Bundesliga: Hoffenheim Test for Ex-Boss Nagelsmann

TSG Hoffenheim vs RB Leipzig

All eyes will be on Steinsfurt this weekend for a fascinating Bundesliga clash, in a game which could have a big impact on the chase for European football.

With four matches remaining, the league title has been and gone for Red Bull, and a top-four place is far from guaranteed.

If die Roten Bullen falter, then Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen are ready to pounce in fourth and fifth places and just three points behind.

Leipzig’s head coach Julien Nagelsmann is facing his former side Hoffenheim who are in the European hunt as well in seventh place, unbeaten in four games and just two points behind sixth-place Wolfsburg.

Talking Points

Red Bull needs Werner to keep scoring

Would the Hoffenheim vs Red Bull predictions be different before the news that Leipzig’s star striker was about to move to Chelsea?

Timo Werner looks to be on his way to the Premier League, but he has performed so magnificently for Red Bull this season, scoring 25 league goals and leading the line superbly.

While Werner will take a lot of space in the pre-match Hoffenheim vs Red Bull news reports, Nagelsmann will try to keep his players’ minds on the prize, and that means winning in Hoffenheim to strengthen their grip on that Champions League place.

Bundesliga: RB Liepzig striker Timo Werner has been linked with a move to the Premier League — Timo Werner in action for RB Leipzig against SC Freiburg

Alongside Werner, Patrick Schick has ten goals while Yussuf Poulsen has weighed in with five. But the Danish winger is out injured. Midfield man Marcel Sabitzer has had a fine campaign too with nine goals and six assists.

Away to Koln, die Roten Bullen played with power and passion, winning 2-4, and that’s the sort of dynamism Nagelsmann will be looking for.

His team has been inconsistent since returning to action, drawing two of the last three which has hindered their efforts to shake off Monchengladbach and Bayer. While they are unbeaten in 11, five of their last seven results have been draws.

Nagelsmann’s Old Boys would love to prove a point

Hoffenheim had a superb three seasons under former head coach Nagelsmann and have continued to fight hard since he left for Leipzig in 2019.

In his first season, he recruited some fine players and finished in fourth place. He followed that up with a third-placed finish and more Champions League football before closing with a ninth-place last season.

Hoffenheim’s top scorer with seven, Andrej Kramaric, was one of Nagelsmann’s best recruits and he will be a threat to the Leipzig defence as the home side comes into the game in good form.

Head coach Alfred Schreuder has taken his team on a four-match unbeaten run since the return, drawing 2-2 with Fortuna Dusseldorf last time out.

20-year-old rising star Christoph Baumgartner has impressed in midfield, scoring six goals so far – including a double in Hoffenheim’s recent win over Koln.

opacity 0

CLICK HERE
TO SEE UPDATED ODDS

La Liga

History

Hoffenheim’s best-placed finish in the Bundesliga, third in 2018, gave their fans a taste for success. And while they won’t be there for this clash, they will be hoping for another European tour next season.

Their team has struggled to dominate Leipzig though and die Roten Bullen have won four of the eight meetings, with Hoffenheim winning two and there have been two draws

Leipzig won the return fixture earlier in the season by a 3-1 scoreline as Werner scored twice and Sabitzer added a third before Ermin Bicakcic scored a late consolation for Hoffenheim. And Red Bull won 1-2 here at the PreZero Arena last season as part of a four-match unbeaten run against these opponents.

The hosts have won just three of their last ten matches on home soil, including five of the last eight.

Betting Tip

	TSG Hoffenheim vs RB Leipzig	TSG Hoffenheim Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.01
	June 13, 02:30 (GMT+8)

Home form dictates the betting odds for this game and despite their own push for Europe TSG Hoffenheim are out at 6.16 to win, with Red Bull at 1.42 and the draw is available at 4.46.

We’re expecting goals in this game, with over 3.50 goals at odds of 1.96 and under 3.50 goals at 1.92.

For an outside bet, 1-2 is available at 7.33, and I’m backing Hoffenheim to stay in the game for 90 plus minutes.

Well, this is a great start to a bumper couple of weeks for SBOBET football fans, with La Liga also underway and the Premier League and Serie A to follow next week.