RB Leipzig – Hoffenheim Prediction & Picks (21.04.2018)

RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim meet at Red Bull Arena, in a match for the 31st round of the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim won home (4-0) the last time they met in this league edition, on 02-12-2017. The history of recent direct confrontations between these two teams indicates total balance, since there was 1 draw and 1 win for each team in the last 3 matches. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since Hoffenheim presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.

RB Leipzig:

The home team is currently in the 5 th position of the league, with 47 points won, after 13 wins, 8 draws and 9 losses. In the penultimate match, they lost in a home match against Bayer Leverkusen, by (1-4). In the last match, they tied in an away match against Werder Bremen, by (1-1). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive level in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses in away matches; against 7 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses at their stadium. For the league, RB Leipzig won 15 points out of 30 possible points, after 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in the last 10 home matches. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 1-0 (6 out of 15 matches). The team has conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches for this competition there is a tendency for goals, since 10 of the last 15 matches have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 30 games played in this competition, he got the comeback in 4 of the 11 games in which he suffered the first goal.

The RB Leipzig, during its nine years of history, had as a major highlight the second place in the German Championship last season. In the current season, he continues to fight for the top positions and is currently four points behind the fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund. The main offensive characteristics of the RB Leipzig are flank attacks, long distance shots and defensive pressure on the opponent, while in the defense it has difficulties to protect its area from counterattacks. In the last six games of RB Leipzig playing at home, in five the opposing team scored goals. We believe that in this game the home team will maintain that pattern and make an open game, in which the two teams will have spaces to attack.

Hoffenheim:

The away team is currently in the 6 th position of the league, with 46 points won, after 12 wins, 10 draws and 8 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in an away match against Eintracht Frankfurt, by (1-1). In the last match, they won in a home match against Hamburger SV, by (2-0). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 2 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses in away matches; against 8 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses at their stadium. In the last 10 away league matches Hoffenheim has a record of 1 win, 4 draws and 5 losses, so they have won 7 points out of 30 possible. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have always scored at least one goal in the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 15 of the last 15 matches for this competition have ended with Over 1,5 goals. In 30 matches in this competition, they only won 1 comeback in the 8 matches they suffered the first goal.

Hoffenheim never won the title of the German championship, but this season, with the young coach Julian Nagelsmann, only 30 years old, the team has shown a good standard of play and occupies the sixth position, very close to the first classified: the second , the Schalke 04, is only nine points away. The Hoffenheim team has very strong points, such as the ability to create scoring opportunities, have players with enough skill and create many possibilities of completion. But in its defense it still has difficulties, because it does not manage to defend itself very well collectively, it has not managed to sustain counterattacks, even more when its adversaries have skillful players, and it is weak in aerial plays. All this leads us to believe that Hoffenheim will score goals, but will also suffer.