On Wednesday, starting with 19:30, the Hoffenheim – Cologne match will be played, within the 28th round of the Bundesliga. In the tour, Hoffenheim won 2-1 in Cologne, through a penalty converted by Locadia in the 90 + 8 minute. Looking at the history of direct confrontations in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim is undefeated against Cologne in the previous 7 duels. In Sinsheim, the hosts won the last two live matches 6-0 and 4-0.
Hoffenheim started the return with two victories in the first three stages, but did not win by 7 matches. The team coached by Alfred Schreuder alternates the draws with the defeats and comes after a draw obtained in Paderborn, score 1-1. Due to this modest course, Hoffenheim is only on the 9th place, with 36 points, but there are still chances at the European cups. Admittedly, the distance from the sixth position occupied by Wolfsburg is only 3 points. Regarding the official statistics, the only categories where TSG 1899 excels this season are possession (5th place) and completed passes (5th place).
Cologne managed to get a draw in extremes last round, returning from 0-2 to 2-2 with the unpredictable Dusseldorf. “Tapii” missed a penalty, but the successes came only in the 88th and 91st minutes. Thanks to the point won, Cologne maintains its 10th position to the detriment of Hertha, with 34 points, but benefits from a superior goal difference. Markus Gisdol’s team impresses on their own field, but away they received 29 goals, only Mainz, Augsburg and Frankfurt receiving more. However, Cologne has scored 19 times in 13 away stages, a decent record this season.
In return, Cologne is a specialist in “both scores” matches, meeting 7 such results, of which the last 4 in a row.
Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kaderabek, Posch, Hübner (c), Zuber – Rudy, Grillitsch – Skov, Geiger, Baumgartner – Dabbur
Absent: Belfodil, Kramaric
Coach: Alfred Schreuder
Koln: Horn – Ehizibue, Bornauw, Leistner, Katterbach – Skhiri, Hector (c) – Kainz, Uth, Jakobs – Cordoba
Absent: Laughs
Coach: Markus Gisdol
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,49
