Fateful match for Frank Kramer

The chapter of Frank Kramer and FC Schalke 04 is slowly coming to an end. According to reports, the football coach, who had already been criticised by many fans before the start of the season, will be relieved of his duties in the next few days if he does not achieve a sporting turnaround on Friday evening. A potential successor is already in the pipeline in the form of former Bochum coach Thomas Reis.

It seems unlikely that the Königsblauen will turn things around in the Bundesliga on matchday ten, based on recent impressions. The Knappen have not only lost three matches in a row, but have also slipped through to the relegation place. No wonder, then, that lower odds are being offered on the away win ahead of Schalke’s match against Hoffenheim.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the Kraichgauer have not been able to score as regularly as they did in the first few matchdays. Coach Andre Breitenreiter’s team has already waited three matchdays in a row for a win. That is now set to change on Friday evening.

Just four days later, these teams will also meet in the DFB Cup. It is quite possible that in a different constellation, with a possibly new coach on the side of the promoted team, a different forecast will be offered between Schalke and Hoffenheim then.

Schalke – statistics & current form

The air is getting thinner and thinner for Frank Kramer as coach at FC Schalke 04. Instead of developing the team in the right direction and improving the results, it feels like the team is degrading from week to week. Last weekend’s 0:4 defeat at Leverkusen, who were also not brimming with confidence, certainly reminded many a fan of the 2020/21 relegation season.

The bottom line is that the Königsblauen have now lost three times in a row, have only managed one win in the first nine matchdays and have conceded the most defeats (five) after VfL Bochum. Rank 16 with a meagre six points is therefore the logical consequence and definitely not a pro-argument that Frank Kramer, who has been showered with criticism, can use for himself in internal discussions.

It’s stuck at the back as well as the front

The defence in particular is proving to be the biggest problem. 21 goals conceded in nine matches correspond to an average of more than two goals conceded per match. Only Bochum (23), the team at the bottom of the league, surpasses this figure. But anyone who believes that the vulnerability in the game against the ball is due to a poor balance between attack and defence is mistaken, because offensively there is also a lack of the necessary penetrating power. It is no coincidence that S04 have had the fewest shots on goal of all Bundesliga teams so far this season.

In view of these unconfident statistics, it is definitely an option to bet on an away win between Schalke and Hoffenheim. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to bet on a higher number of goals, as the promoted team has already scored 20 (!) in its four home games so far. In all four cases, a bet on the over 2.5 would have gone through. Both teams have always scored.

To make matters worse, three centre-backs – Cisse, van den Berg and Kaminski – are out injured. Frank Kramer therefore lacks the options to change the extremely shaky back four. Yoshida and Greiml will probably start again in the centre. Only the Czech Kral is a possible replacement. Meanwhile, Ouwejan and Matriciani are potential replacement candidates for the sides.

Predicted line-up of Schalke:
Schwolow – Brunner, Kral, Greiml – Aydin, Krauß, Flick, Ouwejan – Mollet, Bülter – Terodde

Last matches played by Schalke:

Bundesliga
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

10/09/2022 – Schalke 04 3 – 1 VfL Bochum

Hoffenheim – Statistics & current form

For Andre Breitenreiter there will be a reunion with one or two old companions on Friday evening. In 2015/16, last year’s FC Zurich championship coach was under contract with FC Schalke 04. Despite finishing fifth in the final standings, the Hanover native had to take his hat at the time. However, the 49-year-old has no grudges against his former employer. At the most, because of a personal statistic: as a Bundesliga coach, Breitenreiter has not celebrated a single victory in three attempts at the Veltins Arena.

If we believe the odds in the Schalke versus Hoffenheim clash, this dry spell could end on Friday evening. For that to happen, however, TSG will have to show a different face compared to their last performances in the Bundesliga. Only two points came out of the last three matches. The previous week saw a bitter 2-1 home defeat to Werder Bremen, which saw the Sinsheim side drop to seventh place in the standings.

Friday frustration and promotion phobia

Nevertheless, the Kraichgauer’s record is still quite respectable. Three defeats after nine games are just as solid as the ten goals conceded and 14 goals scored. Only the away record could be improved a little, considering the four points from four away games. To put this into perspective, however, TSG scored at least once in three of their four away games and always had the chance to win a point.

Finally, for the superstitious betting fans, it should be mentioned that the men from the Rhine-Neckar region should not let two more series get into their own heads too much. For example, the Sinsheim side conceded two of their three defeats of the season on Fridays. Furthermore, TSG won only one of the last nine matches against promoted teams. Against this backdrop, the prediction on an away win is only our second betting option behind the Over recommendation before the Schalke vs Hoffenheim clash.

Andre Breitenreiter will again have to do without the injured Bebou, Bicakcic and Hübner. There is still a question mark over the Dane Robert Skov. With Kramaric, Dabbur, Baumgartner or Rutter, the coach has enough options and above all a lot of quality in the offensive. We are confident that the guests will score at least two goals on Friday evening.

Predicted line-up of Hoffenheim:
Baumann – Kabak, Vogt, Nsoki – Skov, Geiger, Angelino – Prömel, Kramaric – Baumgartner, Dabbur

Last matches played by Hoffenheim:

Bundesliga
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

03/09/2022 – Borussia Dortmund 1 – 0 Hoffenheim

Schalke – Hoffenheim Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

26 times there has been this clash in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim lead the direct comparison with ten wins, nine losses and seven draws. Only in four cases was the away team able to prevail. The home team also triumphed in the most recent two duels in the 2020/21 season. Hoffenheim won 4:2 and Schalke 4:0 in the first half of the season. In six of the past eleven matches, a bet of more than 2.5 would have been correct.

Schalke – Hoffenheim betting tip

The tenth matchday in the Bundesliga will open with a fateful game for Frank Kramer on Friday evening. Should the Königsblauen also fail to win the home match against TSG from Hoffenheim and instead perhaps even lose for the fourth time in a row, the next coaching dismissal would probably be inevitable.

We can’t give the S04 fans much hope. The offensive looks harmless, the defence is extremely unstable and the personnel situation in the central defence is also causing the people in charge to bead with sweat. Self-confidence is at a new low after the recent defeat against Leverkusen and few currently believe in a turnaround under the current coach.

If you still think it’s too risky to play the betting odds on the away win (three-way) between Schalke and Hoffenheim, you can keep an eye on the number of goals. 20 goals were scored in the first four home games. The mark of at least three goals was always broken.

We are therefore betting seven units that the over 2.5 bet will pay off once again on Friday evening in the Schalke vs. Hoffenheim