Hoffenheim vs RB Leipzig: Betting Odds & Prediction

RB Leipzig look to heap pressure on third-placed Stuttgart when they travel to Hoffenheim on Friday evening.

The visitors sit two points behind Stuttgart in fourth, and look to secure a second consecuitve top-three finish in the Bundesliga. Kick-off is set for 7:30pm UK time at the PreZero Arena.

Recent Form

Hoffenheim

Pellegrino Matarazzo's side come into the fixture having suffered four defeats in their last six Bundesliga outings. Most recently, Hoffenheim suffered a 3-2 loss at Vfl Bochum, while their last home fixture ended with a 4-3 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Despite their recent struggles, Hoffenheim still find themselves ninth in the Bundesliga with an outside chance of securing a spot in Europe due to Germany's high placement in the UEFA co-efficient rankings. Their home form will need to improve if such ambitions are to be realised, though, with only two sides having worse home records than Hoffenheim heading into the fixture.

Conceding goals has been a major problem for Matarazzo's men both home and away this term. Their poor record at the back makes sense when inspecting the quality of chances they regularly concede; Hoffenheim have averaged an expected goals against (xGA) tally of 1.87 per fixture at the PreZero Arena. This has predictably led to a high turnover in goals conceded, with Hoffenheim averaging a worrying 1.87 shipped per home game. They are still yet to record a single clean sheet at home in the Bundesliga, and have managed only two in total this term.

Perhaps their alarming defensive statistics is down to their expansive approach in attacking quarters. They've scored an average of 1.73 goals at home and have failed to score in only two home matches.

Nevertheless, their defensive frailties make for ominous reading as they prepare to welcome the Bundesliga's second highest-scoring away team on Friday.

RB Leipzig

Marco Rose's men have all but secured a spot in next season's Champions League due to Germany receiving five qualification spots. Leipzig will still be targeting a finish among the division's top three though, and a win here will see them momentarily occupy those spaces before Stuttgart host Bayern Munich the following day.

Only four sides have fared better on away soil than Leipzig this season. Averaging 1.73 points on the road, Rose's side have won their last four away outings on the bounce. Goals haven't been a problem, with an average of 2.27 scored on their travels. Leipzig have also failed to score in just one away match so far.

Their defensive record remains a concern, though. Despite shipping only 0.69 goals at home, Leipzig have conceded an alarming 1.6 goals on the road. Only two of their 15 away fixtures have ended in a clean sheet.

Prediction

The respective records of both sides suggest one thing ahead of kick-off: plenty of goals. Both have excelled on the attack while also making habit of conceding. Hoffenheim's last four outings have also seen at least four goals scored in total.

OddsNow therefore anticipate a high-scoring encounter at the PreZero Arena on Friday evening.

OddsNow's Pick: Over 4+ goals scored (Evens @ vbet)