The first rounds of 2020 European Championship qualifying matches have been complete and thoughts will now return to domestic action across the continent.
The first major league to get back in action is the Bundesliga and on Friday night we have a big game between Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen at the PreZero Arena.
Prior to the international break, Hoffenheim were held to a 1-1 draw at Stuttgart, which was a disappointing result given Stuttgart’s position in the league table. That draw means Hoffenheim have won only one of their last four Bundesliga games and that came at home against Nurnberg.
Trends show Hoffenheim have won just three of their last seventeen games in all competitions, which is a poor record. All three of those wins have come in their last eight matches and they have won each of their last two at home.
Home form in the Bundesliga shows Hoffenheim are tough to beat and they have lost only one of their last nine at the PreZero Arena, which was against Bayern Munich in January. Trend show they are undefeated in twenty-five of their last thirty home league games and both teams have scored in twelve of the last fifteen on home soil.
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen before the international break. That was a costly defeat as they aim to close the gap on the teams in the top four and push for a Champions League place.
Prior to that defeat, Bayer Leverkusen had defeated Freiburg at home and Hannover 96 away as they looked to continue their push up the table.
Trends show Bayer Leverkusen are in decent form and they have won six of their last eight Bundesliga matches. In addition to the two wins highlighted above, Bayer Leverkusen have defeated Wolfsburg and Mainz away plus Bayern Munich and Fortuna Dusseldorf at home.
Away form shows Bayer Leverkusen have been winning plenty of matches in the Bundesliga, recording four victories in their last five matches. Bayer Leverkusen have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last five away games and both teams have scored in six of their last seven on the road.
Looking ahead to the team news and Hoffenheim will be without Germany hero Nico Schulz, who is suspended for this match. He is the only player currently unavailable for Julian Nagelsmann.
Bayer Leverkusen also have a suspended player of their own and Wendell will be forced to sit this one out. Lars Bender has been suffering from illness and it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to take part in the match.
This should be a very exciting game for the return of the Bundesliga. It would not be a surprise to see both teams score and with their current excellent away form, Bayer Leverkusen could take maximum points.