Paderborn vs TSG Hoffenheim Predictions

• Hoffenheim were unbeaten in nine of their last 11 Bundesliga away games.
• Under 2.5 goals were scored in five of their last six away matches.
• Hoffenheim have conceded fewer goals on the road than any other Bundesliga team this term.
• Paderborn failed to score in two of their last three fixtures.

Paderborn’s struggles continue

The Bundesliga’s bottom club Paderborn missed a huge chance to resurrect their slimmest of survival hopes last week, when they dropped points in a 0-0 draw at third last Fortuna Dusseldorf.

With an expected goals tally of just 0.64, Paderborn rarely looked like grabbing the goal they so desperately needed at the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA, though they did manage to keep things tight at the other end.

Paderborn, who have the Bundesliga’s second worst defensive record overall this term, had made improvements at the back before the German top-flight’s postponement in March, conceding two goals or less in five of their seven games before the pause button was pressed on the domestic season.

Their inability to produce consistent quality in the attacking third of the pitch continues to be a priority problem that manager Steffen Baumgart can’t seem to fix however, and we’re predicting Paderborn to struggle again in that regard this weekend.

Hoffenheim’s impressive away record

Their opponents, Hoffenheim were beaten for the 8^th time at home this season last week in a harrowing 0-3 reverse against Hertha Berlin.

Die Kraichgauer supporters are used to seeing their team come unstuck on their own patch, though having also witnessed their side avoid defeat in nine of their 12 matches on the road, they will travel to Dusseldorf with some confidence this week.

9^th placed Hoffenheim’s success on their away day excursions this season has been built on strong foundations at the back.

A record of conceding 1.0 goals per game on average gives Alfred Schreuder’s charges the best away defensive record in the entire Bundesliga, though their return of 16 goals at the other end simultaneously makes them one of the more toothless visiting teams in the division.

Few goals likely

Unsurprisingly, that combination of robust defending and unimaginative forward play has led to plenty of low scoring games. Under 2.5 goals hit the net in five of their last six Bundesliga away fixtures, and we expect their latest test at the Benteler-Arena to follow suit.

Paderborn are in the midst of a horrible four-game losing streak on their own patch, and we think Hoffenheim, who took maximum points in five of their last nine away games, have the tools to take advantage of their host’s plight, especially with the return from injury of top-scorer Andrej Kramaric.

Schreuder’s men lack the  overall attacking thrust to do real damage however, and having scored exactly once in each of their last two away contests, we think a single goal is about the limit of their capabilities again this week. With that considered, our predictions suggest Hoffenheim could eke out a 1-0 win.