The German Bundesliga match-up in Sinsheim is another one that has great implications for the home and no implications for the visiting team. In order to snatch a No.3 spot that leads to the Champions League next season the hosts need to win and then wait the news from Dortmund.
If Borussia also wins the game against Werder, the Hoffenheim team will have to record a victory against FC Augsburg by four goals more, than Dortmund’s victory over Werder, in order to improve their goal difference and leapfrog the Borussia team based on that aspect having in mind that the teams will have the same number of points. This presents a very complicated and tough assignment, but not entirely impossible. In-depth matchup analysis is prepared so let’s take a closer look.
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM vs. FC AUGSBURG
3-Way: 1: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -250; X: +470 Draw; FC Augsburg +750
Spread -1.5: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim +104; FC Augsburg -103
Total +3.5: Over +102; Under -109
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM
One of the best seasons for the young team from Sinsheim is coming to an end and there is no better award for the fans than the fact that their team will be fighting for the Champions League berth in the final round of the German Bundesliga season.
Excellent start of the season propelled the team to the very top of the league table (Hoffenheim recorded a first league loss after almost five months of play at January 28th) and team from the Kreichgau region has definitely deserved to play the Europan competitions match-ups at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena next season. As explained above, complicated process will have to take place on Saturday in order to see the team in CL next year but one of the best attributes of soccer is the fact that “impossible” quite often becomes a reality.
When it comes to their recent form in the German Bundesliga, the team is 5-1-2 in last eight games and they are riding a seven consecutive games winning streak at home currently. Overall record at home is 11-5-0 with 35-14 goal difference (64-37 overall) and they third rank in the home league table with 38 of 48 possible points earned. Hoffenheim have managed to score at least one goal in each of their last 19 overall matches and they are undefeated in their last 16 matches in front of their own crowd (this entire season).
The Kreichgauers score 2.19 and concede 0.88 goals per match at home soil (1.94-1-12 overall) and they’ve managed to score in 94% of this season’s home matchups. 55% of their overall matches had over 2.5 goals (56% at home) and 30% of their matches had over 3.5 goals in total (44% at home). Every fifth game at Rhein-Neckar-Arena had over 2.5 goals at the halftime and in every second game both foes scored. In 38% of their home matches the Blues scored in both halves and in 25% of those games they conceded in both halves. Most common result at home was 1:0 win (occurred four times) while most common scores at the halftime were 1:0 lead and 0:0 (both occurred five times).
Hoffenheim team has the most successful corps of strikers in the German Bundesliga as these four players have 41 goals combined this season (Andrej Kramaric-15; Sandro Wagner-11; Adam Szalai-8; Mark Uth-7). Kramaric and Kerem Demirbay lead the team in assisting segment with eight each while Niklas Sule and Kevin Vogt keep the control in the center of the field with 1879 and 1761 total passes. Goalie Oliver Baumann (33 appearances) collected 111 saves and he also recorded 11 games with clean sheets.
Benjamin Hubner (Concussion) is listed as doubtful for Saturday.
FC AUGSBURG
Because of the set of circumstances that occurred in the last round of the German Bundesliga and thanks to a positive result at home against much better Borussia Dortmund team (1:1 at WWK Arena), FC Augsburg has managed to secure the survival in the German Bundesliga, their first objective prior to the start of the season.
With great pressure leaving their backs, the players can now even have some fun and play one game with no positive result imperative with their minds set on the summer break and well deserved rest.
Team is undefeated in last three games and they are 2-2-4 in last eight overall matchups. Overall record on the road is 4-4-8 but they are winless outside the Augsburg since February 28th (2:1 win at Darmstadt). Away goal difference is 13-26 (35-51 overall) and they rank 10th in the road league table with 16 of 48 possible points earned.
Another interesting stat data that doesn’t build the team’s case is the fact that the Fuggers conceded at least one goal in each of their last 10 road matches. Stat sheet shows also that Augsburg scores 0.81 and concedes 1.63 goals per game (1.06-1.55 overall) and 50% of their road matches had over 2.5 goals in total. 88% of their visiting games had under 3.5 goals and 94% of those matches had under 4.5 goals in total. Only two Augsburg’s road games had over 2.5 goals at the halftime and in every second Augsburg’s visit, the both teams scored.
Also, they managed to score at least one goal in measly 6% of road matches while they managed to concede at least one goal in 19% of their away games. Surprisingly, most common result on the road this season was a 3:1 win (occurred three times) while most common score at the halftime was 0:0 (occurred seven times).
Halil Altintop leads the team in scoring with six goals scored in the German Bundesliga while Raul Bobadilla and Konstantinos Stafylidis have four each in their accounts. Midfielders Ja-Cheol Koo, Daniel Baier and Jonathan Schmid collected team-high three assists each while passing segment belongs to defender Paul Verhaegh with 1131 total passes. Goalkeepers Marwin Hitz (32 appearances) and Andreas Luthe (one appearance) collected 112 saves and seven clean sheets games combined.
One of the team’s top midfielders Ja-Cheol Koo (Knee) is out for the season while Daniel Baier (Back), Konstantinos Stafylidis (Back), Marwin Hitz (Hip), Gojko Kacar (Back) and Raphael Framberger (Meniscus) are all listed as doubtful for Saturday. Jan Moravek (Muscle) is day to day and Marco Schuster’s (Hip) status is unknown.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs. FC Augsburg – Match Prediction
Anything less than a high difference win for the home team would be a big surprise, having in mind the league table order and the teams’ needs. Most logical conclusion is the hosts win and over 2.5 goals
My pick: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim AH -1.5 (+104)
Additional Pick: Over 3.5 goals (+102)
