Stuttgart vs Hoffenheim prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-10-05 17:30.
[p]After losing a number of key players during this summer’s transfer window on the back of last season’s success, most expected Stuttgart to take a substantial step back. That’s hardly been the case though, as the Swabians have so far been defeated just once across their five league outings (W2, D2), with that defeat coming in their season-opening fixture.[/p]
[p]Since then, big domestic wins against Borussia Dortmund and Mönchengladbach have followed, and despite the distraction of playing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2009/10, another top-four finish remains plausible. To achieve that again, the hosts will have to improve defensively however, as so far they’ve conceded ten Bundesliga goals – the joint-most of any side who start this matchday in the top half.[/p]
[p]The hosts could struggle to stem that flow here, as Hoffenheim arrive in town having won this corresponding H2H 3-2 last season. Despite that potentially offering some much-needed confidence for the visitors, they’ve suffered a pretty torrid start to the Bundesliga campaign, losing four of their five matches (W1) to record their second-lowest points tally after five matches in a German top-flight campaign.[/p]
[p]As a result, manager Pellegrino Matarazzo looks to be under immense pressure here, with his job coming under scrutiny. That’s especially true after his side lost to Werder Bremen last weekend despite taking a three-goal lead, the first time that the club have ever suffered that fate in a Bundesliga match, although he did manage to repair some of the damage with a 2-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv in midweek Europa League action.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirović will be keen to continue his recent H2H form here, as after failing to score in any of his first six league appearances against Hoffenheim, he netted both home and away against them last season whilst playing for Augsburg. Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramarić also enjoys a strong H2H record, netting four goals in his last eight clashes with Stuttgart, whilst pre-round, only two players have managed more than his four Bundesliga strikes this campaign.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: All ten league games involving Stuttgart or Hoffenheim this season have seen both teams score, whilst five of the last six H2Hs have also seen the same.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans[/i][/p]