Hoffenheim vs Hertha Berlin prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-03-17 14:30.
Pellegrino Matarazzo has already been sacked once this season, and reports in Germany suggest the Hoffenheim boss could be fired for a second time unless his new side can quickly end their losing run. The former Stuttgart manager only replaced André Breitenreiter in early February, but the fifth straight defeat of his tenure to Freiburg last time out has left him fighting for his job after the Blues sunk to the bottom of the Bundesliga.
Ozan Kabak was sent off in that game, but with a record of no win in 14 league outings (D2, L12), it’s fair to say his dismissal probably had little impact on the game’s outcome. Hoffenheim also have the worst home record in the division, notching up just three victories all season (D2, L7), not helped by conceding at least twice in seven of their last eight contests at the Rhein-Neckar Arena.
In Hoffenheim’s favour though is a dominant H2H record against their next visitors, Hertha Berlin, who they’ve lost only twice to in 14 games (W8, D4). That will give them some hope of leapfrogging the team from the capital, who sit just two points above Hoffenheim in the last ‘safe’ place in the standings. There are signs the Old Lady have turned a corner of late though, with two victories from their last five matches (D1, L2) helping them stay out of the relegation zone.
Manager Sandro Schwarz declared himself pleased with the recent return and is urging his side to play with “patience and clarity” in this crucial game as they look to beat the drop. He must surely know that Hertha have to improve their dreadful record on the road though, as they make the journey north having picked up fewer away points than any other Bundesliga side (W1, D1, L9).
Key battle: Hoffenheim defender Kevin Vogt has only lost three of his personal 17 top-flight clashes with the Old Lady (W7, D7), helping his side keep six clean sheets in the process. He may be looking to stop Hertha’s top marksman Dodi Lukébakio, who has won in just three of his 11 goalscoring appearances this season (D2, L6).
Hot stat: Hertha’s total of two first-half away goals is the joint lowest in the Bundesliga.