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Hoffenheim return home to the SNP Arena for the first time in a fortnight as they welcome a struggling Schalke side for a tasty Bundesliga clash.
The hosts are in the midst of a slump and are looking to snap their three-match winless run.
Schalke, on the other hand, are not only second-bottom in the standings, but they are also starved of goals, with the side looking to rattle the net for the first time since early October.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Hoffenheim vs. Schalke key stats
- Hoffenheim have lost five of their first eight Bundesliga matches for the first time ever.
- Schalke have failed to score in 420 minutes of football.
- Hoffenheim are looking to keep successive Bundesliga clean sheets for the first time in five years.
- Schalke are the third team this century to go scoreless in six of their opening eight games of a top-flight season.
Hoffenheim vs. Schalke preview: Lack of consistency against a lack of goals
Hoffenheim vs Schalke — Tale of the Tape
| Hoffenheim | vs | Schalke |
|---|---|---|
| 13th | Position | 17th |
| 9 | Points | 6 |
| 14 | Goals For | 4 |
| 16 | Goals Against | 9 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
| 11th (H) | Home / Away Rank | 7th (A) |
Hoffenheim head into Sunday’s game on the back of a three-match winless run – a series they came very close to snapping last Thursday night.
A goal up and a man up heading into stoppage time, the Kraichgauer seemed destined to pick up three big Europa League points against Crystal Palace, only to concede a late equaliser.
Head coach Christian Ilzer has a lot of credit in the bank having taken Hoffenheim to new heights, though even he is under a bit of pressure after leading his side to five defeats from their opening eight Bundesliga matches – something that the club has never previously experienced in the top tier.
There is some good news for Hoffenheim, with the club enjoying back-to-back 3-0 wins at home – the first against Lyon in the Europa League, and later against Bayer Leverkusen.
Ilzer’s men will now be setting their sights on their third successive home clean sheet as they look to move up the Bundesliga standings, though that may prove easier said than done given the hosts will be without Vladimir Coufal and Adam Hlozek.
When it comes to Schalke, their problem can be summed up in one word: goals.
The Konigsblauen have failed to find the back of the net in four straight games, while the total time on the pitch without a goal has reached a massive 420 minutes.
Without goals, Schalke have not been able to win games, and are currently on a six-match winless run.
Head coach Miron Muslic survived a confidence vote during the week, despite his team only managing seven shots on target across their last five Bundesliga matches.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Schalke may have to turn to 40-year-old veteran Edin Dzeko for goals.
The former Bosnian international tends to come off the bench nowadays, though he could find himself in the starting lineup on Sunday. Should he score, he would become the oldest goalscorer in Bundesliga history.
Hoffenheim vs. Schalke form guide & betting tips
| Hoffenheim | vs | Schalke |
|---|---|---|
LLWWL |
Form | DLLDL |
| 6 | Points | 2 |
| 12th | Form Table | 18th |
| 8 | Goals For | 1 |
| 9 | Goals Against | 5 |
DLLDL |
Form (All Comps) | LLDLL |
Whispers predicts: Hoffenheim 2-0 Schalke
Both teams to score – no at 3/2 is the first bet that comes to mind when looking at Schalke’s dreadful goalscoring form.
Staying on the subject of goals, the under 2.5 goals market at 8/5 also deserves consideration, given it has landed across Schalke’s last four games.
With the visitors struggling and Hoffenheim determined to shake off their inconsistent start, backing the hosts to win at 3/5 is another bet that will get a lot of eyeballs.
For those looking to find more value, Hoffenheim to win 2-0 in the correct score market is available at 9/1. Schalke have lost their last two games by that exact scoreline.
> Both teams to score – no at 3/2 | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 8/5 | Likelihood: Possible
> Hoffenheim to win at 3/5 | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score 2-0 at 9/1 | Likelihood: Outsider