Prediction: Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen

Verdict: Away win & both teams to score

Best odds: 33/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen aims to bounce back from the last-round defeat with a win at Hoffenheim. The game will be played at PreZero Arena with 30,000 fans keen to see their favourites replicate the 2020 win against the visitors.

Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim was successful last term when the former Stuttgart boss, Pellegrino Matarazzo, brought TSG back to the European competitions following a 7th-place finish that guaranteed a presence in the Europa League. Although the hosts ended their previous campaign with a shocking home win against Bayern Munich (4-2), the Summer preparations were not going according to plan.

However, Hoffenheim tested its power against top English sides like Fulham, Ipswich and Norwich. Despite playing a blockbuster draw against Norwich (2-2), Hoffenheim lost against Ipswich (1-0) and Fulham (2-0).
While the summer preparations raised some concerns in Hoffenheim’s camp, the hosts brushed away all doubts with a perfect debut to their season.

Although the host was close to being knocked out in the first round of the German Cup by lower-tier Wurzburger Kickers, a perfect record at the penalty shootout was enough to get over the line. Following the win in the German Cup, TSG approached confidently their Bundesliga opening game against newly promoted Holstein Kiel. Despite being tipped to dominate the game and record a comfortable win, the hosts narrowly edged the visitors (3-2 final score).

Impressing in the first two competitive games, Hoffenheim failed to maintain their level away at Frankfurt by surrendering to a 3-1 defeat that dropped Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side 11th in the standings. Furthermore, with an upcoming busy schedule with games in the Europa League and domestically, Hoffenheim must manage their player fitness to avoid a slump later in the season.

Team News

Pellegrino Matarazzo faces an injury crisis, with seven players out against Bayer Leverkusen. Centre midfielder Greschka Prommel is the latest player added to the list after sustaining a cruciate ligament tear at the beginning of September that will see him out for a couple of months.

Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso made history last season with Bayer Leverkusen. The young Spanish coach brought his team back to competing against Europe’s best after winning the Bundesliga title with style by finishing the competition undefeated.

Furthermore, besides the domestic dominance that resulted in winning the double, the visitors maintained their level at the European stages after reaching an incredible mark of 51 matches without defeat across all competitions.
Still, Leverkusen’s fall started at the worst moment at the end of last season when the Black&Reds were hammered by Atalanta (3-0) in the Europa League final.

However, despite Xabi Alonso addressing the end of the last term great, his players were unconvincing at the start of the current campaign. Consolidating their Neverlusen nickname at the beginning of the season after coming back from behind against Stuttgart in the German Super Cup (won on penalties) and, scoring a late winner in the Bundesliga season opener away at Monchengladbach (2-3) was a clear sign of decline.

While a narrow win in the Germany Cup (1-0) against lower-tier side Jena was enough to progress to the next stages, the upcoming home game against RB Leipzig ended Bayer Leverkusen’s domestic invincibility. Although the Red&Blacks were 2-1 up at halftime, a second-half crash allowed Leipzig to net a double setting the final score (2-3), leaving the champions 8th in the standings with three points after two rounds.

Trying to maintain their last season level Xabi Alonso’s team will be tested against Europe’s best in the Champions League and domestically by Bayern Munchen who is keen to regain their Bundesliga champions crown.

Team News

Xabi Alonso is pleased to see his players involved in the Nations League return to the club without injuries. However, Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong are at risk of suspension if they get booked. Despite the accumulation of fatigue following the international games, the Spanish boss must use the same players due to having limited quality options on the bench.

Key factors to consider

• Hoffenheim won two of their three competitive games played this season
• The hosts lost the last three games played at PreZero Arena against Leverkusen
• Bayer Leverkusen ended their domestic invincibility last round by losing at BayArena to RB Leipzig
• The visitors maintained their attacking power by scoring eight goals across all competitions since the beginning of the season (4 games)

Conclusion

We expect Leverkusen to bounce back from the last round’s defeat suffered at BayArena against RB Leipzig and return with three points from PreZero Arena. However, the hosts proved their goal-scoring capabilities to their fans, pointing to a repeated scenario of the last three encounters at Hoffenheim.

Verdict: Away win & both teams to score

Best odds: 33/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet