Hoffenheim vs Dortmund prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-09-28 18:30.
Hoffenheim have bounced back in style from their opening-day defeat to Freiburg by winning their last four league matches to record their best-ever five-game start to a Bundesliga season. Bookending that run was a 2-0 win over last seasonâs fourth-placed finishers, Union Berlin, so a visit from perennial title challengers Borussia Dortmund really shouldnât faze them.
History suggests another win at this particular juncture may be a bridge too far for Hoffenheim, who have gone on to draw the fifth game after each of their previous two four-game winning runs in the Bundesliga. Although that may be coincidental, Pellegrino Matarazzoâs own record against Dortmund (W1, L4) and Hoffenheimâs poor recent home H2H form (W1, D1, L3) only add to their underdog status.
Looking to justify the odds are Dortmund, who remain unbeaten yet sit one point behind Hoffenheim courtesy of a pair of draws (W3, D2). Not since 2018/19 have Dortmund recorded a five-game unbeaten start to a league season, when they were unbeaten until round 16 but still managed to finish second behind their arch-nemesis, Bayern Munich!
Keeping more clean sheets could be key if Dortmund want to finally reverse that curse, as theyâre yet to shut any side out on their travels this season (W2, D1, L1). In fact, a return of just one clean sheet across their last 11 competitive away days suggests the onus will be on Dortmundâs attackers to win the day. Curiously though, they do come into this on the back of a rather tame 1-0 home win, the same scoreline as in both league H2Hs last season (W2).
Players to watch: Maximilian Beier has scored in all four of Hoffenheimâs league victories this season, although only one strike was decisive. He may have to wait his turn if Dortmundâs Marco Reus has his way; the revered forward scored his 62nd match-opening Bundesliga goal in the previous round, with only four players in the leagueâs history boasting a higher number.
Hot stat: With just one goalless game across the opening 45 matches, the Bundesliga has produced more goals per match on average (3.64) than any of Europeâs âBig Fiveâ leagues!