TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – 1.FC Köln
While the DFB Cup quarter-finals were played during the week, the Bundesliga is back on the agenda this weekend. Some exciting duels await us on this 21st matchday. The weekend will be rounded off on Sunday afternoon with Hoffenheim v Cologne, two clubs who are no longer represented in the cup and have therefore been able to make full use of the week to prepare for this encounter. You can find out who will win in this game in our Hoffenheim – Cologne betting tip.
Hoffenheim are in desperate need of another win if they are to stay in contention for the international places. Last weekend, they drew 2-2 against VfL Wolfsburg in a lively game.
Cologne picked up a hugely important win against Frankfurt Eintracht on the last matchday. In doing so, the team sent out a signal to the competition in the relegation battle and was able to improve its starting position somewhat. It remains to be seen whether FC will manage to get the better of the next European Cup contender this weekend as well
Hoffenheim – Cologne info
- Date & Time: 11.02.2024, 17:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
- Competition: Bundesliga, matchday 21
Hoffenheim Form & Balance Check
TSG cannot be satisfied with their record in recent matches. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team are still waiting for their first win in 2024 and have picked up just two points from their last four games. That is not enough for a team that wants to play internationally next year. The gap to sixth place has already increased to five points and Hoffenheim must be careful not to lose touch with Freiburg and Frankfurt. TSG have the chance to turn things around in the next two weeks, as they face two opponents from the bottom of the table in Cologne and Union Berlin.
Defense constantly in transition
One of the Kraichgauers’ current problems is their fragile defense. TSG have conceded nine goals in their last four games and there has only been one competitive match this season where they have kept a clean sheet. One reason for this is the constant rotation of the back line, which coach Matarazzo does not always do voluntarily. This weekend, for the third time in a row, the coach will have to make changes at the back due to a yellow card suspension, with John Anthony Brooks serving a ban this time after Ozan Kabak and Florian Grillitsch had to sit out once each in the previous matches. It remains difficult to bring a well-coordinated defense onto the pitch
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
- Eighth place in the table
- Drawn twice recently
- No win yet this year
Cologne Form & Balance Sheet Check
Cologne have shown after the winter break that they are ready to take on the relegation battle. Cologne have only lost once in their last four games and have otherwise picked up two draws and one win. FC are currently in the relegation places in the table, two points behind Union Berlin, who are in 15th place. The difference between them and the bottom two teams, Mainz and Darmstadt, is four points.
In Frankfurt, coach Timo Schultz’s team put in an extremely focused performance and were rewarded in the second half with goals from Faride Alidou and Jan Thielmann to secure a deserved 2:0 win
Carnival not a good forecast
Naturally, there is a state of emergency in the Rhineland this weekend, as the 5th season is upon the people of Cologne. Traditionally, the Billy Goats wear a special carnival version of their jersey this weekend and celebrate with their fans after the game. In recent years, however, FC have come up short in their carnival games, with just two wins from their last 20 Bundesliga matches on the carnival weekend. So it’s not a good omen when Cologne face Hoffenheim on the day before Shrove Monday
Cologne facts & analysis
- 16th place in the table
- Last game won
- Scored in both away games since the winter break
The Hoffenheim team line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Grillitsch returns to the starting eleven in defense for the suspended Brooks. We expect Marius Bülter to start on the wing. Umut Tohumcu and Robert Skov would also be options for Hoffenheim’s midfield.
Cologne play in a 4-3-3 system and have little reason to rotate due to their good performances in recent games. We expect the two goalscorers from the last game, Alidou and Thielmann, as well as Dejan Ljubičić to start in the front three. Should coach Schultz want to make a change in attack, Sargis Adamyan is available
Hoffenheim – Cologne head-to-head & stats
30 duels have already been played between Hoffenheim and Cologne. The Kraichgauers lead the direct comparison with 14 wins, while the Rhinelanders have won nine times. However, the balance from the last three meetings is even, with both teams winning one match each and one match ending in a draw. The first historical encounter took place in 2002. In the second round of the DFB Cup, Cologne clearly won 5:1.
Direct comparison (H2H)
