Hoffenheim vs Tottenham prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-22 17:45.
[p]Hoffenheim are struggling on all fronts, but this could be a season-saving week. The third of three Bundesliga matches in eight days saw them leap out of the bottom three with a crucial 3-1 win at Holstein Kiel, ending a nine-game winless run (D3, L6) across three tournaments. New manager Christian Ilzer described it as “liberating” and is hopeful the reward for hard work will drive them forward.[/p]
[p]They start the penultimate round of this UEFA Europa League (UEL) just one point behind the last of the 24 teams that will advance from the league phase and are running out of chances to keep their campaign alive. Five of their six points in this league phase were collected at home, so this meeting with Tottenham Hotspur could be their last chance to stay in the hunt, and the task ahead of them is to get their inaugural UEFA competition point against an English opposition (L4). [/p]
[p]Tottenham continue to sink to new lows as far as the Premier League is concerned, with previously unthinkable relegation fears emerging after they defeated only Southampton in their last ten league matches (D2, L7). Facing mounting pressure, manager Ange Postecoglou may appreciate the change of competition, as they did when winning their most recent League Cup and FA Cup outings. [/p]
[p]Despite their ongoing injury crisis and winning just three of their six UEL league phase matches (D2, L1), Tottenham shares favouritism with Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao to lift the trophy. That’s despite not being close to the best performers of the competition away from home, although they did take four of six points home from their two league phase away games as pre-match favourites.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Adam Hložek registered his third competitive brace of the season at the weekend, one of which was in the UEL at home to Dynamo Kyiv. One day later, Richarlison scored for the first time since his return and will be hoping to go net in back-to-back games after scoring in his only appearance of this UEL season. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Hoffenheim were held scoreless in seven of their last eight losses across all competitions.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]