Hoffenheim vs Red Star Belgrade
22nd October 2000hrs
Football – Germany – Europa League
Pick Hoffenheim to win to nil
Bookmaker Boylesports
Odds: 6/4 odds taken 04:38 GMT, Tuesday, 20th October
German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim will be aiming to secure a positive first step in the group stage of this season’s Europa League.
It’s home advantage to them on match day one as they face Serbian side Red Star.
It will be interesting to see what the visiting Serbians can come up with on the night. The bookmakers have them as overwhelming underdogs.
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Hoffenheim Preview – Germans to take a comfortable win?
Hoffenhemi finished sixth in last season’s Bundesliga and got back to European action after a one-year absence only.
To kick off their group stage campaign in the Europa League, they face Serbian champions Red Star on Thursday.
Hoffenheim are the 2/5 odds-on favourites for the match win* (odds taken 04:38 GMT, Tuesday, 20th October).
They will just be looking to steady the ship a bit after having lost their last two fixtures.
Those were both 1-goal margin losses in the German top flight against Eintracht Frankfurt and then Borussia Dortmund.
They were surprise setbacks because at the end of September, Hoffenhemim hammered Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Bundesliga.
Four of the five games that Hoffenheim have been in have evolved in this season and have made it over 2.5 goals.
This Europa League fixture to go the same way is at 4/7* (odds taken 04:38 GMT, Tuesday, 20th October).
The Bundesliga side came straight into the group stage of the competition, so this is their first step in Europe this season.
This will be their first ever game against Serbian opposition.
It is just the second time that Hoffenheim have been in the group stage of this competition.
On their debut in 2017/18, they finished bottom of their section, as they did in the following season in the Champions League.
Hoffenheim has a trend going, however. They have hit the back of the net in all 14 of their clubs’ previous European fixtures.
However, the downside to that trend is that they have won only one of those 14 and have lost eight.
The home record of Hoffenheim in Europe is W1 D2 L4.
Red Star Belgrade Preview – Can Red Star make an impact?
It was in the UEFA Champions League that Red Star began their European adventures this season.
But that ended in the third qualifying round against Cypriot team Omonoia.
But Red Star made the most of their chance in the Europa League play off, beating Ararat-Armenia.
This is the fourth season in a row that Red Star have been in the group stage of UEFA competition.
On their debut season in the Europa League, they qualified for the knockouts.
That was in the 2017/18 campaign when they finished runners up in their section to Arsenal.
Red Star were then eliminated in the round of sixteen.
For Thursday’s Europa League football betting, Red Star Belgrade are 6/1 underdogs* (odds taken 04:38 GMT, Tuesday, 20th October).
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Red Star Belgrade have some form behind them this season in all competitions.
Their new domestic season started back in early August, so they have had plenty of match time under their belt.
The Serbians are W13 D2 in all games (90 minutes) this season. So they can’t be knocked there.
But of course, the level of opposition just skyrocketed for this one.
Red Star have conceded in each of their last six away games in the main draw of European competition.
The reading gets worse as they have conceded 27 goals in those six road fixtures.
In response, they came up with two of their own goals only in that sequence.
Hoffenheim vs Red Star Belgrade Betting Advice
We are going to side with Hoffenheim putting a comfortable victory on the board at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Red Star have been poor on the road in the last couple of European seasons and there is just no reasonable way to back them to get through this unscathed.
We don’t actually see them getting on the scoresheet on the night either.
A Hoffenheim to win to nil option is solid at 6/4* (odds taken 04:38 GMT, Tuesday, 20th October).
Key Facts – Hoffenheim vs Red Star Belgrade Betting Tip
- Hoffenheim have only won 1 of 14 previous European fixtures
- Hoffenheim have scored in all 14 of their previous European fixtures
- Red Star Belgrade have conceded 27 goals in their last 6 away games in the main draw of a UEFA competition
Another statistic to throw out there is that Red Star have won just four of 14 previous away games against German teams.
Shoving things out a little further in the search for bigger value a Hoffenheim 2-0 has plenty of appeal in the correct score market 7/1* (odds taken 04:38 GMT, Tuesday, 20th October)..
The best betting odds for Hoffenheim vs Red Star Belgrade
Hoffenheim to win: 2/5 at Bet365
Draw: 15/4 at Bet365
Red Star Belgrade to win: 6/1 at Bet365
