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TSG Hoffenheim – Bayer Leverkusen
Bundesliga fans were able to enjoy the round of 16 in the DFB-Pokal during the week and in the coming days, the focus goes back to the league. The clash between TSG Hoffenheim and Werkself Leverkusen will take place on Saturday at 15:30. What we think about this match in detail, you can read in our Hoffenheim – Leverkusen tip.
If we take a closer look at the Bundesliga table before this matchday, we see TSG Hoffenheim sliding deeper and deeper into crisis. Hoffenheim are currently only in 14th place and TSG have been waiting for a win for weeks. On the last matchday, they suffered a heavy 2:5 defeat in Bochum and the dismissal of coach Breitenreiter was the logical consequence. The upcoming opponents from Leverkusen also suffered a setback on the last matchday. At FCA, Leverkusen lost 0:1.
Hoffenheim – Leverkusen Info:
– Date & Time: 11.02.2023, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: PreZero Arena, Sinsheim
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 20
– TV broadcast: Sky
Hoffenheim Form & Balance Check
In the end, it was only a matter of time before TSG pulled the ripcord. Hoffenheim drew a line under the personnel matter of André Breitenreiter after last weekend’s 2:5 at VfL Bochum. The former coach of Hannover 96 and FC Schalke 04 had only arrived from Zurich before the season and he was supposed to lead TSG back into calmer waters.
After a strong start to the season (in fourth place after eight matchdays), not much came together in the last weeks and months. TSG has now waited nine games for a win. The lead over the relegation places is only three points and in the current condition, there is little hope for improvement.
Matarazzo the new strong man
Following Breitenreiter’s dismissal, countless names were bandied about the TSG office. In the end, those responsible decided on Pellegrino Matarazzo. The former head coach of VfB Stuttgart is to lead Hoffenheim back on track. His first task will be to get the team back on track. The defence is and remains Hoffenheim’s Achilles’ heel. Last weekend, too, they conceded goals far too easily. Hoffenheim conceded a whopping 26 goals in the last nine games. After Bochum and Schalke, TSG has the third weakest defence in the league.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– 19 points from 19 games
– Last lost 2:5 in Bochum
– No win in 9 games
Leverkusen form & balance check
If we are honest, two defeats in a row at the Werkself from Leverkusen were not necessarily to be expected. Bayer first lost 0:2 against the black and yellows from Dortmund and then also with 0:1 at FCA. Last Friday’s result against Augsburg in particular made it clear that coach Xabi Alonso still has a lot of work to do.
Bayer’s problem in the last two games was clearly the offensive. It was already clear against Dortmund that there is not much going on in the Werkself’s attack at the moment. Against FCA, there was virtually nothing going on offensively. As a result of the defeat, Bayer continues to find itself in the grey midfield. With 24 points, the gap to sixth place is already ten points.
Does B04 get their foot in the door?
If Leverkusen want to make another attack on the international places, then they must win without any ifs or buts next Saturday. Also due to the fact that the Werkself’s direct competitors are also busy scoring, a three-point win would be immensely important. Against FCA, it was particularly noticeable that there was a lack of solutions in the final third. Patrik Schick is sorely missed, especially in the centre of the attack, where he can sometimes tie up balls. Hlozek is much more a player who needs the balls into space. Wirtz, after his place on the bench against FCA, will start from the beginning again next Saturday.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
– 24 points from 19 games
– Last lost 0:1 at FCA
– Last two games lost
Predicted line-up – last update on 9 February 2023
New coach Matarazzo will be eagerly hoping for Vogt to be called up. Should the centre-back not be fit in time, Brooks could play in the centre in his place. Bebou and Kramaric will again play as the front line in attack. All in all, we can expect a rather defensively oriented TSG eleven. Among others, TSG had to do without Bruun Larsen and Prömel. Both will probably be missing for a while.
Leverkusen are likely to play in a 4-3-3. Wirtz, who was spared against Augsburg and was only used as a wild card, will start in the centre of the attack. A comeback of Patrick Schick, who has been injured for a long time, is also possible. The Czech is back in the squad for the first time.
Hoffenheim – Leverkusen direct comparison & Statistics
The direct comparison between TSG from Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen clearly goes to Bayer 04. Leverkusen won 16 of the 30 games. In addition, there are six draws and eight victories for TSG. Hoffenheim won the first leg quite clearly with 3:0.
– TSG Hoffenheim last lost 3 games in a row
– The average of goals scored in a meeting between TSG Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen is 3.6
– The winner of the last meeting was TSG Hoffenheim
– With 4 red cards Bayer Leverkusen leads the sin chart in the Bundesliga
