Hoffenheim vs Dyn. Kyiv prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-02 16:45.
[p]Involved in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) for the third time in their history – and for the first time since the 2020/21 season – Hoffenheim began this term’s European campaign with a 1-1 draw away against Midtjylland. That game is the only one of their last five across all competitions which hasn’t ended in defeat, with Die Kraichgauer desperately struggling for early season form.[/p]
[p]The Bundesliga outfit now host Dynamo Kyiv in their home UEL opener, and should be buoyed by the fact that four of their six wins to date in major European competition have come on home soil. Having thrown away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to Werder Bremen at home on Sunday though, confidence is bound to be low, with Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side still yet to record a clean sheet this season.[/p]
[p]Thursday’s opponents Dynamo Kyiv are in great form domestically, with Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s side unbeaten in the Ukrainian Premier League this season (W6, D1). They lost their UEL opener 3-0 against Lazio however, and have now lost 13 of their last 15 matches in major European competition (D2), so there’s bound to be some trepidation in the visitors’ camp as well.[/p]
[p]That won’t be helped by a return of just one win from their last 16 away matches in UEFA competition (D5, L10) doesn’t bode well ahead of this trip to Germany. Dynamo will be looking for a fast start here, as their domestic form is fuelled by the fact they’ve scored first five times in their opening seven league matches, winning all five of those matches. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Having recovered from injury, Umut Tohumcu has been booked twice in just 225 minutes on the pitch so far this season for Hoffenheim. He registered an assist inside ten minutes, but he’s never scored a senior professional goal in his career. Counterpart Vladyslav Dubinchak has been cautioned in each of his last three European appearances, with each of those yellow cards coming after the hour-mark.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Dynamo Kyiv have lost each of their last three European games against German opposition. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Ben Olawumi[/i][/p]