TSG Hoffenheim vs Cologne Predictions

• Hoffenheim have lost each of their previous three home league matches.
• Cologne have notched 11 goals in their last three away wins in the Bundesliga.
• Both teams have scored in four of Hoffenheim’s previous six games.

Hoffenheim’s woeful run continues

Hoffenheim have failed to arrest their dip in Bundesliga form since the division’s restart and we’re predicting another defeat at home to Cologne.

The hosts were thumped 3-0 by Hertha Berlin and could only draw at basement boys Paderborn since the season’s resumption, extending their winless run in all competitions to eight matches.

They have lost five and drawn three of those assignments and defensive issues could return to haunt them at the PreZero Arena against Cologne.

Hosts plagued by defensive issues

After Kevin Akpoguma struggled against Hertha, it was Bosnian Ermin Bicakcic who was at fault when they conceded an equaliser against Paderborn last time out.

They have in fact not kept a clean sheet in their previous nine fixtures and have failed to keep one in any of their last 11 home matches. 

Hoffenheim have lost eight of their 14 home games in the Bundesliga this campaign, with only Werder Bremen (nine) and Paderborn (ten) having lost more, and a straight Cologne win could be the best punting strategy in this clash.

Promoted from Bundesliga 2 last season, the expectation was that the Billy Goats would struggle to stay up this season and they were on course for a relegation battle until mid-December.

Cologne dangerous after mid-season revival

They then went on a run of eight wins in 14 matches before the season’s hiatus to fly up the table and they now occupy a mid-table position.

They should have returned to Bundesliga action with victory over Mainz but relinquished their two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 last weekend.

They have nonetheless won three of their last five matches on the road, obliterating Hertha Berlin 5-0 and claiming the scalps of Eintracht Frankfurt and Paderborn. Their only defeats in that run came at Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach sides who are on course for a top-five berth at least and are far above the level of Hoffenheim.

Cologne look the bet to come out on top in this one given their turnaround in form but they have only kept one clean sheet in 13 league games on the road this season.

Their away matches have also featured an average of 3.69 goals with only Dortmund (3.71), Bayern Munich (4.00) and Mainz (4.23) having tallies and this could be a high-scoring encounter.

The reverse fixture in November finished 2-1 in Hoffenheim’s favour and backing a scoreline featuring over 2.5 goals, which Cologne’s last six away contests have featured, could be a good strategy. 

Three of Hoffenheim’s last five league defeats have been settled by a single goal and therefore a bet on Cologne to win 2-1 could be the way to go in terms of a correct score prediction.