Hoffenheim vs Darmstadt prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-12-18 19:30.
Sinsheim’s PreZero Arena prepares for its final game of 2023 as Hoffenheim look to guarantee their place in the European standings at the year’s end by defeating rock-bottom Darmstadt ahead of the winter break. They say the league table doesn’t lie, but it does perhaps fabricate the truth a little here, given Hoffenheim have won just one of their last seven league games (W1, D2, L4).
Isolating form against this calibre of opponent should give Hoffenhim the boost they need in spite of their current lull, as they remain unbeaten against sides starting the round 12th or lower (W4, D1). Hoffenheim scored at least three times in three of the aforementioned four victories, but the fact that’ve failed to win three of their five home league games as pre-match favourites this season raises doubts over their credentials here (W2, D1, L2).
Whilst the hosts have remained relatively successful despite blowing hot and cold, Darmstadt have been consistently poor. A 1-0 defeat against Wolfsburg at the weekend represented an eighth consecutive winless Bundesliga game (D2, L6), a run which has unsurprisingly seen them slide to the bottom of the table, albeit a win could at least see them end 2023 a couple of places higher.
Despite being one of two sides yet to hit double figures in terms of points, Darmstadt can look to their respectable all-time record after four Bundesliga meetings with Hoffenheim (W1, D2, L1) as a source of inspiration. The only victory in that sequence came here in Sinsheim, providing another positive omen after picking up all four of their paltry away points haul across their last four league trips (W1, D1, L2).
Players to watch: Andrej Kramarić extended his Hoffenheim goal tally to seven for the season with a goal in his last home appearance, while he also scored both goals in the last home H2H back in 2017! Finding a clear goal threat from Darmstadt is much more difficult, as Tim Skarke is their only player to score a goal (G1) across their last three Bundesliga games.
Hot stat: A league-high 14 of Hoffenheim’s 15 Bundesliga games saw both teams score.