TSG Hoffenheim vs Mainz 05 Betting Tips and Predictions

Mainz and Hoffenheim are two of the longest-running members of the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim secured their first ever top flight promotion in the 2008/2009 season and have been there since while Mainz have enjoyed top flight football without interruption since the 09/10 season. But this has been an awful season so far for 2nd from bottom Hoffenheim standing in 17th place with 15 points. Only 1 team has ever avoided relegation with 15 points or less after matchday 21 (FC Augsburg in the 2012/13 season) and this home fixture to an in form Mainz is a challenging fixture to try and turn their poor form around.

Mainz come into this game in 6th place and off of a third consecutive Bundesliga victory (the first time the team has won 3 in a row under manager Martin Schmidt) having already won 4 times away from home this season, which is already one away win more than they achieved in the whole of last season.

REASON FOR BETTING TIPS

Hoffenheim are yet to show any form at all this season having won only 2 games total out of 21 fixtures in the Bundesliga so far. They have a terrible home record of 1 win from the 10 home games that have been played to date. Mainz however have 9 points from the last 3 games which includes impressive wins against Borussia M’gladbach and last weekend against Schalke 04. Since selling their main striker Shinji Okazaki to Leicester at the start of the season, Mainz have brought in Yoshinori Muto, another Japanese striker from the national team, who has scored 7 goals in 15 appearances for the club. He has settled into his role but is out injured for this game and Mainz are the 2nd lowest scoring team in the top 10 and hence the outcome for a low scoring away win for Mainz 1-0 at 8/1 seeming a likely outcome.

RECENT FORM

All competitions, most recent first:

Hoffenheim: DLLDWL

Mainz 05: WWWLWW

Head-To-Head

Mainz won the home leg of this fixture 3-1 back in September 2015 as Yunus Malli stole the show for Mainz with a brilliant hat-trick. From the 13 times the teams have met previously, Hoffenheim have only beaten Mainz twice with 4 draws and 7 losses.

Statistics

Hoffenheim have lost 50% of their home games this season from 10 games (drawn 4 and won 1).  Mainz are looking to extend their 3 game win streak away to the team with the 2nd worst home record in the league.

Team News

Hoffenheim: missing Leicester City loanee striker Kramaric (suspended) and unused striker Herding.

Mainz: missing key striker Muto Yoshinori (7 goals from 15 games), unused midfielders Soto and Klement and unused striker Berggreen.

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