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TSG Hoffenheim vs. VfL Bochum
After the season opener last weekend, the Bundesliga already continues with Matchday 2 starting next Friday. In this case, Freiburg and Dortmund open (click here for Freiburg – Dortmund tip), followed on Saturday once again by the popular conference. Among the five matches kicking off at 15:30 is the clash between TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum. Both have started the new season with a defeat and are hoping for their first points at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim this weekend. Our prediction for this match can be found in the following Hoffenheim vs Bochum tip.
A premature look at the table reveals that both of Saturday’s opponents are among the seven teams without points. Bochum are in 12th place ahead of TSG due to their marginally better goal difference, while Hoffenheim follow in 14th. However, while VfL already know this scenario of a defeat on the first matchday from last year, Hoffenheim have experienced a contrasting programme. In the pre-season, they still managed a dream start with a 4-0 win against Augsburg.
Hoffenheim – Bochum Info
– Date & Time: 13.08.2022, at 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Sinsheim, PreZero Arena
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 2
– TV broadcast: Sky
Hoffenheim Form & Balance Check
The TSG Hoffenheim wants to finally return to Europe this season. That goal was issued by patron Dietmar Hopp after the mid-table finishes of the last two years cost former coach Sebastian Hoeneß his job. The club yearns to return to the most successful times in the club’s history, when Julian Nagelsmann led TSG to the Champions League twice in a row just over five years ago. Andre Breitenreiter was signed as the hope for the future. The coach comes from Zurich with the Swiss championship behind him and is expected to lead Hoffenheim back to higher table regions.
Disappointing start in Gladbach
However, TSG have made a mess of the start of the season. In the cup, the Blue and Whites struggled to reach the next round against regional league side Rödinghausen in extra time, and in the league they suffered a defeat at the start of the season. Hoffenheim made life difficult for themselves at Borussia Mönchengladbach when Posch was shown the red card after just 20 minutes. TSG even took the lead through Skov, but ultimately suffered a deserved 3-1 defeat after goals from Bensebaini, Thuram and Elvedi.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– Finished 9th in the Bundesliga last season.
– Last lost 1:3 against Gladbach
– Without European Cup participation for 2 seasons
Bochum Form & Balance Check
VfL Bochum are facing what is always a difficult second season after promotion. Last year, the then reigning second-division champions managed to keep their place in the league with 42 points, which meant 14th place and a full nine points ahead of the relegation places. Coach Thomas Reis’ team was able to rely on its home strength in front of its fanatical supporters. The style of play was also often that of a promoted team. Bochum relied on a compact defence, and when they won the ball, they always counterattacked via their speedy wingers.
Onisiwo causes Bochum defeat
However, this approach to the game once again revealed its major disadvantage in the league opener last weekend. In the home match against Mainz 05, VfL faced an opponent who was happy to let the hosts have possession of the ball. Against deep-standing teams, Bochum is nowhere near as creative and dangerous, as there are hardly any spaces to counterattack. Thus, the Blue-Whites only managed one goal, which resulted from a slipped cross by newcomer Kevin Stöger. Mainz, on the other hand, scored twice in the person of Karim Onisiwo and went on to take a 2-1 away win.
Bochum facts & analysis
– Finished 14th in the Bundesliga last season.
– Last lost 1:2 against Mainz
– Won 3-0 against fourth-division Viktoria Berlin in cup
Predicted line-up – last update on 11 August 2022
Andre Breitenreiter is slowly running out of centre-backs. Hübner is injured again, Posch is also suspended. The newcomers Kabak and Nsoki can therefore continue to hope for playing time. It will also be interesting to see whether Angelino, who was brought in as a substitute, will start or whether the recently convincing Skov will keep his place.
On the other hand, Thomas Reis could put the error-prone Masovic on the bench and bring in Lampropoulos or newcomer Heintz. The rest of the team seems to be set. On the left side of defence, Janko will probably have to help out as a right-back, as both left-backs Stafylidis and Horn are missing.
Welcome to the professional squad, Mo 🤝
Only a few days after his BL debut, Muhammed Damar will from now on be a permanent part of the professional squad of TSG Mo had moved to the Kraichgau from Eintracht Frankfurt’s U19 in the summer and has signed a contract here until 2026.
– TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) August 10, 2022
Hoffenheim – Bochum direct comparison & Statistics
This match between Hoffenheim and Bochum has been played six times so far, always in the Bundesliga. There has never been a draw between the two teams. Hoffenheim have won two games, while Bochum have won four. Last season, both duels went to the VfL.
The most common result between TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum is 1-2. 3 matches have ended like this.
– Last season VfL Bochum won both matches against TSG Hoffenheim (2-0 at home and 2-1 away).
– The average number of goals scored in a meeting between TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum is 2.4.
– The average number of goals scored in the first half in matches between TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum is 0.8.
– Both teams lost in their Bundesliga opener.
