Hoffenheim vs Bochum Prediction & Betting Tips (13 August)

Last season, Hoffenheim did not really shine in this German championship. As often, the TSG showed far too much irregularity to hope to appear well in the classification and to seize a place in the European Cup and, in the end, it had to settle for 9th place in the Bundesliga. Victorious against Astoria Walldorf 0-4, Heidenheim 2-0 and Puskas FC Academy 2-0 before drawing Salernitana 2-2 in their preparation, Andrei Kramaric's partners finally managed to get rid of Rödinghausen 0-2 aet in the Cup. On the other hand, they suffered the lightning of Borussia Mönchengladbach last week. Quite quickly reduced to 10, they had nevertheless opened the scoring before exploding in the 2nd half 3-1. Bochum, for its part, will have to confirm after a successful first exercise last year within the elite after more than ten years of absence at the highest level.

Indeed, the VFL was able to take 13th place in the standings with a fairly comfortable lead of 9 points over the barrage. It will therefore not be easy for this formation to do as well, especially since it will no longer benefit from the element of surprise with its opponents. After a relatively serious summer preparation, the Blues did the job in the Cup against Viktoria Berlin 0-3. On the other hand, they were defeated at the end of the game at home by Mainz 1-2, the fault in particular of too many clumsiness in the last gesture.

Among the locals, the Austrian Grillitsch and the Norwegian defender Nordveit, often relegated to the bench, were not retained. On loan from Bayern last year, full-back Chris Richards joined Crystal Palace and neo-international David Raum gave in to the sirens of Leipzig. In the opposite direction, note the arrival of interesting Prömel (Union Berlin, 9 goals last year), defenders Kabak (Schalke 04), Quaresma and Nsoki (Club Bruges, Nice, PSG) and midfielder Ole Becker (St Pauli ). Finally, this week, the excellent piston Angelino arrived from Leipzig. Up front, the young tricolor Rutter revealed himself last year with his 8 goals ahead of the interesting Bebou (7 goals) and Baumgartner (7 goals). On the other hand, the TSG will be deprived for this match of the striker Bebou precisely, of the substitute defenders Bicakcic and Hübner and of the rather promising midfielders Stiller and Geiger, all injured. Finally, Austrian defender Posch will be suspended after being sent off on Matchday 1.

Last week, it was the Danish striker Skov who found the fault on a good serve from Kramaric. Bella-Kotchap (Southampton) while his friend Maxim Leitsch is leaving for Mainz. To this we add that Polter (Schalke 04), the important Milos Pantovic (Union Berlin) and the blasters Rexhbecaj (Augsburg) and Locadia (free) have also set sail. On the other hand, Forster (Stuttgart), Goralski (Kairat Almaty), Horn (Cologne), Hofman (Karlsruher), Osei-Tutu (Arsenal), Stöger (Mainz) or even Ordets (Dynamo Moscow) arrived to try to compensate for these many departures. As on the 1st day, defenders Oermann and Soares should still be forfeited for this meeting.