On Friday night, Hoffenheim have the chance to temporarily move up to second place in the German Bundesliga table when they visit struggling Koln.
Koln (Odds of 31/20 for victory)
The home side has endured a difficult Bundesliga campaign so far. Achim Beierlorzer’s team are currently 17th place in the table after taking just seven points from their opening ten league games. The good news for the home side is that a win would at least temporarily see them climb out of the relegation zone.
The problem for Koln is that they head into this clash on the back of five defeats in their last seven Bundesliga outings, including losing their last two league games against Mainz and last time out Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Keeping the opposition out has been another problem for the home side of late, as they have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Bundesliga matches dating back to March.
Koln’s recent home form has not helped them collect points in the Bundesliga, as they have won once on home soil in seven games. A 3-0 win over Paderborn in their last home match in the Bundesliga ended a four-game losing streak at home in the German top-flight.
Hoffenheim (Odds of 31/20 for victory)
After initial teething problems following the summer exit of coaching prodigy Julian Nagelsmann, the visitors have now hit their stride under new head coach Alfred Schreuder.
In fact, Hoffenheim have now won their last four games in the Bundesliga, scoring at least two goals in all four of the victories. The latest team to suffer at the hands of the visitors were Paderborn, who were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat at PreZero Arena.
Their good form has moved the visitors up to ninth-place in the table. However, the league table is that congested that incredibly a victory would move Hoffenheim up to second place, at least before the other Bundesliga games. Even if it were only temporary it would show that the visitors are moving in the right direction in the Bundesliga.
Hoffenheim are unbeaten in four away games in the German top-flight, having recorded victories in their last two away matches at Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. Their recent away games in the Bundesliga have been relatively high-scoring affairs, with over 2.5 goals scored in six of their last nine matches on their travels.
The visitors are unbeaten in six Bundesliga meetings with Koln, having won three of the last four games. Hoffenheim have also scored at three goals in all three of those recent victories without reply.
Conclusion
Hoffenheim will head into this clash in confident mood and expecting to record a fifth straight league victory. All is not yet lost for Koln this season and they still have plenty of time to mount a revival. However, it looks doubtful that their revival will start on Friday night.
We are backing the away win at odds of 31/20, as the momentum is with the visitors at the minute. The over 2.5 goals at odds of 4/7 seems a decent bet too considering the team’s respective recent displays.
Verdict: Back the away win at odds of 31/20 and/or the over 2.5 goals scored at odds of 4/7. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Will Hoffenheim continue their fine recent form at Koln?
