Hoffenheim vs Union Berlin prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-02-16 14:30.
Hoffenheim managed to spare their blushes at the very death over the weekend as they left it until the 94th minute to equalise in a 1-1 home draw against relegation-threatened Cologne. Despite that late goal, that result extended the home side’s winless Bundesliga streak to seven matches (D4, L3), whilst their return of just one win across their last 12 German top-flight outings has seen them fall further adrift of the European spots.
Finishing in the top six this campaign will still remain the ambition, but the current five point gap to those in the European spots is looking increasingly difficult to overturn given their desperate form. That’s especially true if Hoffenheim can’t remedy their defensive woes quickly, as the home side have now kept just one clean sheet in 21 attempts – the second-fewest of any side – albeit that did come in a 2-0 victory during their reverse fixture against Union Berlin.
That result formed part of a 12-match losing run for Union across all competitions, but thankfully for the visitors, their form has improved drastically since. Although they still sit just one place above the relegation play-off place heading into this matchday, a 1-0 home win over Wolfsburg at the weekend increased their gap to the bottom-three to five points as they begin to claw their way out of danger.
Now losing just two of their last seven Bundesliga outings (W3, D2), the away side have relied heavily on their defence to help provide that success, as all three of their wins during that sequence have come alongside a clean sheet. Holding their opposition goalless in this outing could prove a tall order though, as they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in all nine of their prior German top-flight H2Hs (W3, D2, L4).
Players to watch: Andrej Kramarić netted Hoffenheim’s late equaliser at the weekend, meaning that his last five Bundesliga goals have all come on home soil. Union’s Robin Gosens returned from injury recently and will be looking to add to his tally of six competitive goals this season, all of which came before half-time.
Hot stat: Nineteen of Hoffenheim’s 21 Bundesliga matches this season have seen both teams score – the most of any side.