TSG Hoffenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach
Rhein-Neckar Arena
Friday, 19th February 2010 – kickoff 20:30

TSG Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim were surprisingly defeated 2-1 by the lower side of Vfl Bochum last week which had continued their poor form.

Now the team has only one win in the last nine league matches which puts them in the 11th place with 28 points and eight points behind the Europe places which is their main goal to achieve this season.

The Brazilian Luis Gustavo was sent off in the last week`s match and got a three match suspension for the red card. He will be unavailable for the important matches, besides Monchengladbach, against Hertha Berlin and Mainz.

Hoffenheim will also miss few other first team regulars like Sejad Salihovic (suspension), Andreas Beck and Chinedu Obasi who are injured, and have joined Franco Zuculini (shin) and Andreas Ibertsberger (thigh) on the treatment table.

Coach Ralf Ragnick usually uses three strikers up front but due to Luis Gustavo suspension, the team will start with two strikers up front in Vedad Ibisevic and Demba Ba.

Probable TSG Hoffenheim line-up :
Hildebrand,
Ibertsberger, Simunic, Compper, Eichner,
Vukcevic, Carlos Eduardo, Vorsah, Maicosuel,
Ibisevic, Ba

Borussia Monchengladbach

Borussia Monchengladbach plays above expectations this season as they are in the top half of the table with 28 points, same as their opponents Hoffenheim.

However,they have been poor while playing away recently as they have picked up just one point from their last four away matches.

Last weekend they have won against FC Nurnberg which puts them in more comfortable position and moved them further away from the bottom. Monchengladbach are now eleven points clear from the relegation zone.

The team plays counter-attacking football and their results in the second part of the season are balanced and not so bad with two wins, two defeats and one draw.

The team mainly depends on their inspirational striker Raul Bobadilla but he will not have as much space and he will have to battle against the very good and experienced defender Josip Simunic.

The team has some very good strikers at the bench like Rob Friend and Karim Matmour who came in as substitutes last week and produced the win against Nurnberg, so they will again pose a serious threat to Hoffenheim`s goal.

Long term injured players Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker (foot tendonitis) and Christian Dorda (ruptured tendon) will again miss this match.

Probable Borussia Monchengladbach line-up :
Bailly,
Levels, Brouwers, Dante, Daems,
Reus, Meeuwis, Bradley, Arango,
Colautti, Bobadilla

The Betting Verdict

Hoffenheim got promoted in the Bundesliga in the season 2007/08 together with their opponents Monchengladbach and interesting fact is that they have never lost a match against them in the Bundesliga and in the second divison as well.

Hoffenheim have won all five previous match-ups and are favorites in this match too. In the first duel this season between these sides, Hoffenheim won at Borussia Park 4-2 after being down 2-0.

But now Monchengladbach plays much better and Hoffenheim are in decline which gives more hope for the visitors.

With the way Monchengladbach are playing at the moment and having in mind that they are not under pressure i think that they can cause a small upset here. Although the tradition is clearly on Hoffenheim side, Monchengladbach are very dangerous recently, they have four very fast strikers which can cause big problems for the slower Hoffenheim defense.

If Monchengladbach scores first then they will probably hold back and wait which will open more space to the hosts. Monchengladbach will surely be more satisfied if this match ends in a draw and i predict that that would happen here in this tight encounter.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

TSG Hoffenheim 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Draw match(main bet)

or consider a double chance bet on Borussia Monchengladbach