FC Porto vs Hoffenheim prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 19:00.
[p]Porto returned to action following the international break with a routine 3-0 Portuguese Cup win over Sintrense, which they’ll hope can help them kickstart their UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign following an underwhelming start (D1, L1). There’s been entertainment aplenty, but also disappointment, particularly after they conceded in injury time to draw 3-3 with ten-man Manchester United having already lost 3-2 to Bodø/Glimt.[/p]
[p]The Dragons will be eyeing up a return to form here as they’ve won eight of their last 12 European home games against German opposition (D2, L2), hoping to add first-time visitors Hoffenheim to a list of scalps that includes Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. Further boosting belief, VĂtor Bruno’s side haven’t lost a competitive home game since early April (W7, D3), impressively scoring at least twice in all ten of those matches.[/p]
[p]That could be a problem for Hoffenheim, who have kept only one clean sheet in all competitions this season (W4, D2, L4), although it did come against Dynamo Kyiv on matchday two as they maintained their unbeaten start in Europe (W1, D1). Saturday’s 3-1 league win over fellow Bundesliga slow-starters Bochum should act as a confidence-booster with Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men now on a three-match unbeaten run (W2, D1).[/p]
[p]The Kraichgauers are also unbeaten across their last five UEL away games (W2, D3), drawing each of the last three. Given their only previous experience in Portugal saw them beaten 3-1 by Braga – to whom they travel again on matchday five – in 2017/18, they might see sharing the spoils again as a reasonable outcome.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: PepĂŞ has netted in both of Porto’s last two home fixtures, and all three of his club goals this season were the third goal of the game. Marius BĂĽlter scored for Hoffenheim against Bochum on Saturday – all four of his scoring appearances this season saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Four of Porto’s last six European home games saw one or both sides fail to score (Porto: W3, D2, L1).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]