Here we have prepared for you the two-match analysis of an upcoming Bundesliga week 4 matchups that will take place in Sinsheim and Leverkusen between home teams and their opponents from Berlin and Freiburg on Sunday.
In order to ease out the schedule, German Bundesliga management allowed the teams that appeared in the UEFA Europa League matchups on Thursday to play the round 4 games of German Bundesliga on Sunday thus providing more time for the players to rest. Hoffenheim and Hertha are two of those teams while duel in Leverkusen was already scheduled to be played on Sunday. German representatives in the Europa League didn’t have a very good night on Thursday as three teams recorded one draw and two defeats. It will be interesting to see how these disappointing performances will affect their play in national championships.
Time to remedy possible flops that occurred on the first day of weekend so let’s take a closer look
TSG Hoffenheim 1899 vs. Hertha BSC
Three-Way: 1: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 -122; X: +301 Draw; 2: Hertha BSC +450
Spread -0.5: TSG Hoffenheim 1899 -133; Hertha BSC +127
Total +2.5: Over -116; Under +112
TSG HOFFENHEIM 1899
The TSG Hoffenheim 1899 is undefeated in German Bundesliga after three rounds but the things are not that pink in the European soccer stage. After elimination in the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League by Liverpool, the team opened the group stage of the UEFA Europa League with a home loss against Portuguese side Braga (1:2).
Round 3 of the new Bundesliga campaign went great as they managed to overcame one of the biggest obstacles in the competition, defending champions Bayern Munich who they comfortably defeated (2:0). Mark Uth was the scorer of both goals against a bitter rival. They currently rank second in the league table with a 2-1-0 record and seven points earned (5-2 goal difference) just behind Borussia Dortmund team that has the same amount of points but better goal difference.
Serge Gnabry (ankle) and Stefan Posch (ankle) are only two players that are listed as questionable for Sunday’s showdown.
HERTHA BSC
Other floppers on Thursday were Hertha BSC players but their result on the European scene can’t be considered as a total failure because they didn’t lose a home game. Instead, they recorded a goalless draw in a duel with Spanish side Athletic Bilbao. This is, in fact, a solid outcome because these two teams are considered to be favorites for first two places that lead to a knockout stage in the group that features Ostersunds and Zorya Luhansk.
In the Bundesliga, Hertha ranks at No. 9 spot with four points earned and 1-1-1 record (3-3 goal difference). They recorded a season-opening win over Stuttgart but then got defeated at Westfallen by Borussia Dortmund. Round 3 ended with a surprising 1:1 draws against Werder Bremen at home. Last season they were the “home team” with more than three-fourths of total points earned at home but it seems that this will not be the case this year.
Jonathan Klinsmann (ankle) should be back in a few weeks while Julius Kade (muscle) and Davie Selke (toe) are listed as day to day. Dennis Smarsch’s (cruciate ligament) status is unknown while Valentino Lazaro (ankle) and Julian Schieber (knee) are both back in training.
TSG Hoffenheim 1899 vs. Hertha BSC – Match Prediction
Two teams with shaken confidence will square off in Sinsheim on Sunday and I just can’t wait to see the reaction and the effect these late disappointing results will leave on the team. Hoffenheim looks to be in a more difficult position because they already capitulated twice at home on the European soccer scene in last month. Having everything in mind, under 2.5 goals in total makes perfect sense and that’s where my money will go. A draw sounds good as an additional pick.
My pick: Under 2.5 goals (+112)
Additional pick: Draw (+301)
Bayer Leverkusen vs. SC Freiburg
Three-Way: 1: Bayer Leverkusen -182; X: +380 Draw; SC Freiburg +680
Spread -1: Bayer Leverkusen -125; SC Freiburg +121
Total +3: Over -102; Under -101
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Bayer Leverkusen had a pretty disappointing 2016 season and they don’t have to worry about European competitions this year. If we can judge the day by the morning, the 2017 Bundesliga season will not look much different because they earned only one point after three rounds of play. Two defeats came on the road against Bayern Munich and FSV Mainz while only draw came at home against Hoffenheim. Currently they are ranked just above the bottom at No.17 spot in the league table. A very interesting fact is that all three Bayer’s matchup featured exactly four goals each (two 3:1 losses and a 2:2 draw).
We have to be fair and admit that the schedule was pretty hard in first three rounds but the upcoming duel against Freiburg could be a difference maker when it comes to the determination of what kind of season the team will have. If they emerge victorious it will relieve some pressure of the players and that could definitely have a positive effect on the upcoming matchups.
Jonathan Tah (muscle) is doubtful for Sunday while Julian Baungartlinger (virus) and Panagiotis Takis Retsos (knee) are both back in training and should be in circulation for Sunday’s clash.
SC FREIBURG
Freiburg team lost the UEFA Europa League spot in the last round of the 2016 season and like their next foe doesn’t have to think about fighting on two fronts. Current Bundesliga season start also doesn’t look give much confidence but on the other side, it might be too early for that kind of conclusion. The fact that they managed to stay undefeated against current league leader Borussia Dortmund last weekend sheds some light on the squad and could be used as a starting point for a period of good form and satisfactory results.
The team ranks 15th in the Bundesliga table at the moment with two points earned and 0-2-1 record. Besides Dortmund, they managed to keep the goalless draw in the season opener against Eintracht Frankfurt at home while only defeat came on the road against RB Leipzig (1:4). They still haven’t scored a goal at home and they will have to wait for that at least one more round. The possible positive result in Leverkusen looks like a very needy thing right now because two losses and two draws after first four rounds would not look very good in front of the fans and management.
Yoric Ravet is suspended for four matches while Marc-Oliver Kempf (muscle) should be available in about a month. Manuel Gulde’s (back) timetable for return is set at early October while Vincent Sierra’s (muscle) and Jonas Meffert’s (foot) status is unknown. Nils Petersen (hip) is listed as day to day while Georg Niedermeier (back) is back in training.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. SC Freiburg – Match Prediction.
This is the crucial matchup that could determine the path of the season for these two teams. If either of them loses it will probably mean the “battle for survival” type of season. Both coaches know this and will definitely enter the showdown careful with the defense on their minds. That makes the under 3 goals pick right on the money.
My pick: Under 3 goals (-101)
