Here we have prepared for you a thorough analysis of two matches for the upcoming Bundesliga week 14 clashes that will take place on Saturday in Sinsheim and Mainz between home teams and their opponents from Leipzig and Augsburg.
We’ll continue our double-matchup previews with a couple of other interesting duels, more precisely the ones that will take place at Rhein-Neckar-Arena between the Blues from Sinsheim and the Bulls from Leipzig, and at Opel Arena between Mainz squad and FC Augsburg. The Hoffenheim team is coming off from a tough road trip against Hambuger SV (3:0), while RB Leipzig defeated Werder Bremen squad at Red Bull Arena last Saturday (2:0).
Mainz squad on the other side suffered a road loss at Schwarzwald Stadium against home Freiburg team (2:1) while Augsburg defeated Wolfsburg at home (2:1). Matchups are stacking up and so do our notable picks so let’s take a closer look and get some green into your pockets.
TSG Hoffenheim 1899 vs. RB Leipzig
Three-Way: 1: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 +227; X: +280 Draw; 2: RB Leipzig +137 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 -133; RB Leipzig +127
Total +3: Over -101; Under -102
TSG HOFFENHEIM 1899
Only one win in seven rounds that was recorded against rock-bottom FC Koln squad is the reality of the Hoffenheim team in last two months. When we add a disappointing appearance in the UEFA Europa League competition from which they got eliminated one round before the end of the group stage, we can conclude that something is seriously wrong with the team that had such a good season start (4-2-0 record in first six rounds).
The team currently ranks at No. 7 spot in the Bundesliga table with 20 points earned and 5-5-3 record (3-3-1 at home). Their goal difference is 21-18 (10-7 at home) and they’ve managed to score at least one goal in every single home soil matchup of the season. One-third of their overall goals scored came in the last 15 minutes of the match but only 29% of their home games had over 2.5 goals in total. On the other side, 38% of their overall matchups had over 3.5 goals in total while both teams scored in 57% of their home duels. Most common scores at home were 1:1 draw and 2:0 win (both occurred twice). Mark Uth tops the team in scoring with six goals while Sandro Wagner has four in his account. Andrej Kramaric collected team-high three assists so far.
Kevin Vogt (yellow cards suspension) is out on Saturday while Benjamin Hubner’s (knee) status is unknown.
RB Leipzig
The Red Bull Leipzig squad is putting everyone on notice with some great performances this season making their case as main title contenders along with defending champions Bayern Munich. The team has only one loss in last eight rounds in Bundesliga during which they recorded six wins. First ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League is also going relatively well as they have assured at least Europe League transfer and may advance to the knockout phase. The crucial matchup in this competition will take place during next midweek at home against Turkish side Besiktas.
The team is currently ranked at No. 2 spot in the Bundesliga table with 26 points, three less than the leader Bayern and two more than third-ranked Schalke 04 squad. They are 8-2-3 (3-1-3 on the road) and their goal difference is 22-15 (9-10 away). 54% of their overall duels had over 2.5 goals in total and they’ve managed to score two goals or more in each of their last three matchups. Both teams scored in 54% of Leipzig’s games and the most common score on the road was 2:0 loss (occurred twice). Timo Werner is the team’s leading scorer with seven goals while Marcel Sabitzer collected team-high three assists so far.
Marcel Sabitzer (shoulder) should be back by the end of the year while Marcel Halstenberg’s (thigh) and Kevin Kampl’s (ankle) status is unknown. Fabio Coltorti (muscle) is listed as day to day while Stefan Ilsanker is back in training.
TSG Hoffenheim 1899 vs. RB Leipzig – Match Prediction
These two squads are going in different directions right now and if we look at it that way RB Leipzig’s win on the road is undoubted but the Bulls will have a crucial matchup next Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League and they might rest some players in this duel. That’s why I’ll be very careful in picking the final winner and go with under 3 goals instead as a prime pick.
My pick: Under 3 goals (-102)
1.FSV Mainz 05 vs. FC Augsburg
Three-Way: 1: 1.FSV Mainz 05 +165; X: +250 Draw; 2: FC Augsburg +204 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: 1.FSV Mainz 05 -116; FC Augsburg +112
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under -111
FSV MAINZ 05
The Mainz squad is a subpar team this season, same as it was last year, and the season before. The lower part of the Bundesliga table is their reality but they still somehow manage to keep themselves above the battle for survival zone and that has been the case this season. They perform much better at home as all four recorded victories so far came in front of their own crowd.
They currently rank at No. 13 spot in the Bundesliga table with 15 points and a 4-3-6 record. They score 1.08 and concede 1.46 goals per game (14-19 goal difference) and 62% of their overall matches had under 2.4 goals in total while 43% of their home games had over 3.5 goals in total. They’ve also managed to concede at least one goal in 71% of their home duels and both teams scored in 54% of their showdowns. Most common score at home was a 1:0 win (occurred twice). Yoshinori Muto tops the team in scoring with three goals while Levin Oztunali recorded team-high four assists so far.
Goalie Rene Adler (thigh) is expected to be back in action in mid-January next year, same as Karim Onisiwo (shoulder). Yoshinori Muto’s (back) and Jairo Samperio Bustara’s (ankle) status is unknown while Abdou Diallo (knee) and Aaron Seydel (knee) are both listed as day to day. Leon Balogun (hand) is back in training.
FC AUGSBURG
Oppose to their next opponent, FC Augsburg team is probably having some European competition’ spot hopes and they actually do have a good ground for that. Solid start of the season has paid off but they’ll need to raise their form a bit if they want to continue charging towards the upper part of the table ranking because the middle part of the ranking is very crowded right now and three points less or more are making a big difference.
They are currently ranked at No. 8 spot with 19 points earned and 5-4-4 record (2-2-2 on the road). Their goal difference is 18-15 (7-7 away) and 69% of their games had over 2.5 goals in total while only 15% of those matchups had over 3.5 goals in total. A very interesting fact is that FC Augsburg team managed to score at least one goal in both halves in every third road game so far while both teams scored in 54% of their overall duels. Alfred Finnbogason and Michael Gregortisch top the team in scoring with six goals each while Caiuby has two. Top assister is defender Philipp Max with six.
Rani Khedira’s (thigh) status is unknown while Sergio Cordova (ankle), Georg Teigl (back) and Moritz Leitner (ankle) are all listed as day to day.
1.FSV Mainz 05 vs. FC Augsburg –Match Prediction.
This is one hardly predictable matchup but I don’t think that we can go wrong with under 2.5 goals in total. When it comes to the final result, a draw makes the most sense.
My pick: Under 2.5 goals (-111)
Additional pick: X Draw (+250)
