With the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim one is not only proud of the professional team in these days, but also on the offspring. The U19 of the Kraichgauer has the chance to make history at the weekend and become the first German team to win the UEFA Youth League. On Friday the blue and white meet in the semifinals on the A youth of FC Porto. In a possible final, coach Marcel Rapp’s squad would face either reigning defending champion Barcelona or Chelsea on Monday in Nyon. The licensing team is meanwhile called on Sunday afternoon in the Bundesliga. The protégés of Julian Nagelsmann have in the fight for Europe from 14:30 clock a home game against VfL Wolfsburg in front of the chest.
The favorites role in the duel between Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg goes according to the odds quite clearly to the home side, which won four consecutive times and, similar to last year, are in outstanding late form. The guests from the car city, however, brought only four points in the past four matchdays and therefore suffered a setback in the race for an international starting position. Although the gap to seventh, which is also safe for the Europa League since the finals of the Cup final between Bayern and Leipzig, is only two points, a Green-White success would be very important for the 31st matchday. In our eyes in the duel Hoffenheim against Wolfsburg, however, a forecast on a tip in favor of the host seems to be the wiser and more rational decision.
Hoffenheim:
At TSG Hoffenheim, memories of the past season are coming up in these days and weeks. Almost exactly a year ago, the Kraichgauer played in the final stages of the season into a veritable intoxication and qualified themselves thanks to seven victories in the last ten matchdays actually in third or even for the Champions League. Third place is currently out of reach, but the fight for position four, the team of coach Julian Nagelsmann has not given up. The gap to Eintracht Frankfurt amounts to a meager three points and also has the TSG currently the better goal difference against the Europa League semi-finalists. Borussia Mönchengladbach in fifth also has realistic chances of a place in the group stage of the premier class 2019/2020. True to the old stock market wisdom “The trend is your friend” but it is the Sinsheimer who are currently in the fast lane.
The latest four matches have all been victorious for Andrej Kramaric and Co. in the highest German league. Overall, 1899 brought 16 out of a possible 18 points in the past six matchdays. Above all, the way we were impressed, however, because in total, the Kraichgauer in the course of the ongoing winning streak 15 hits, almost four goals per game.
All four matches were also won with at least two goals difference. In fact, in five of the seven home matches of the “nail men” in the current season bets on the handicap success (-1.5) of the home side were crowned with success. As a result, it also makes sense on Sunday to make a bet between Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg that the formidable troupe from the Rhein-Neckar region will again land a sovereign threesome.
Joelinton, Hack and Geiger are missing because of injuries. Kerem Demirbay is suspended because of his fifth yellow card. For the central midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt could slip into the starting lineup. Otherwise, the future Leipzig coach Nagelsmann has no specific reason to change his well-rehearsed formation. The offensive hopes rest on the weekend again on the top duo Kramaric / Belfodil, which together already marked 31 goals, 21 of them in the 13 rounds of play, in which the TSG incidentally already collected as many counters (25) as in the entire Hinserie.
Wolfsburg:
The leaders of VfL Wolfsburg and probably also the new coach Oliver Glasner will have watched with satisfaction during the two semi-final games of the DFB Cup. Thanks to the victories of RB Leipzig against HSV and Bayern against Werder Bremen is now fixed that even the seventh-placed in the current Bundesliga season will be represented internationally in the upcoming round. This fortunate circumstance raises the chances of VfL Wolfsburg to reappear on the European stage for the first time since 2015/2016. Currently, however, the team of outgoing coach Bruno Labbadia ranks in ninth place. With currently two points behind it needs an outstanding finish to Bremen, Leverkusen or even Hoffenheim catch up. However, in the important final phase of this season, the wolves miss the necessary effectiveness. On Monday night, the Green-Whites were the better and superior team at home against Eintracht Frankfurt for much of the game, but in the end it was just a 1-1 draw thanks to a last-minute strike by John Anthony Brooks.
In the past, there was less reason to celebrate. The latest three away games in Munich (0: 6), Leipzig (0: 2) and Dortmund (0: 2) were lost respectively. The car drivers remained completely without their own goal, but conceded a rich ten goals. Over the entire season, the record on opposing seats with seven wins, two draws and six bankruptcies can still be seen.
Four of the six away games came with more than one goal difference. In our opinion, it is quite likely that the fifth handicap defeat will follow on Sunday afternoon, as the last VfL goal in Kraichgau was scored by a certain Ivica Olic in September 2014. The Niedersachsen were scoreless in the last three appearances in the PreZero Arena. This is another argument to win in the duel against Hoffenheim. Wolfsburg to examine the quotas in favor of the Sinsheimer closer. Casteels, Camacho and Stefaniak are not available for injury. The use of the ailing Rousillon remains questionable. His back-up on the left back, William, is in our eyes the big weakness of the VfL defense.
