the chances of reaching the last eight are very good. We can even imagine that the odds on a handicap home win between Hoffenheim and Schalke will pay off. We think a 2:0 or 3:1 home win is a realistic final result after regular playing time. The players did not give their coach many reasons to change the starting eleven on Friday. However, Bicakcic, Bebou and Hübner will still be missing. There is also a question mark over the use of Kramaric, who has suffered a knock on his ankle.
Predicted line-up of Hoffenheim:
Baumann – Kabak, Vogt, Nsoki – Skov, Geiger, Angelino – Prömel, Kramaric – Baumgartner, Dabbur
Last matches played by Hoffenheim:
Bundesliga
15/10/2022 – Schalke 04 0 – 3 Hoffenheim
08/10/2022 – Hoffenheim 1 – 2 Werder Bremen
02/10/2022 – Hertha BSC 1 – 1 Hoffenheim
19/09/2022 – Hoffenheim 0 – 0 SC Freiburg
10/09/2022 – Hoffenheim 4 – 1 Mainz 05
Schalke – Statistics & current form
On Friday evening, the Schalkers received encouragement from many quarters for their solid performance in the home match against TSG Hoffenheim. However, the fact that despite a decent performance they ended up with a 3-0 defeat is an impressive reminder of just how bad things currently are for the former Cup winners. At least the courageous performance saved Frank Kramer’s job, however, who now gets his next final game against the same opponent on Tuesday.
While the team received support from the Nordkurve after the defeat on Friday evening, the fans acknowledged their coach with “Kramer out” chants. The signs are still pointing to a separation, so it would also be a surprise if the 50-year-old were to unexpectedly turn the tables. Instead, we believe that the ex-Bielefeld coach will have to take his hat off once and for all in the event of another defeat.
The belief in a sporting turnaround is missing
But partly because Kramer is still in charge on Tuesday evening, our prediction between Hoffenheim and Schalke clearly goes in the direction of the home side. However, this is not only due to the coaching staff, who is currently living the life of a “lame duck”, but also due to the serious away weaknesses that the Knappen have shown so far this season.
S04 have not been able to win any of their five matches away from home so far. Two draws were offset by three draws. No other team has scored fewer goals away from home than S04 (two). In addition, they currently concede an average of almost two goals per away game. No wonder, then, that our primary betting recommendation is for a home win including at least two goals after 90 minutes.
The Königsblauen’s dilemma is also evident at the moment with regard to the personnel situation. Especially in central defence, coach Kramer simply lacks the necessary options. With Kaminski or van den Berg, two regular centre players are missing from the back four. Once again, Leo Greiml and Maya Yoshida, who have not made a particularly good impression lately, are called upon. Zalazar completes the list. Frenchman Mollet, who was very eye-catching on Friday, is likely to start in his place again.
Predicted line-up of Schalke:
Schwolow – Aydin, Greiml, Yoshida, Ouwejan – Krauß, Kral – Drexler, Bülter, Mollet – Terodde
Last matches played by Schalke:
Bundesliga
15/10/2022 – Schalke 04 0 – 3 Hoffenheim
08/10/2022 – Bayer Leverkusen 4 – 0 Schalke 04
02/10/2022 – Schalke 04 2 – 3 Augsburg
Friendly club matches
22/09/2022 – FC Gütersloh 0 – 3 Schalke 04
Bundesliga
17/09/2022 – Borussia Dortmund 1 – 0 Schalke 04
Hoffenheim – Schalke Direct comparison / H2H-balance
In the 27th Bundesliga match between these clubs, TSG from Hoffenheim celebrated their eleventh win overall on Friday evening by winning 3-0. The Kraichgau side thus also lead the direct comparison against the Knappen, who have won nine first league games to date.
In Sinsheim, however, there was seldom anything to be gained for the Königsblauen. One win, five draws and seven defeats are recorded in 13 Bundesliga matches. The only cup match, however, took place at the Veltins Arena and ended in 2013/14 with a 3:1 win for TSG in the round of 16.
Hoffenheim – Schalke Tip
For the second time in five days, Hoffenheim and Schalke face each other in an important competitive match. After TSG got the upper hand with a 3-0 win in Gelsenkirchen on Friday night, everything also points to the Kraichgauer making it through to the next round in the second round of the cup on Tuesday evening. The moods of the two clubs are too different at the moment.
While the Sinsheim side climbed to fourth place in the standings after their away win and are currently playing some very attractive attacking football, the only question for the visitors is when will coach Frank Kramer be released? Because the team thus continues to have an alibi, is clearly weaker in terms of quality anyway and also continues to hardly get a leg on the ground away from home, the betting odds between Hoffenheim and Schalke are so one-sided.
We also firmly believe that TSG, in their current form and with the home advantage behind them, are at least one size too big for the weakening Knappen.
