Hoffenheim vs FCSB prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-11 17:45.
[p]Starting the matchday in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) outside of the top-24, a run of one win in eight games in all competitions (D3, L4) has hardly arrived at an ideal time for Hoffenheim. Die Kraichgauer drew 1-1 with Freiburg at the weekend, which although can be deemed disappointing, did at least see them break a three-match run of defeats âto nilâ. [/p]
[p]Theyâve also drawn a scoring blank in two of their last three UEL games, with Dinamo Kyiv serving as their only league phase win to date (D2, L2). They realistically need to win this game against FCSB to boost their qualification hopes with tough games against Tottenham and Anderlecht closing out their league phase campaign and should be buoyed by the fact German sides are unbeaten in their last 24 clashes against Romanian opposition (W12, D12). [/p]
[p]FCSB will be the latest side to try and break that duck, and with four wins from their last five games (D1), they seem to be in the perfect form to do so. But that could all be about to come crashing down around them here, as theyâve incredibly won just one of their last 18 meetings against German opposition, with that coming way back in 1957/58 against Borussia Dortmund![/p]
[p]Theyâre faring much better than Hoffenheim in the UEL this term though and sit tenth after five matchdays, level on points with the sixth-placed side. Finishing in the top-eight would be the stuff of dreams for FCSB, who havenât advanced beyond the group/league phase in a major European competition since 2012/13, but know victory here should at least guarantee them a spot in the knockout play-off rounds. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Tom Bischof broke Hoffenheimâs goalscoring drought at the weekend, and his two goals this season have served as home equalisers. Watch out for a late impact from FCSBâs David Miculescu, who has scored four of his last seven club goals between the 70th and 75th minutes, and hasnât been beaten in his last 19 goalscoring club games (W14, D5). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only Midtjylland (four) have been shown fewer yellow cards in the UEL league phase than Hoffenheim (five).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]