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TSG Hoffenheim vs. RB Leipzig
On Saturday, “El Plastico”, as the duel between TSG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig is affectionately called by tradition-conscious football fans, will take place in the Bundesliga. The ball will be rolling in the PreZero Arena from 15:30.
The two teams are currently separated by four points and five places in the Bundesliga table. Leipzig (fifth with 18 points) have not lost seven Bundesliga games in a row and are now sniffing at the Champions League places again after a weak start to the season. Hoffenheim (tenth with 14 points) are mid-table in the Bundesliga after recent mixed performances, with three wins and three defeats in their last six matches. Find out our prediction for the direct clash between the two in our Hoffenheim vs Leipzig tip.
Hoffenheim – Leipzig Info
– Date & Time: 20.11.2021, at 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Sinsheim, PreZero Arena (up to 30,150 seats).
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 12
– Broadcast: SKY
Hoffenheim Form & Balance Check
Hoffenheim are playing a mixed season and that is one of the reasons why they are in the midfield of the Bundesliga. With 14 points after 11 games, TSG currently occupy 10th place in the table. Hoffenheim went into the international break with a 0:2 defeat in Bochum. Hoffenheim should have taken the lead through Bebou in the 19th minute. However, the attacker missed the ball while running alone towards the opponent’s goal. After that, nothing much happened until the half-time break. That was to change in the second half.
Soma Novothny gave the VFL the lead in the 66th minute. Until then, TSG had the game under control. Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann then caused the scene of the game when he shot a Bochum penalty kick far over the opponent’s goal in the 76th minute. Bochum subsequently missed several more great chances to decide the game before Milos Pantovic scored the 2:0 from his own half in the 7th minute of injury time. Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann had come forward for a corner.
Wonder bag Hoffenheim
You don’t really know what to expect in Hoffenheim’s games at the moment. In the last few games, TSG showed alternately appealing and then again weak performances. They won their last three home games convincingly (3:1 against VFL Wolfsburg, 5:0 against 1. FC Köln and 2:0 against Hertha BSC). Away, on the other hand, Hoffenheim disappointed during this period, losing three games in a row (1:3 in Stuttgart, 0:4 in Munich and 0:2 in Bochum). With another home game against Leipzig on the horizon, there is much to suggest that TSG will be in good form on Saturday.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– Good at home, bad away: Three home games in a row won and three away games in a row lost.
11 goals scored in the last six Bundesliga matches.
– Vulnerable at the back: 10 goals conceded in last six Bundesliga matches
Leipzig form & balance check
Leipzig are slowly finding their feet. In the first four Bundesliga games, the Saxons suffered three defeats (against Mainz 05, VFL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich). Since then, the Bullen have been unbeaten in the Bundesliga and defeated Borussia Dortmund, among others, with 2:1 on the last matchday. Leipzig could have, if not should have, taken the lead as early as the 13th minute with a double chance from Nkunku and Szoboszlai. In the 29th minute, the currently outstanding Nkunku did it better and scored the completely deserved lead for Leipzig.
Dortmund only showed a reaction in the second half when Reus scored Borussia’s first goal to make it 1-1 (52nd minute). Then only the Bullen played again and took the lead again after several missed chances (Poulsen in the 68th minute). Dortmund did not manage to create any goal chances worth mentioning and quite rightly lost to the Saxons for the first time in four years.
Away weakness as the crux
15 of Leipzig’s 18 points have come at home. In five away games so far, they have only managed to collect three measly points. At least Leipzig are unbeaten in three away games after two away defeats at the start of the season in Mainz (0:1) and Wolfsburg (0:1). The Saxons drew 1-1 in Cologne, Freiburg and Frankfurt respectively. In order to keep up with Bayern (28 points) and Dortmund (24 points) in the Bundesliga, they must get their first away win at Hoffenheim this weekend.
Leipzig Facts & Analysis
– Scoring: Leipzig have scored at least one goal in 13 competitive games in a row.
– Upward trend: 7 Bundesliga games in a row not lost
– Defensively strong: Leipzig have the second best defence in the league, conceding eleven goals in eleven Bundesliga games
Predicted line-up – last update on 18 November 2021
The coaches of both teams are advocates of the three-man backline. However, while Hoffenheim mostly plays with two strikers, RB only runs a classic nine, flanked by two hanging wingers. On the Hoffenheim side, we expect left-back David Raum back in the starting eleven. We also believe Chris Richards will replace the injured Robert Skov on the right.
Captain Wili Orban is expected to return to his position in the centre of defence for Leipzig against TSG. Benjamin Henrichs will probably have to vacate his place instead. Jordi Mukiele is likely to move up a position compared to the victory over Dortmund and will once again play on the right side of Leipzig. In addition, Yussuf Poulsen is out for a short time with a torn muscle fibre. We expect Andre Silva to replace him in the starting eleven.
Hoffenheim – Leipzig direct comparison & Statistics
TsG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig have met eleven times so far. Leipzig left the pitch as winners six times and Hoffenheim twice. Three encounters ended in a draw. However, it is the record of the last few games that speaks in favour of the Leipzigers. In the last three games against Hoffenheim, the Saxons did not concede a goal (2:0, 1:0 & 0:0).
– RB Leipzig are unbeaten in seven games against Hoffenheim.
– only in one of the last six direct duels more than two goals were scored
– RB Leipzig are unbeaten in five competitive matches
– Hoffenheim’s record in their last five Bundesliga matches is 2 wins and 3 losses
