Hoffenheim vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-04-21 13:30.
Hoffenheimâs top-flight status looked to be under severe threat when they failed to register a Bundesliga victory in 14 attempts (D2, L12), but a remarkable turn in fortune has since seen them win three on the trot, before claiming an excellent 1-1 away draw at league-leaders Bayern Munich last weekend. The relegation pressure is temporarily off manager Pellegrino Matarazzoâs shoulders, whoâll be eyeing up his next opponents Cologne who sit just three points above his side in 11th place.
TSG could leapfrog their visitors in the standings with a win here, something recent history and the bookmakers favour them to do. Prior to the 1-1 draw in Octoberâs reverse fixture, Hoffenheim had actually won eight successive H2H matches by an aggregate score of 26-4, while the 50 Bundesliga goals theyâve racked up against Cologne is the most theyâve scored against any one opponent.
Cologne wonât be travelling to the PreZero Arena just to make up the numbers after putting together a three-game unbeaten run of their own (W1, D2), but winning only once in their last eight outings overall proves theyâre misfiring offensively (D3, L4). In fact, that âkiller instinctâ has been lacking from Steffen Baumgartâs men throughout the season, seeing as theyâve drawn the most Bundesliga matches of all this season with 11.
The Billy Goatsâ lone victory across those eight games did come on the road though, when they beat Augsburg 3-1 in their last away assignment. Yet performances like that have been too few and far between for Cologne to garner any momentum on their travels, as only 12 of their 32 points this season have come in front of their travelling contingent.
Players to watch: Hoffenheimâs Christoph Baumgartner appears to love a date with Cologne, with his eight goal contributions (G4, A4) against them helping him stay undefeated in six H2Hs (W5, D1). Dejan LjubiÄiÄ could fire back for the visitors at any time, but he does tend to grow more dangerous as the match progresses with six of his seven goals this season coming after half-time.
Hot stat: Cologneâs 13 points won after conceding first is the most of any Bundesliga side this season (W3, D4, L9).