On Friday night, Hoffenheim has an opportunity to boost their Champions League chances when they host struggling Stuttgart at the PreZero Arena.
After three straight defeats in January and February, Hoffenheim head into this clash on the back of two straight victories over Arminia Bielefeld and last time out Wolfsburg.
⚔️⚔️⚔️🔜 #TSGVFB pic.twitter.com/aaJz3N5gcS— TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) February 22, 2022
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The wins have kept Sebastian Hoeness’ team right in the race for the Champions League spots in the German top-flight.
That top-four race is now unbelievably close, as Hoffenheim are only outside the top-four due to an inferior goal difference to fourth-place RB Leipzig. However, they are also only ahead of sixth-place Freiburg courtesy of superior goal difference.
Hoffenheim have a strong recent home record, as the side from Sinsheim has now won seven of their last nine Bundesliga matches on home soil.
The biggest factor in that stellar recent home form is the home team’s attacking potency, as they have scored at least two goals in eight of their last nine league matches at the PreZero Arena.
Stuttgart are in major trouble at the bottom end of the table, as the Reds are currently 17th place in the standings, three points adrift of the relegation play-off spot and four clear of the safety of 15th place in the table.
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team have been on an awful recent run of form of late, as they are currently winless in eight matches in the Bundesliga, having suffered six defeats in the process. Last time out they drew 1-1 with Bochum on home soil, with the visitors snatching a last-gasp draw.
Stuttgart’s recent away record in the Bundesliga doesn’t suggest that the visitors will pick up anything from this trip, as they have failed to win in four away games in the German top-flight, having suffered three defeats.
Forebet predicts that Hoffenheim will heap more misery on Stuttgart by recording a victory in a high-scoring game.