German Bundesliga
2009-02-13 - TSG Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
Football: Germany, Bundesliga
Friday, 13th February 2009 - Kickoff 19:30
Hoffenheim (1st - Home Rec : 8-2-0 23:6)
The fairy-tale story from the village team continues with Hoffenhiem still sitting on top of the Bundesliga, despite a few recent wobbles.
The loss of Bosnian Vedad Ibisevic is obviously a big casue of the recent slips - he has 18 goals in the Bundesliga this season - and Nigerian Chinedu Obasi has six goals - so with both of them out goals are harder to find.
But Hoffenhiem will be supported by a capacity crowd of 30,000 who will pack into the new Rhein-Neckar Stadium for only its second Bundesliga game.
Last time the home support was good enough to see Hoffenheim beat Energie Cottbus 2-0 with both Demba Ba and Boubacar Sanogo scoring, so goals are still flowing at home.
Hoffenheim Team News :
Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand should be back after missing last week, and midfielder Carlos Eduardo should also return after finishing his suspension.
Obasi came on as a sub last week against Moenchengladbach but may once again be kept on the bench.
Leverkusen (5th - Away Rec : 5-2-2 19:12)
Bayer Leverkusen are challenging for a European place again this season and they're being helped by earning some good results away from home.
Leverkusen have scored in every away game this season, and have earned more points on the road than they have at home, a fact underlined by their 4-2 home loss to Stuttgart last weekend.
This post-Christmas slip happened last season to Leverkusen and cost former manager Michael Skibbe his job.
Leverkusen Team News :
Midfielder Arturo Vidal is suspended while Toni Kroos won't play as he is still some way from full fitness.
Probable Teams
Hildebrand;
Beck, Jaissle, Compper, Ibertsberger;
Luiz Gustavo, Weis, Salihovic, Carlos Eduardo;
Sanogo, Ba
Bayer Leverkusen :
Adler;
Castro, Friedrich, Sinkiewicz, Kadlec;
Zdebel;
Renato Augusto, Rolfes, Barnetta;
Kiessling, Helmes
Head to Head
Leverkusen thrashed Hoffenheim 5-2 in the reverse fixture, a result that seemed to kickstart the new boys season.
The Betting Verdict
The bookmakers and the betting public are opposing league leading Hoffenheim here, probably based on the loss of the two strikers and also the 1-1 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.
But Monchengladbach are always tough at home, and I'm not prepared to give up on a team that is still unbeaten at home and leads the league with 45 goals scored.
I make the home side favourites and around 55% likely to win this game and the prices of 2.30+ for League Leaders playing at home are well worth a shot.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Hoffenheim 2-1 Leverkusen
