TSG Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen

PreZero Arena is the venue as TSG Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking Bundesliga fixture.

An abysmal seven-game Bundesliga winless streak (D3, L4) has excluded Hoffenheim from the race for a European finish, with last week’s 4-3 home defeat to Freiburg putting the final nail in the coffin. Despite falling short of the top-six race, Hoffenheim will be looking to finish this season on a high and a decent 12-game H2H Bundesliga record against Leverkusen (W5, D5, L2) comes in handy. However, since a 2-1 beating of Stuttgart in late February, ‘Die Kraichgauer’ have alternated between draws (2) and losses (2) across their last four Bundesliga home outings, conceding the opening goal twice in that period. Another failed attempt to pick up all three points would see Hoffenheim go winless in five consecutive home league fixtures for the first time since 2018/19.

On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen have bounced back from back-to-back Bundesliga games without winning (D1, L1) by racking up two consecutive league victories, both of which came by multi-goal margins. Away from home, ‘Die Werkself’ have alternated between winning (2) and drawing (2) across their last four league matches since a 3-2 defeat at Mainz. Another win here would all but secure their place in next season’s Champions League group phase, yet a three-game winless Bundesliga streak at PreZero Arena (D1, L2) suggests it’s all but a foregone conclusion. Even if they concede first, though, Leverkusen should have enough character to recover, coming from behind to avoid defeat in four out of five Bundesliga away games in which they shipped the opening goal this term (W1, D3).