Hoffenheim vs Hamburg Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Sarwar ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Hoffenheim and Hamburg are each stuck on just three points after underwhelming starts in the first block of fixtures.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+
Hoffenheim preview: Back in the loss column
Hoffenheim looked like they had turned a corner after getting the better of Stuttgart by two goals to one, Adam Hlozek’s brace proving decisive. However, that proved to be a false dawn as Christian Ilzer’s men were brough back down to earth with a bang by newly promoted Paderborn the game after.
For the third time in four Bundesliga games, Hoffenheim conceded three goals as Paderborn eventually triumphed 3-1. Such defensive instability clearly must be addressed by Ilzer if Hoffenheim are to start climbing the table.
Hamburg preview: Leaky backline
Hoffenheim aren’t the only team who have struggled to keep the ball out of their own net. Hamburg are proving to be one of the leakiest clubs in the Bundesliga defensively, giving up a whopping 13 goals across four games so far, that’s an average of over three per match. Just as worrying has been their lack of proficiency from an attacking perspective, with no side having scored less goals.
Despite gaining their first points of the campaign against FC Cologne last time out, a bad goal difference means that Hamburg remains inside the bottom three on goal difference. They are also yet to win on the road, although they’ve faced two tough away fixtures so far in Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
Hoffenheim team news: Couple of doubts
Hoffenheim will hand late fitness tests to Bernardo and Hajdari before making a call on their availability ahead of this match. Other than those two, Ilzer is expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Baumann; Coufal, Kabak, Machida, Rots; Conte, Avdullahu, Burger, Daghim; Lemperle, Hlozek
Unavailable:
Questionable: Bernardo (Injured), Hajdari (Injured)
Hamburg team news: Number of question marks
Illness and injury respectively renders both El Ouahdi and Rossing-Lelesiit as doubts, whilst Data, Dickes and Gronbaek are all out injured for Hamburg.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes; Capaldo, Bornauw, Torunarigha; Jatta, Lokonga, Remberg, Moller Wolfe; Vieira, Poulsen, Adeline
Unavailable Data (Injured), Dickes (Injured), Gronbaek (Injured)
Questionable: El Ouahdi (Illness), Rossing-Lelesiit (Injured)
Who will win this match?
Open poll and resultsHoffenheim vs Hamburg prediction
Hoffenheim will want to take advantage of facing a bad defence, especially at home against an opponent who has struggled away from the Volksparkstadion. However, Hoffenheim’s backline has hardly impressed themselves and for Hamburg, this probably represents their best chance to get some goals this season.
We should be in for an entertaining battle between two teams who cannot seem to shut down opposition attacks currently and the outcome is capable of going either way. That makes backing over 3.5 goals to be scored worth serious consideration rather than picking a winner.
Hoffenheim vs Hamburg tip: Over 3.5 goals
