Hoffenheim and Bochum will face each other in the Bundesliga on Friday, December 8, 2023, at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Both teams are in the bottom half of the table and will be looking for a win to boost their chances of avoiding relegation. Here are some tips and predictions for this match.
Hoffenheim have been inconsistent this season, winning four, drawing two and losing six of their 12 league games so far. They have scored 18 goals and conceded 21, giving them a goal difference of -3. They are currently in 13th place with 14 points, four points above the relegation playoff spot.
Hoffenheim have been better at home than away, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their six home games. They have scored 11 goals and conceded seven at home, giving them a goal difference of +4. Hoffenheim have also been unbeaten in their last 12 home games against newly-promoted teams in the Bundesliga.
Bochum have been struggling in their first season back in the top flight, winning three, drawing three and losing six of their 12 league games so far. They have scored 13 goals and conceded 20, giving them a goal difference of -7. They are currently in 15th place with 12 points, two points above the relegation playoff spot. Bochum have been poor away from home, winning one, drawing one and losing four of their six away games. They have scored six goals and conceded 13 away from home, giving them a goal difference of -7. Bochum have also failed to win any of their last five away games in the Bundesliga.
The head-to-head record between Hoffenheim and Bochum is fairly balanced, with each team winning four, drawing one and losing four of their nine previous meetings in the Bundesliga. The last time they met was in February 2023, when Bochum won 5-2 at home, with Takuma Asano scoring a brace for the hosts. The last time they met at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena was in April 2022, when Bochum won 2-1, with Asano scoring the winner for the visitors.
Based on the current form, home advantage and head-to-head record, Hoffenheim have a slight edge over Bochum in this match. Hoffenheim have been more prolific and solid at home, while Bochum have been vulnerable and wasteful away from home.
Hoffenheim also have a good record against newly-promoted teams at home, while Bochum have struggled against established teams away from home. However, Bochum have shown some resilience and fight in their recent games, and they have also beaten Hoffenheim twice in a row, so they cannot be underestimated.
Therefore, our prediction for this match is a narrow win for Hoffenheim, with both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals in total. We also expect Hoffenheim’s Dutch winger Joshua Brenet to have a good game, as he has scored three goals and provided two assists in his last four league games. Here are some betting tips based on our prediction:
- Hoffenheim to win and both teams to score at 3.00 odds (bet365)
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.57 odds (betway)
- Joshua Brenet to score anytime at 3.50 odds (unibet)
