Ingolstadt vs Hoffenheim Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Ingolstadt’s start to their 2016/2017 campaign under new coach Markus Kauczinski, who joined them from 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruher, hasn’t been particularly promising. Though Kauczinksi has vowed that he will not be changing much about the side moving forwards, with their main objective being survival, Ingolstadt are a depleted version of the side praised last season for their defensive prowess. The Bavarians are now without three key members of the back four who helped them end last season with the joint best defensive record outside of the top three: Benjamin Hübner, Danny da Costa, and Ramazan Özcan all parted ways with the club over the transfer window. Ingolstadt are in bad shape, taking just one point from their first five Bundesliga matches, and come into this off the back of a 2-0 defeat away to Borussia M’gladbach last time out.

Hoffenheim’s “great escape” from relegation last season can only be accredited to one man, coach Julian Nagelsmann. Nagelsmann is the youngest ever Bundesliga coach and was only 28 years old when he took the first-team reins in February 2016. He pushed Hoffenheim to safety with an attacking, entertaining brand of football, which he has continued to push through their opening five. Nagelsmann has already stated that relegation is not a thought heading into the new season as even considering it would “not be setting a target”, something that is clearly shown in their play. Hoffenheim’s unbeaten start to their 2016/2017 campaign, taking seven points from their opening five matches and qualifying through to the second round of the DFB Pokal with ease shows signs of a more consistent future for the side.

Somehow, Ingolstadt are the bookies favourites ahead of this match at 1/1. Though the visitors have a few injuries to contend with, we feel that they are nonetheless the much better bet here. Ingolstadt are in awful overall form and have lost all but two of their last ten Bundesliga matches (D2 L8). The Bavarians have also never beaten Hoffenheim (see head to head), which only mounts extra pressure on the side. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim are unbeaten so far this season and come into this match fresh off their first win of the season, a 2-1 win at home to Schalke last weekend. Though Hoffenheim will be without striker Mark Uth (3 goals in 5 matches) in their 3-5-2 lineup, partnering striker Andrej Kramaric (2 goals in 5 matches) and attacking midfielder Lukas Rupp (2 goals in 5 matches) have also proven their capability in front of goal. With such a generous price on the double chance for the visitors here, we feel this bet has simply too much value to pass on.

As such, draw or Hoffenheim at 5/6 and Hoffenheim to win 2-1 at 11/1 are our choice bets for this match.