Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich
Friday 18th January 1930hrs
Football – Germany – Bundesliga
Pick: Bayern Munich win and Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Ladbrokes
Odds: Evens (odds taken 22.00 GMT, Tuesday 15th January)
The Bundesliga returns from its winter break this weekend and it’s a stormer in prospect to welcome it back. The visitors have it all to do in the title race and have a tough match in store on Friday. Continue reading for a preview of Hoffenheim against Bayern Munich, with a selected best betting tip.
Bundesliga Betting at Ladbrokes
Hoffenheim Preview
Julian Nagelsmann has four months left in charge of Hoffenheim before he departs for RB Leipzig at the end of the season. It’s been an incredibly successful spell for the youngest coach in the top flight and he will be determined to finish his three-year reign on a high. Hoffenheim are seventh in the Bundesliga which is commendable considering they had Champions League football to contend with in the first half of the campaign, and in a tough group as well. Having been eliminated from Europe and the DFB Pokal, they can now devote all their attention to strong finish in the league and potentially challenging for a top four finish, which would mean qualification for the Champions League once again. Somewhat ironically they will be in direct competition with Nagelsmann’s future employers but their immediate concentration is on the visit of Bayern on Friday. Amazingly, Hoffenheim have drawn their last six league games, with their last Bundesliga defeat coming all the way back at the start of October. A win on Friday would see them climb up to fifth – at least for 24 hours – and back into the European places. With a gap of six points between themselves and Leipzig it’s also an opportunity to pressure that team, who host leaders Dortmund a day later.
League Cup Betting at Marathon Bet
Key-Facts – Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich
- Bayern Munich have the best away record in this year’s Bundesliga
- Hoffenheim will be out for revenge having lost 3-1 to Bayern back in August
- Five of Bayern’s last six away games have had three or more goals
Bayern Munich Preview
It’s hardly been the start that Niko Kovac had envisaged when assuming control of Bayern in the summer. His stock could barely have been higher after leading Eintracht Frankfurt to a famous cup win over his current club, but he’s failed to stamp his full authority and style on this group of players so far. A decidedly indifferent start to their league campaign has seen Bayern trail Dortmund for virtually the whole season and they come into the second half of it six points adrift in second spot. It could have been even worse had they not had a strong finish to 2018 where they won their last five matches and done so without conceding a goal. There have been some tough fixtures included within that spell of games including wins over Kovac’s former team and Leipzig. The tests continue to come for Bayern, however, and they know they will have to be at their best to continue that winning form on Friday. Just as Hoffenheim will be affected by events in Leipzig on Saturday, Bayern will also be equally so and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility the gap at the top could be three points come the end of the weekend.
Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich Betting Advice
Bayern won the first meeting of the season with Hoffenheim 3-1 at the Allianz Arena back in August. It was a game that was in the balance for long spells, though, and the hosts will be looking to get their opponents out their comfort zone with a fast start on Friday. It will be a big scalp if they were to get the win, Hoffenheim, as Bayern have the best away record in the league with seven wins from their nine matches. Only Dortmund and Hertha Berlin have got the better of them on their travels, so despite the struggles under Kovac, the away form has been of a usual high standard.
Hoffenheim have not won many at home this season, only three, but they don’t lose many either as Leipzig and Frankfurt are the only two visiting teams to have taken three points away with them. They have won their last two home games against Bayern, however, and have taken draws at home to Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach who reside in the top four.
The bet I am particularly keen on for this one is for there to be over 2.5 goals and Bayern Munich to win. It’s a selection that has won in five of Bayern’s last six away games in the league and the Bundesliga top scorers away from home can extend that, and come out firing after the winter break in defence of their title.
