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The Bundesliga bosses have scheduled a high-stakes encounter for Saturday’s main event slot as Hamburger SV welcome Hoffenheim to the Volksparkstadion for a fixture with huge implications at both ends of the league.
Having won just one of their last nine matches, Hamburg are once again fighting against the drop, with the club sitting just five points above the relegation playoff spot.
Hoffenheim, on the other hand, are chasing Champions League qualification and need a big victory to keep pace with their rivals.
Check out our prediction, preview and betting tips, including the latest odds. If you want more, make sure to visit our ‘Today’s Betting Tips’ page for more expert predictions.
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Hamburger SV vs Hoffenheim key stats
- Hamburg have won 21 of their 31 points this season at the Volksparkstadion.
- Their last home victory came over two months ago, picking up two points in four games since then.
- Hoffenheim have equalled their club record of 16 wins in a single Bundesliga campaign.
- No team in the Bundesliga has a better record when scoring first than Hoffenheim.
Hamburger SV vs Hoffenheim: Huge stakes for both clubs
| Hamburger SV | vs | Hoffenheim |
|---|---|---|
| 14th | Position (Bundesliga) | 5th |
| 31 | Points | 54 |
| 33 | Goals For | 59 |
| 48 | Goals Against | 44 |
| 6 | Clean Sheets | 6 |
| 10th | Home Rank | 5th |
| 16th | Away Rank | 4th |
Hamburg rarely do things the easy way, and that is once again proving to be the case after a poor run of form has left the club within five points of the bottom three.
Things were not always this bad. Just a couple of months ago, Merlin Polzin’s men seemed destined for a quiet season finale as they capped off February with a six-match unbeaten run - a series of games which saw them climb into mid-table.
Hamburg’s defence is proving to be the real problem, with the team not only shipping 11 goals across their last four games but also struggling to keep all 11 men on the field.
Die Rothosen lead the competition with eight red cards this season, one of which was dished out to Philip Otele during last weekend’s defeat to Werder Bremen.
The Nigerian forward was not the only man to see red, as two members of the coaching staff were also sent away during a fiery encounter.
If all that was not enough, Hamburg have got a serious problem when it comes to giving away penalties, conceding five of them across their last five matches.
Polzin has a lot to ponder ahead of Saturday’s game, and a lengthy injury list will certainly not make his life easier.
As things stand, Luka Vuskovic, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Yussuf Poulsen, Jean-Luc Dompe, Miro Muheim and Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit are all out of action.
Hoffenheim are in much better shape when it comes to injuries, with the team only missing three names - two of whom have been out for the majority of the season.
Koki Machida and Adam Hlozek have only made four appearances between them this season, while Valentin Gendrey is a relatively new addition to the physio room.
With almost a fully fit squad at his disposal, Christian Ilzer and his men will be looking for a strong end to the season as they look to secure Champions League football.
Hoffenheim have only ever competed in the top European competition on one previous occasion, though with the team sitting just two points adrift of the top four, they still have a solid chance of fulfilling their continental aspirations.
Die Kraichgauer boosted their Champions League hopes last weekend with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Borussia Dortmund - a victory which was sealed by Andrej Kramaric’s 98th minute penalty.
That win not only inched Hoffenheim towards the top four, but it also equalled the club record for the number of Bundesliga wins in a single season.
With four matches still remaining, Ilzer’s men could yet go a lot further than their 16 victories, though there is no doubt that securing Champions League football is at the top of their agenda.
Hamburger SV vs Hoffenheim form guide & betting tips
| Hamburger SV | vs | Hoffenheim |
|---|---|---|
| D-L-D-L-L | Form | D-L-L-D-W |
| 2 | Points | 4 |
| 17th | Form Table | 14th |
| 5 | Goals For | 6 |
| 12 | Goals Against | 11 |
| D-L-D-L-L | Form (All Competitions) | D-L-L-D-W |
Whispers predicts: Hamburger SV 1-3 Hoffenheim
Hamburg appear to be imploding at a critical point in the season, and we expect Hoffenheim to take full advantage.
Die Kraichgauer are priced at 3/4 to win the match in the outright market, which is an excellent price given Hamburg’s recent struggles.
Both teams to score landed in five of the previous six matches at the Volksparkstadion, and the current odds on that same outcome are 47/100.
If you are looking for serious value, Hoffenheim are available at 12/1 to win the match 3-1 in the correct score market.
> Match Result - Hoffenheim at 3/4 | Likelihood: Probable
> Both teams to score at 47/100 | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct Score: Hamburger SV 1-3 Hoffenheim at 12/1 | Likelihood: Outsider