Bayer Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2025-08-22 13:30.
[p]The Erik ten Hag era at Bayer Leverkusen gets underway in the Bundesliga as they welcome Christian Ilzer’s Hoffenheim to the BayArena.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]A new dawn awaits for the unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga champions, as after following up that triumph with a second-placed finish last time around, Leverkusen arrive into the new season with wholesale changes throughout the club. Former Ajax and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag replaces Xabi Alonso in the dugout and oversaw a 4-0 win in his first competitive game, while the departures of key players Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Jeremie Frimpong have left the squad short on experience. Optimistic trepidation remains as the next phase begins, with sporting director Simon Rolfes keen to “build the next title-winning team” after recouping over €200m in transfer sales.[/p]
[p]Dreams of glory may feel unrealistic for visiting Hoffenheim, who recorded a 15th-place finish in 2024/25, their worst showing in nearly a decade. Sitting just three points above the bottom three as the dust settled, Hoffenheim will hope to avoid flirting with a second-tier return for the first time since being promoted in 2007/08. Christian Ilzer’s side have made some sorely needed defensive acquisitions in the summer after conceding more goals than two of the bottom-three sides last season, and like their hosts, they also kicked off the new campaign with a 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory, although this is a mammoth task in comparison. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Leverkusen have won each of the last five H2Hs despite failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those games. Their last defeat in this fixture came back in August 2022 when they were thumped 3-0 here at the BayArena.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Three of Leverkusen’s last four Bundesliga home games featured over 1.5 first half goals. [/p]
[p]Leverkusen picked up a joint-league high 14 points when falling behind in the Bundesliga last season (W4, D2, L3).[/p]
[p]Hoffenheim conceded 16 goals across their four league games against the top two last season (L4). [/p]
[p]Only two Bundesliga sides had a lower win rate as pre-match outsiders than Hoffenheim’s 15% last season (W3, D6, L11). [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick would struggle to handpick a more favourable opponent to face after recently signing a contract extension, given that he’s scored six goals in his last six personal H2Hs. Wouter Burger and Fisnik Asllani could prove to be a lethal combination for Hoffenheim this season after they assisted each other for a goal in their DFB-Pokal victory. [/p]
[p]Leverkusen look to boast a clean bill of health, but Hoffenheim could be without Adam Hložek and Valentin Gendrey after both missed pre-season with injuries. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given Leverkusen’s clear superiority in both the Bundesliga and this particular H2H, we’re going for a home win and both teams to score, a pick which landed in both meetings last season. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]