Hoffenheim vs Eintracht Frankfurt prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-10-20 13:30.
Hoffenheim’s haul of 15 points from seven games (W5, L2) may be their best ever start to a Bundesliga season, but manager Pellegrino Matarazzo may feel there is still more to come from his side given the Blues have suffered both their defeats on home soil. Four of those victories have come on the road, including a 3-2 win over Werder Bremen before the international break, a victory that ensured they return to action sitting fifth.
Improving their form at the Rhein-Neckar Arena is crucial if Hoffenheim are to build on last season’s 12th place finish and qualify for European football again having not graced the continental stage since 2020/21. Turning things around might be difficult this weekend though, as they have only won two of their last 12 H2Hs against opponents Eintracht Frankfurt (D3, L7), failing to even keep a clean sheet over that period.
The visitors will be hoping they can channel the spirit of those previous victories, as they attempt to end a miserable run of 14 away league fixtures without a win (D7, L7). It is also 23 matches and 19 months since they kept a clean sheet on the road in the Bundesliga, so Frankfurt fans may be forgiven for fearing the worst as they make the short trip south.
The Eagles have at least proved tough to beat this season, losing just one of their seven outings in the German top flight (W2, D4). One of those victories came in their final fixture before the break, a 2-0 success against Heidenheim which manager Dino Toppmöller admitted was hard work, stating “we put an awful lot into the game.” The two-week break should ensure his players have recovered sufficiently as they look to make it back-to-back league wins in the same season for the first time since November 2022.
Key battle: Hoffenheim will hope Maximilian Beier has his shooting boots on, as he has won 12 of the last 14 games in which he has scored (D1, L1), including all five this season. Attempting to stop him will be Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who has won ten of his 16 H2Hs (D3, L3), despite keeping only three clean sheets.
Hot stat: Frankfurt are yet to score a single first-half away goal in the league this season.